My daughter, ma fille. (Claudia)

[lestat2]

I nodded at her. Locked together in pain and love, for now at least. "Oui, let's get some fresh air. We should walk by the shops. I should buy you something perhaps." I said to her, letting her guide me out of the house. We walked down Rue Royale to the expensive shops full of antique furniture and beautiful art. I came to a jewelery shop and stopped suddenly. "Would like something from here?" The jewels sparkled under the spotlight I had to get Claudia a present as I already had one for Louis when he eventually returned home. I used my mind to unlock the door and switch off the alarm which was relatively quite easy once you knew how they worked.

I opened the door. "Come. It's safe, I promise." I said, holding my hand out for her and leading her inside. I spent my time looking through the cases of jewelery, looking for the perfect piece. There it was. I picked out a very very expensive, beautiful, emerald and diamond necklace set in white gold which seemed to be $2000. "To match Louis' eyes and emeralds would go lovely with your pretty golden hair. Yes you must have it."

I went digging around the draws for necklace boxes and laid the necklace inside the beautiful velvet box after unlocking the glass case with my mind. After doing this I left a note by the till with my credit card details. 'Sorry for taking your $2,034 necklace. Please use my card details to pay for it. Michael de Valois.' I signed the note with my signature so that they had it for their records to prove that it was my card if they were to follow it up. My card was under a fake name of course, I had hundreds of cards under different names sorted out by my agent. No stores ever seemed to mention the mysterious night time buyers in New Orleans as the expensive stuff taken was always paid for.

I handed her the box. "For special occasions, mon amour." I told her, kissing her cheek. "Please cherish it, you would break my heart if I was to see you mistreat it."

Taking the jewellery and rewinding the cctv tape, I left the store as though it had never been touched. The store I came to was a store for antique musical instruments and it was like my eyes nearly fell out of my head when I saw a familiar violin in the window. I put my hand against the window and stared at it.

It looked exactly like the one Nicolas had once owned. It was a Stradivarius violin, made in Italy in 1720, but was used in Paris, France and imported to New Orleans in the 1900s. I wanted it, it was not the same one that Nicolas had owned but it was damn close. "Go feed." I told her gently. "I'll be back soon." I went through the same procedure I had with the necklace and left with a violin case in my hand to find Claudia.

When I reached her I said, "What have you done with the body?" I very much doubt she had lifted the body and disposed of it. I would have to do it for her in this day and age.

[Louis de Pointe du Lac]

New Orleans, a city filled with music and excitement. The smoky bars and crowded modern taverns filled with loud tourists, all of them with a watching and inquisitive eye. ‘Could I be a vampire’ they stared blankly at me…. How simple it was to read their thoughts now that I was filled with Lestat’s stronger blood. ‘Non mon cher’ I would whisper to them with a smile, finish your drink and have another… Indeed, drink to your hearts delight and live your life to the fullest, banquish thoughts of vampires and live yet another day.

The moon above shone brightly against my now alabaster skin, previously my skin had been ghostly pale, but now it appeared the likeness of a marble statue, with long black hair and green eyes. What a sight I must be.

I walked down the empty dark streets of my familiar home, briefly contemplating a quick visit to the family tomb where my father, mother, brother and sister were all laid to rest. But seeing my own name with my mortal date of birth, to the date of my vampiric birth was quite unsettling. Also unknown to Lestat I had a crypt made for Claudia in my de Pointe du Lac family plot. He would not have understood, and I could not bear his ridicule over a simple gesture made for our beloved daughter. It was a simple marker to which I had had engraved, "My dearest and beloved Claudia" I would return in a few days after reuniting with Lestat, and place upon each tomb roses for my mother, daisies for my sister, a new rosary for my brother, and Claudia’s chrysanthemums.

The Rue Royale stood tall and inviting, always welcoming me, it was and will always be my home. The key clicked as I turned it and let myself in. I could have used the mind gift, but my preference was to use as little of my new gifts as possible, among vampires, or at least the least arrogant ones, we prefer to stay closer to our minimal human comforts as possible. One flick of a switch and the lights were on, several decadent chandeliers shimmering brightly, I quickly averted my eyes. I would never admit this to Lestat, but I still easily become mesmerized by the twinkling of the crystals in the chandeliers.

The rooms were empty, but not to my surprise. Lestat was more than likely off fulfilling the romantic fantasies of a few mortal women.

An open door caught my eye. A door that should not be open. A door kept closed for over two hundred years. Unconsciously I slowly strode to the room my eyes feeling heavy, my heart heavier and still. A thick feeling rose in my throat and I could feel my eyes tinge with redness.

Lestat had replaced everything to perfection. Her little French dresser, white and pristine, the glass cleaned and her chair waiting for her to sit like a little princess. Lestat had even put modern powders and perfumes as though she would return to admire them. Her French poster bed stood brightly and livened up the room. Lestat had purchased a new pink satin comforter, I touched it lightly, the soft smoothness of it surprised me and I briefly considered laying down on it, but I would not risk staining it with the blood tears that began to steadily stain my face. I stood still as a statue, taking in the beauty and the betrayal of this overly lavish room.

So much history within these four walls. I could hear Claudia screaming at us, her eyes filled with bitter hatred as she yelled. ":Which one of you did this to me?!!!! Which one of you made me what I am?!!!!" I choked back tears, they were flowing heavily now and dripping onto the plush pink carpet. I tried to find the doorway, but my eyes were blinded by the blood, my heart was beating out of my chest, I wanted the darkness and comfort of the grave, or the strength of Lestat’s loving arms strongly embracing me, and forcibly holding me tightly as he whispered softly…."It’s all in the past Louis…."

[Claudia]

I giggled, shaking my head slowly, my hand brushing his, "Always with the gifts Father." It seemed one way he could honestly show his affections, since emotions too strong sometimes failed him, as they never stayed steady for too long. And yet he did have a heart. Filled with pain, I supposed, as to create such a volatile creature. And his children much the same. Melancholy Louis, and I, the wrathful child.

We passed many shops, and more people, but we were simply enjoying the night's sights and sounds at the moment, nothing more. Until Lestat stilled suddenly, pausing our easy glide through the streets. I looked into the window of the store we'd come to a stop by. The jewels displayed in the windows were brilliant. Each cut remarkable, bringing out the most shimmer each stone had to offer. "I'm quite sure we could find something to suit my tastes here." I smiled to him, a bit mischievously. We'd both long had penchant for the finer things in life. I suppose his years of spoiling me had ingrained the same affection in myself.

He offered me his hand and lead me inside. The glittering, glimmering shine even in the dim light was mesmerizing. So caught up was I in the sparkling jewels that I barely heard Lestat. "Hmm?" I asked turning to him. My eyes light up, brighter than any of the jewels at the sight of what he now held. I took in a sharp breath, a reaction at the sheer beauty of the necklace. "It is....wonderful." My voice was breathy as I moved toward him, my eyes reflecting the soft glow that emanated from the emerald.

He tucked it safely in an appropriate velvet box and handed it to me after signing a note, apparently paying for the gift. "Oui. I shall where it for you and Louis both when he comes home. And I will cherish it always." I gifted him with a gentle and pleased smile, running my small fingers along the boxes edges. We left the store, Lestat covering our visitation with precise ease.

Something else caught his ever roaming eye, and he bid me leave him a moment. I simply nodded and moved toward a potential victim I had targeted earlier. A drunken woman, beyond beautiful with her ebony hair in waves down the slender curve of her back. Her shapely hips swaying to the music that played all along the streets. Her full and high breasts held in a strappy top that seemed made to show off her frame. I'd been watching her for some time, moving further up the street ahead of Lestat and I. Knowing he'd be lost in whatever his current venture was for some time, I made a show of my approach.

I weaved through the others walking the Rue Royal, acting as if I searched for someone. As I came to her, I reached out and tugged on her arm. She looked down at me, swaying. "What's the matter sweetie? Aren't you a bit young to be out so late?" The smell of liquor was almost overwhelming as she spoke. "My sister, you were with her earlier. In there." I pointed to one of the bars behind us, having seen this woman inside only moments ago. "I can't find her, she went this way. Come on!" I tugged at her until she followed as I lead her to a deserted alleyway. "You mean Tammy? The blond? Ok! OK!"

I nodded my assent, pulling her hurriedly along, even as she stumbled. "She went in there." I pointed, trembling, portraying fear. She took a hesitant step inside, then another, then another, until she was well into the darkness. I rushed after her, bringing her swiftly to the ground. I covered her mouth tightly with my little hand as I buried my mouth through her dark hair, my fangs piercing her neck. Her scream was lost within my hand, and among the raucousness out on the street. I drank quickly, stopping just before she breathed her last. By the time I released my grip on her, she was well and truly dead. I wrapped her hand around the neck of a discarded and broken bottle, and rammed it into her neck. Good enough. Let the city dispose of her.

I came out of the alley and had not made it yet a block when Lestat returned, a violin case in hand. "She is taken care of. A suicide. Poor thing." I slipped my arm through his. "Home then? I should like to admire my new accessory by the firelight. Perhaps you'll play for me." I nodded to the violin.

When we were but blocks from the house I felt him, when I felt Louis. I'd always been able to feel him. "Lestat!", I whispered with anxious excitement. "It is Louis, isn't it? He's home, oui?!" I ran then, my slippered feet moving swiftly and silently as they carried me to our home.

[lestat2]

Indeed I could hear movements in the house but it could have been David for all I knew and before I knew it, she was running towards the house. I ran after her, realising she would frighten Louis to death if she just appeared in the home. "Claudia, stop." I said quietly, grabbing her by her arm. "Let me go to him first. I'll explain to him, otherwise I'm not sure his mind will handle such a shock. He almost died the last time he saw you. Stay down here, I'll fetch you in a bit." I went in without her answer. It would end badly if she was to pounce upon him without warning, I had to go to him first.

Quietly I went upstairs to our rooms and went to the place that I knew Louis would be lurking, it was the first place he always went to when coming home. I tried not to smile as I watched him stumbling around Claudia's room, blinded by blood, trying to find the exit. I took his hands gently and led him out of there and into my room. "Oh Louis, you never change." I sat him down on the bed and handed him the box of tissues which I always had ready for him. I stroked his beautiful long black hair before slipping a present out from under the bed.

I am an immortal that loves to buy expensive things. Whether it is for myself or for the others around me, just purchasing something for a large amount of money makes me feel wonderful. I often flick through the most prestigious auction catalogs to see what catches my eye. On one particular day, an item caught my eye immediately. It was a set of first edition printed books from the early 1800s and they were believe it or not, some of Louis favourites, he had been a large fan of this author a very long time ago. I even had the books signed for him once upon a time but then he lost them in the fire of our home.

I went along to this auction and I bid on those books. I was determined to get them and the price eventually stopped on $2,300 but I would pay any amount to see his face light up at such a gift. Books were no longer the same nowadays, sure he could get this author from Borders but modern day books were flimsy and poor quality. The books I had just purchased were of beautiful quality, their covers were pure leather, their pages were sleek and fine with guilted gold edges, the print was bold and black in a beautiful script. Such books in those days were to be cherished.

I could not wait for his eyes to shine with happiness. I had caused so much hurt in his life, I did not like to see him that way and when I could bring him even a small amount of joy my heart felt light again.

I held the package out in front of me to my newly arrived fledgling, paper wrapped so beautifully around it in shimmering blacks and silvers and a elaborate silver ribbon held it together. “If I find this upon the floor where I can trip over them there will be hell to pay.” I told him with a snipe, my face was blank but my eyes warm. “Welcome Home, mon bel amour.”

I looked at Louis and the package and glared. “Well go on then, Louis, don’t just sit there or have you forgotten what a present is? Has Merrick been neglecting you? To get your gift you must unwrap the paper to see what’s inside, remember?” I said teasingly, putting my arm around his shoulders lovingly.

My mind eventually came to the little one downstairs and I clasped his hands. "Now Louis, something unthinkable has happened. Something terrible and wonderful. Someone from our past has come back to us and I want you to be calm. I found her on the streets of New Orleans, alive and well, I took her in because I could not push her away. She's my daughter. She's your daughter. If you close your eyes, you may be able to feel her presence. She will not harm you and if she tried, I would not let her." I stood from the bed, still holding one of his hands. "Claudia is back in flesh, she's downstairs. I would not lie to you about something like this."

[Louis de Pointe du Lac]

From a distance…a familiar sound…a child’s slippers quickly skimming across the streets of New Orleans. The sound echoed in my ears and seemed to pound with every second, and then suddenly they stopped. "Claudia…" I silently mouthed the name. But no, it is not possible, it was merely the sound from the past that tried in vain to comfort my tortured loss, and the grief I have carried in my heart and in my mind for over two lifetimes.

"Oh Louis, you never change." A familiar voice, loving and caring, yet firm and strangely unjudgmental. Gone was the mocking laughter. A strong arm about my shoulders replaced the fisticuffs I had so become accustomed to. Seconds later, paper tissues were handed to me. I wiped my eyes as Lestat retrieved a box from under the bed. ‘More books…’ I thought to myself as I held myself solidly, not allowing Lestat to see the glee that was already filling my heart with suppressed joy. As a plantation owner in my mortal years I did not often receive gifts, it was more my place to ensure that those to whom I was responsible for received their gifts, so although I have never told Lestat, I fight my inner child not to simply jump out of my skin with pure happiness when he presents me with his little gifts.

I could smell the leather as we opened the ornately wrapped box together. The complete works of my favorite eighteenth century writers, the gold gilded edges gleaming as I put them in my hands and carefully turned them over for further inspection, I casually suppressed a smile, but my eyes deceived me as I could tell they were smiling while my lips would not.

"If I find this upon the floor where I can trip over them there will be hell to pay.". "Welcome Home, mon bel amour." He said as I held the books tightly against my chest, "Thank you" I replied, "It’s good to be home, but this room….is it so necessary to keep the door open Lestat?" "Also, there is something I need to tell you, it’s about Merrick, I’ve left her Lestat, I have truly returned home to be with you, so that you and I could once again form that…that family that you once spoke about so many years ago. Do you think it’s possible Lestat? Do you think it’s possible that you and I….that we could be for each other…"


"Now Louis, something unthinkable has happened" Lestat said quickly breaking into my words, the words I had rehearsed in my mind for weeks. "Listen" He said as he took my hands into his, "Something terrible and wonderful. Someone from our past has come back to us and I want you to be calm. I found her on the streets of New Orleans, alive and well, I took her in because I could not push her away. She's my daughter. She's your daughter. If you close your eyes, you may be able to feel her presence. She will not harm you and if she tried, I would not let her.. Claudia is back in flesh, she's downstairs. I would not lie to you about something like this."

"Claudia…." I whispered the name once again as a deep pain emanated from my chest. I held the books out and gently caressed the binding. "No good deed goes unpunished" I whispered, and this was my punishment for the wonderful gift of these books and for the gift of myself to the one I loved the most. Indeed, sometimes love and pain can be one and the same. "Lestat, please! Are you not listening?! I have returned to you! You made me to be with you for eternity! You MADE her to make ME happy! She’s gone now and I am happy to be with you! Must you always carry on like a mad man?!!!!! Give it a break already! I will not hear of this nonsense any longer and I forbid you to say her name in my presence once again!"