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After all these years filled with curiosity and fear, he was finally in the city of his dreams. It was hard to believe that not so long ago there was a war so huge it took millions of lives when the streets of Paris were bustling with it. Of course, one could easily find buildings that still needed repairing, - their windows broken, rooftops missing tiles, - but the open restaurants, cafés, hotels, and the lights on the streets, were the proof of healing, the proof that the people refused to stay in the past and want to move forward.
It was hard to stay gloomy in an environment filled with happiness and hope, and Louis felt his spirit lifting as he walked leisurely, stopping here and there to look around and take in the view. Paris was truly a magnificent city.
Even though Lestat's shadow has been following him ever since that terrible night, things have been better these past few weeks.
After traveling for years and finding no other vampires similar to them, his hope started to slowly fade. What if every belief they had was just wishful thinking? What if they are alone...? At times not even his dear sister's company could make him feel less lonely and that scared him beyond measure. Claudia was always moving forward, never slowing in her search for their kind, and more than once he caught her disapproving looks as if she was staring at a burden.
Then they arrived in France and everything turned upside down when one night they crossed the path of a group of vampires. They were breathtaking.
The Théâtre des Vampires turned out to be a blessing – finally, they belonged somewhere - and a curse – the moment he saw the portrait of his maker his heart broke once again -, and finally they had a chance to move on. Finally, they knew that they were not alone.
Louis took a deep breath he did not need but appreciated just as much as he stopped once again. His lungs filled with fresh air and the scent of flowers mixed with wood as a young couple – probably in their late 20s - walked past him. They were holding hands, the recently accepted engagement ring sparkling on the woman's finger. Louis didn't mean to pry but their thoughts were so loud he could easily hear them over the bustling of the crowd. He smiled softly as he listened to the details.
He got so immersed in their minds, that he didn't react when a motorcycle stopped right next to him. And why would he? There were many who chose to ride one in the great city of Paris.
„Sweet story, indeed. We should make a performance based on it, don't you think?“
Louis turned to the voice just to be met by now familiar eyes. Santiago, as always, looked like the statues in Greece. His dark clothes and bad boy vibes paired with his perfectly showed-off broad shoulders by his leather coat and blond hair could drive anyone wild. Even now people were turning and pointing in his direction but he didn't care, just kept on leaning against his motorcycle leisurely with his left leg on the exhaust pipe, watching Louis.
„What are you doing here?“ asked Louis still a bit dazed after going so deep inside not one but two person's minds.
„Same thing as you, I assume,“ smirked the other vampire. „Have you had your fill yet? Took in the scenery?“
„What do you want, Santiago?“ said Louis quickly before the blond vampire could start making fun of him in the middle of the street.
„Of course you did not, you look as pale as the dead.“ Louis sighed, he really wanted to strike back for drawing some of the passerbies' unwanted attention but he wasn't as quick with comebacks as Santiago who laughed while the other just stood there, sat on his motorcycle, and motioned to Louis to sit behind him. „Come on, we need to get back, it's late and the theatre won't run itself.“
Louis didn't move.
„As you said, I didn't have my fill yet and I can get back by myself but thank you.“
„Qué cabrón!“ guffawed Santiago. „You really are a fiery one, aren't you?“
Louis crossed his arms as he waited for the other to calm down. At times like this Santiago reminded him of Lestat, of how that bastard was able to laugh at anything and everything at the worst possible moments. When the blond finally pulled himself together Louis asked:
„Are you done with the attention seeking?“
The motorcycle roared to life as Santiago turned towards Louis once again, his eyes roaming all over the other's body.
„I am going to be nice and offer you a meal if you come with me, right now,“ said the blond vampire, „but I will not ask twice.“
A moment passed then Louis took a few steps towards the motorcycle and sat behind Santiago. The other immediately started towards the theatre, they were swiftly leaving behind one street after another.
„Did someone tell you to get me?“ Usually, Louis wouldn't want to know but since the person who wanted to bring him back was Santiago he couldn't help but wonder. They weren't enemies but he wouldn't call them friends either.
„Armand was worried. The sun is coming up soon and he knows about your... how should I say, suicidal tendencies.“
- - - - -
„Were you talking about me with the coven?“ Louis was seething. Santiago's answer dropped on him like a bomb. The other briefly looked back at Louis waiting for a comment but the rest of the ride went by in silence. When they finally arrived he simply got off of the vehicle and went inside to look for Armand. He found him sitting in the auditorium watching the rehearsal and asked him without thinking about the others overhearing their conversation.
For a brief moment, the older vampire looked shocked but then quickly collected his composure and stood up.
„What is wrong, Louis?“ asked Claudia who was standing on the stage with the others, alarmed.
Before Louis could answer Armand stopped the rehearsal and ordered everyone to leave and get ready for the day. Louis could see Claudia's hesitation but another vampire took her hand and gently pulled her after the others. At first, she wanted to protest. She looked at Armand with defiance on her face but after barely a minute her features changed, and followed the others obediently.
„You said her something, didn't you?“ Louis accused Armand.
„At the moment that is not important,“ said the coven leader, „you asked...“
„It is important!“ shouted Louis. He was getting angrier with every passing moment. „What did you...“
„I didn't need to talk with anyone about you, it is obvious you struggle.“ Armand's words made Louis freeze.
„What?“
Armand took a step closer to Louis, taking in the face in front of him before making eye contact.
„We are vampires. Our skin is eternally pale but we always look healthy, strong, and beautiful.“ He took another step towards Louis. „You are beautiful, Louis, but your skin is sickly pale even for our kind and you will never achieve the true potential of your strength if you do not take what your body needs.“
Louis couldn't hold the eye contact anymore and tore his gaze away. Armand was right, he still struggled to take a human's life just so he could live and many times he chose to drink the blood of animals but he was trying. Once a week he drank from a mortal and took the rest from animals. Maybe if he could find the perfect balance there would be no need to kill someone every night.
„I admire you for trying but you have to understand,“ said Armand while he took the last step towards the other, „you are withering away, Louis, and we all can see that. A vampire who wants to live will not deny the blood his body desires.“
- - - - -
Death took Louis away as usual and did not let go of him until the sun disappeared. If he would still be a human his night would have been restless but for once he was glad for his vampiric nature up until the moment he woke up. His thoughts were all over the place the moment he came to consciousness. Did the others really see him as a lost cause? Did he truly look like a withered monster from a child's tale?
Even though his thoughts lived only inside his mind Louis was sure he could hear them echoing in the empty theater. The others left to hunt after waking up from their slumber and to his surprise Claudia did not stay behind either. As a human, he often felt loneliness climb up his back to sit on his shoulders but that was nothing to what he felt at the moment. He wondered if this was what Lestat spoke about.
Louis wasn't sure how long he sat on his coffin – couldn't be for very long because the others had not arrived back yet – when he heard the sound of footsteps getting closer. From one moment to the other he wasn't alone anymore and he almost felt glad for that even if the vampire who arrived back from their evening trip was Santiago.
„I should say that I'm surprised to see you here,“ said the vampire as he walked down the stairs „but I'm really not.“
No answer, not even a tiny movement on the statuesque face.
„Did you not have „the talk“ with Armand yesterday?“ asked Santiago. „When I said you look like the dead I meant it, you actually look like a decaying corpse to a vampire's eyes.“
Louis stood up at that and felt his anger starting to grow. He took a few steps towards the blond. What he did not expect was the other doing the exact same. Louis quickly stopped, still angry, but relieved at the same time when he saw Santiago stop too. They barely had three, maybe four steps between them. For a moment Louis thought about moving away but he quickly changed his mind, he didn't want to look like a coward. Instead, he turned back towards his anger and channeled that into his next words.
„Forgive me if I have a lingering respect for life,“ he snarled.
Santiago smirked and looked Louis slowly over with his head slightly tilted to the left. Louis blinked and prepared himself for some kind of an attack. He wasn't sure if it would be verbal or physical but he was sure it was on the way. Santiago moved to him in a blink of an eye. Chest to chest, left arm holding him around the waist while the right gently but firmly held into the back of his neck. One leg between his legs, crotch pressed against his. Louis had no time to react before he felt lips brush against his right ear and all his frustration and anger melted away when warm breath caressed his earlobe.
„Maybe life has a lingering respect for you too,“ whispered Santiago slowly while his fingers massaged the dark skin on Louis' neck, „if it lets you smell like sunshine in death.“
Louis felt his legs start to tremble and he wasn't sure if they would be able to hold him up if this kept going on.
„How I desire to taste it, to feel its warmth in my veins one more time.“
The muscular arm around his waist became firmer and Louis could feel Santiago pull him even closer. If there was any air between them before even that was gone now and Louis had to reach up to hold onto the other's broad shoulders. He gasped helplessly. This was too much and still too little. The tip of Santiago's tongue slowly trailed down from the top of his earlobe to his neck following the thick vein thumping rapidly under his skin.
„Let me,“
Sharp canines nicked at his skin sending shivers down his spine.
„and I'll be your reaper in exchange.“
Louis couldn't take it anymore. He gathered all his remaining strength to grab the blonde locks and hold on for dear life.
„Savour me.“
The flames of desire rose up around them like hellfire in the moment Santiago's teeth penetrated his body. Desire wasn't new to Louis but this was something completely different, he never felt anything like this before. The blood in his veins thrummed, sang, and turned into liquid fire at the same time, his vision went completely white. Louis wanted to scream and beg for Santiago but he only managed to whisper and moan the vampire's name as he gasped for air. He was sure his heart was about to escape through his chest, it's beat became faster and stronger with each moment. Louis trembled like a leaf, the strong arms the only reason he was still standing.
Santiago's head was just as clouded by the carnality as the younger vampire's. Louis could feel his legs leaving the ground for a moment and he felt his back connecting with something. Suddenly the other vampire's full weight was on Louis, his teeth pushing even deeper.
Louis's nails dug into Santiago's back as he finally screamed and reached his peak.
And then nothing.
- - - - -
The first three words that came to Louis's mind were: quiet, soft, warm.
Louis opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by darkness. He was lying in his coffin. How did he get in there? His inner clock told him that outside it was nighttime and sure enough he could hear the others chatting and playing around in the theater.
A familiar voice was much closer than the others, humming a lullaby. She was sitting on his coffin and Louis already knew that there would be stains from her shoes. He sighed with a smile and knocked on the lid of the coffin. The humming stopped immediately and Louis could hear Claudia landing on the ground.
„You're finally awake!“ said Claudia with a childish pout on her face as she watched Louis get out of his coffin. „I thought you...“ Claudia's eyes went wild, her mouth stayed open. Louis looked at her with worry.
„What's wrong?“
„Look at you! It was about damn time you drank properly. How am I going to keep the ladies away from you?“ Claudia laughed.
„What are you talking about?“ said Louis with confusion all over his face.
The vampire child kept laughing and poked Louis in the ribs with a finger.
„They must have been special if you drank from them. But Louis, you really look dashing.“
Louis wanted to ask more but the time wasn't right, the vampires had work to do. Actors were rehearsing, some in costumes, others still in their regular clothes, with make-up, without make-up. Props needed to be put in their places, lamps turned on or off. Tasks needed to be done. It was premiere night, many people were waiting outside to see the production, and the tickets wouldn't sell themselves either.
„Claudia, your turn!“ One of the vampires shouted in their direction in a tense tone. „Come on, we need to get ready!“
Claudia winked at Louis again.
„Keep drinking, looks good on you.“
And with that, she left but Louis didn't stay alone for long.
„She is right, you truly are a handsome devil.“
Up until this moment Louis did not think about what happened earlier. It all seemed like an extremely enjoyable dream and if he could blush he probably would. Memories started to rush back, they took form one by one in his head but they ultimately turned into white-hot fire. It seemed like his mind was unable to process what happened because of the intensity of the moment.
„Slept well?“ asked Santiago with a smug smile as their eyes met. Louis's heart jumped into his throat. The blond vampire was dressed as the Reaper. He looked unresistible in his black trousers and white wife beater. Louis felt like the air got punched out of his lungs as he looked at the black harness hiding under the black cloak. The audience will love their main character.
The blonde vampire's smug smile grew bigger at the heated look he got in place of an answer. He kept patiently waiting enjoying all the attention he got from his little sunshine.
„30 minutes!“ Shouted a redhead.
The announcement shook Louis out of his momentary fantasies. He blinked rapidly and only then noticed how the other vampire was watching him. Louis cleared his throat in his embarrassment and looked around before turning back to Santiago.
„About what happened earlier...“
„Earlier?“ Laughed the blond. „You mean yesterday?“
Louis's eyes went wide again.
„What?“
Santiago stepped closer to him. They weren't close enough for the others to notice but it was enough to talk without the vampires hearing them.
„Don't worry, I enjoyed myself just as much as you,“ said Santiago, „but the one bitten always crashes harder than the other.“ The blonde sat on Louis's coffin waiting for his response. The dark-haired vampire was one hundred percent sure that his skin turned an extreme shade of red that not even his vampiric nature could conceal.
„So you put me in my coffin?“ asked Louis while sitting down next to Santiago who turned towards him.
„20 minutes!“ shouted the redhead again.
„Yeah, I can be a gentleman when I want to be,“ answered Santiago, „don't look so surprised. And I held my part of our agreement,“ said the blond in a low voice, his hand coming up to Louis face to caress the perfect skin, „I am your reaper if you let me taste your warmth.“
Time froze, the words Louis wanted to voice died on his tongue. Does he understand this right? That can't be. But those words can only mean one thing. He was feeling much better than before. His mood lifted, and his strength multiplied. Claudia talked about how handsome he was even though the others saw him as a decaying corpse not even 48 hours ago.
Santiago fed him while he was unconscious.
He felt his blood start to boil.
„How dare you...!“
„Before you start to make a scene,“ interrupted Santiago with a hand held between them, „listen to me. You don't want to kill. I accept that. But you can't wither away.“ Santiago's hand came to rest on Louis's face. „You're special, a vampire who remained human for decades and will remain so for centuries.“ Louis blinked in surprise. He always had his doubts about this man, never knew if he should stand with him or against him. This was unexpected. „I will kill for you. Share my blood with you, if you share yours with me. You'll never have to be a murderer if you become my sunshine through eternity.“
„10 minutes!“ shouted the redhead with more urgency.
Louis was speechless. His cheek still rested in Santiago's palm. It was soft and warm. The vampire was offering him redemption, something no one ever offered. Not Lestat, not Armand. It is certain he will never get it from Claudia, either.
„And before you decide, let me remind you that the desire you felt will only grow each time you bite me. Each time I bite...“ Santiago leaned closer to Louis. The distance between them kept decreasing until Santiago's lips were against Louis's ears the same way as before. The warmth of his breath against his sensitive skin sent shivers down his spine. There was no denying how much he desired the Spanish vampire. „...you.“
„5 minutes! Everyone to their place, now!“ shouted the redhead.
The audience can wait. This can not. Louis took hold of the other man's chin and kissed him without a second thought. Their lips clashed and danced at the same time, both wanting to get the upper hand but Santiago became the ultimate winner when he pushed Louis down and leaned over him. They did not care for the sudden quiet that enveloped the room or for the distant noises of the humans above them. Only they were important.
Their kiss almost sailed to desire-filled waters when the bossy vampire with the red hair cleared her throat and threw a wig at them.
„Congratulations to you two but we have a performance in less than 3 minutes. Get your ass off of that coffin, now!“
Santiago and Louis looked up at all the faces watching them. While the blond did not care about what the others thought about them Louis could see the fury in Claudia's eyes and something definitely unfriendly in Armand's that he couldn't recognize. Through the happy and finally safe cloud that was Santiago's presence above him, he felt a storm coming. At least he wouldn't have to face it alone.
„1 minute!“
Louis pushed Santiago off of him and pushed him towards the stairs.
„Showtime.“
Santiago laughed.
„Going to bite you until you scream, sunshine.“
Louis pulled on the straps until Santiago needed to step closer to him.
„Tonight, then every night,“ growled the blonde.
„Good.“