Santiago:
I put my hand up to shield my eyes from the scorching sun as I walked up the cobblestone path, trying to avoid the droppings from the donkeys that made the trek up the hills each day, carrying supplies from the port. I probably smelled like that as was, I didn't need to add to it. My clothes were dirty and holes plagued both my shirt and my pants. The sandals on my feet were still intact, but who knows how much longer that would hold true.
I stopped in a shaded spot from an overhanging branch though I was soon pushed out of the way as a donkey leaned against me, pushing me painfully into the stone wall that lined the path, the rocks leaving scratches on my back. I put my hands on his side and forced him off me, moving my arm quickly when his head came around to nip at me.
Animal estúpido! I growled at him, flinching as he bucked, the edge of his hoof catching my leg. Today was not my day and I sighed. It wasn't much further to the top of Santa Domingo Hill, so I kept walking, a slight limp now plaguing my gait.
As I reached the top, I set foot off the path and sat down in the grass. I looked down over the city of Valparaiso below me. I had come here three years ago after being disowned by my family.
I was born Antione Santiago. Fourth, and youngest, son to the royal family Santiago of Spain. I had no interest and no possibility of ever obtaining the throne so never bothered to think twice about it. As a child, the stage is what captivated my attention and imagination. I would beg and plead with Sergi, my second oldest brother, to take me to see whatever troupe was in town. He would sigh but appease me.
For weeks afterward I could be found running all over the casa, duplicating the actions and words of the actors I'd seen. The servants would laugh and applaud and I never wanted it to end.
In my 15th year, Sergi tasked himself with traveling to see other parts of the world and spreading the name of Santiago. Secretly I knew he was doing this so that he could get out of the shadow of our oldest brother, Alejandro. I wished to go with him. Spain was beautiful and I loved it, but I needed the adventure. I spoke with my parents and they were firmly against it, I was too young, and too brash. It took me weeks of coming up with new reasons before they finally agreed. To my shock and horror they had agreed only if I would give up this dream of acting.
The desire for adventure won out over my dreams and I agreed. Sergi and I departed for South America the following month. He had begun research and found that there was a city of Santiago located in Chile from what appeared to be one of our ancestors. When we arrived there, Sergi went immediately in search of the wealthiest man, offering to buy his lands.
Let me first clarify all of this by stating that Sergi was never all that good at research. Pedro de Valdivia founded the town of Santiago and... he was no relation to us. But Sergi bought the land anyway and settled there content in thinking that our lineage held rights to the city. Me on the other hand... I was bored. I had expected more adventure, not sail to one place and stop. So, I returned to my dreams of acting.
It was not long before Sergi, embarrassed by my displays upon the stage, sent word back to my parents and had me disassociated with the family. I no longer held a right to even have Santiago as my last name. But to walk around calling myself Antione just didn't work. So from that say forth, I became just... Santiago.
I left the town by the same name and headed north to Valparaiso. It was just far enough away that I could begin my own life. I was 17 and invincible! Or so I thought. I had no money and only the clothes upon my back. I would find spots within the towns and perform acrobatics and acting out the plays I recalled from my youth. I made just enough money to survive. I would wear a single pair of clothes until they were nearly falling off my body before I would go to the local tailor and see about having things made out of the simplest white cloths. He was a good man and took pity on me, charging me only what I could afford, even if both of us knew the cloth was worth more then my payment.
And so here I have been for the past three years. My twentieth birthday was a month ago and I had sat, right where I sit now and stared out over the city and the Muelle Prat, watching the ships come and go. I had no money to leave and I would do no better anywhere else in Chile, so I remained.
I pulled a frayed strand of rope from my pocket and tied my hair back with it to help remove the sweat that had gathered on my neck from the rays of the sun. How far I had fallen, how much further could I ever go? My dreams were my daily performances in the plaza now, nothing more.
I laid back on the grass, pulling my shirt off to use as my pillow, and took a nap, awakening at dusk to my stomach rumbling. I needed food. I checked my pocket, I should have just enough. I would have to perform tonight or tomorrow to allow me to eat for the next couple days, but it was enough for tonight.
I pulled the frayed rope from my hair to let it fall about my shoulders as I walked and I started my long journey back down the donkey trodden path toward the main plaza.
Armand:
(Starting 5 years Earlier, Paris)
I had lately heard many rumors. The world was changing and our kind had this notion that they too could. How could they think they could break the laws and live amongst the mortals, the living. Did they think themselves some white angels? Fools. We were the darkness, it was our damnation to spread our plagues through the world, but we had no right with the purified. So this was my job. To search, to find the other covens. And to make sure that the rules were followed. All who wished differently, their future was true death. I would give them the choice, they could rejoin our flanks, or die. I was fair after all.
So where was I to start. I had already had all of France scoured, and I must say I was rather proud. None of our kind here wished to be anything more than they were. But I did here rumors in Spain. The land of God. Their many icons and mosaics depicting the Saints and the lord Christ at every turn. How could they then think nothing of their own purpose?. First I sent my minions and they came back with news, now it was my job to wreak the vengeance. They gave the others choices, but instead they just laughed and celebrated on. Going to their parties and Carnivals. I had no other choice.
Finding the first ship, I snuck on and soon found the lower cargo holds. It would not take long. Travel in most places of Europe never took long. A week and I would be there. And when the ship finally came into port I was soon off of it. I had not time. The first city I was to go to, the most hedonist of them all for our kind, Santiago. When I first entered the city, the sparkles and colors almost blinded me. I had not seen such bright and vivid colors and lights in a long time. The music was gay and their was much laughter in the air. To some it might have been understandable that those of the dark brood would not be able to stop themselves from joining the mortals, but that did not give them leeway to. We were the damned and that would be the way it always would be. We had our time in the sunlight, now our futures were planned more differently.
I did not wish to stay to long in this land of color and lights, I wanted to be back all to soon to my own kind and my own city. Soon I came upon a great palace. In the darkness I looked within the windows and spied as I saw immortals in bright colors and fine clothing, anger growled in my throat. I would give them the option. They could come back to the dark laws or they would die. While being distracted from all around me I heard two young men running down the stone street behind me. Quickly I hid in the shadows and watched them. One especially caught my eye. His skin was sun glowed, and his hair as dark as the night. It was the night and the day in the same package. His eyes sparkled, almost as if he already was a child of the night. But he was only about 13 or 14, too young to be brought over. Children would not to be changed. Eternally wrapped in a box, too evil to even think of. I did promise myself though. Some day I would come back for him. He was destined to be a recipient of the darkness.
The next few nights he kept rested in my mind. The next few nights I reorganized this town and many others surrounding it. There were many that chose final death instead, those that would die before the sun set the next night. I did find many that agreed to leave their foolishness though. Those with many, I allowed to remain as covens as they always were. Those that were stragglers, I brought back with me to Paris.
As years went by, more and more covens changed to the mortal ways, it kept us all very busy, some of our new members were very useful, but some were less than savory. Many times I heard their words, if not from their own mouths, then from others, good reliable spies to me. 5 and a half years had gone by and not one day did I not remember my greatest conquest. So one night I turned to Lillianne, she could have been called my first lieutenant and most trusted of my coven. Young too. She would be perfect for finding Santiago, and after a few weeks she did return, telling me he had headed off to Chile five years ago and had not returned since. So Chile it was. I demanded she find passage on the first ship heading there and not to come back till she found him, made him, trained him and cultivated him to our ways. I wanted the perfect acolyte by the time she came back. she was not to change him or bring him back. If it took years, then years it would be. And that should would continue with the laws and converts at the same time. She shook her head yes, and was off that very night.
When she did find you. I had to see for myself. I could not believe it was truly possible, that you would be found once again. I found the first ship out and for the whole voyage, could not think of nothing but you. Finally when I came to port I looked for the city Lillianne had said you would be. It took weeks, but when I did get there. I could not miss you. She had said you were some sort of street performer. How you played up to the crowds it was very amusing. You were quite the gift. Still even after these years, still you looked the same. I did not stay long. I could not have you see me, or notice me, but I did not think it was possible.
Before I left though. I explained to Lillianne once more her duties.. then I was off. I could not wait till you returned to me, and finally prepared to take you place in my family, my coven of darkness. We would truly be a perfect pair, Belle Morte !!
Lillianne:
The darkness of the catacombs in Les Innocents seemed more threatening than before. I felt as if the walls were falling over me, the weak light emanating from the candles and torches around causing me to feel as if I was going out of breath. There were rumors about immortals adopting a new lifestyle, or so I had heard from Armand, at dawn I came back to Les Innocents and he was giving orders to other members of our coven. Being the strong-willed immortal I was, I could not even think to dare to challenge Armand and risk his wrath, so I never said a word about my desires of trying this new lifestyle. A single word, or thought, and my immortal life would end in the hands of Armand. In one way or another, and this was a thing that made me feel frustrated, I feared him. I respected him, and feared him. Being his second hand, I had witnessed many tortures ordered by him, I had heard the screams, the prayers, the weakened voices asking for mercy... to be silenced by a mortal kiss. A fatal embrace, promising liberation and the end of all suffering. So what Armand demanded, so I did.
Armand came in my office, stealthy, as silently as he always used to do. I looked up at him from the divan I was lying on, as I was brought back to reality because of his strong, important presence. A teenager, and nothing else... not a man, not a child... but stronger than I was. That was Armand. He did not say a single word. I stood up from the divan, and then, with his hands by his back and slowly walking here and there as my eyes followed his movements, he gave me a task. He ordered me to go on the first ship departing for Chile. South America... finally, I would be far away from the humid walls of Les Innocents. Who was my task, you ask? Armand demanded me to locate and watch over a boy named Santiago, he wanted me to bring him to the dark world of immortality, to train him, to make of him the perfect predator. If he wanted him to be an immortal, why he did not do it himself? So I remembered. Armand had said he would never make a child of the darkness. So as his second hand, the task of satisfying his desire to have this boy was given to me. And I was not going to disappoint Armand.
So I took the first ship departing to Chile. The travel was terrible, I saw myself forced to survive by finding nourishment on rats and cats, and eventually, a sailor... toss him in the ocean... he could had perfectly slipped and fallen into the savage Atlantic Ocean waters. As for me, I was just a fine lady. When my feet finally touched the soil, I found my way to the city of Valparaiso. The weather and temperature... hotter than Paris, certainly. Hundreds of mortals crossed my path as I walked through its streets, trying to avoid too much visual contact, I moved as fast as I could do without alarming the mortals. Making use of the money Armand had given to me and moving a few influences here and there... getting rid of any living obstacle that dared to make my task impossible and at the same time satisfying my cravings and satiating my thirst, I accommodated in a house by the outskirts of the city. It had a basement, it was just perfect. Armand wanted me to make of this boy Santiago the perfect acolyte... how much time it would take, that I did not know.
So once I was settled down in the house, my search for Santiago began. Where could he be now? I knew he was a street performer; he earned his money by acting on the streets. The city was not too big for an immortal such as I, so moving across the roofs and studying every mortal I saw, I saw him. I saw Santiago acting at the main plaza to gain some money in order to find his meals. My eyes studied his face, young, handsome. His hair, as dark as the night sky, the same as his eyes. His voice... ah, his voice. That Spanish accent that I always liked. A grin crossed my lips as I went into the shadows again, he could not see me now. Not yet... I had to inform Armand right away that I had found his cherished treasure.
I went back to Paris to pick Armand up straight away. I could not lose any more time, it was precious. For us immortals time is not the thing that would worry us the most, but that boy was still mortal, with all the consequences his condition would bring. We got to Valparaiso as fast as we could, and I took him with me to my temporary place, and once he saw it, we went in the search of Santiago. I knew to the perfection where he could be, so I took Armand directly to the place, we had no time and we were not tourists. We would have the time to do that later... once Santiago was already an immortal.
Armand's eyes shone with desire as I pointed Santiago to him, amusing people with his performances. The simple clothes he wore, I knew, made him even more irresistible to Armand. As the nights passed, I could see a difference in Armand, his behavior had changed in a radical way, he killed distractedly, he did not pay attention at the victim's looks, if he was young or mature, he killed without taking any pleasure in the blood. Sometimes, he made use of excessive strength, breaking the victim's bones before killing him... or her... maybe due to his anger of not having Santiago by his side. More than once I saw myself forced to get rid of the corpses as he walked away, muttering repeatedly Santiago's name. Every night he hid within the shadows, watching Santiago perform. I knew this was not an ordinary whim of his.
We withdrew as Santiago's performance finished for the night and the mortals' attention was no longer centered on him. We could not afford to be seen by him and we did not want to catch too much attention. Once we were back at the house, Armand reminded me of my duty, and as quickly as he came, he went away again. Now, my true task had began. I was meant to catch Santiago, turn him... to make of him a child of the darkness. And so that was exactly what I was going to do..
Armand:
And when I did get back home my mind was in clouds. I could think of nothing but the disturbances of Lillianne's new lifestyle. I hoped that this infatuation she was burying herself in would not hinder Santiago's change. I knew how she loved dragging in furniture from homes that she attacked. Right now, sitting in my office, there was the Divan. I asked her to get rid of it, but she would not. She was quite willful but she also was very good at what she did. I had to allow a few idiosyncrasies. It was frightening, the world was changing and I was afraid at some point we all would too.
It had been sometime since I had lived in a home, and.. I looked away. I did not wish to think of my past. My present and future was all that mattered. How long would it take before Santiago would be ready to join us?
Every time one would come in and talk to me. I just went through the usual pattern. Nothing mattered to me. I did not know he would be so consuming, but he was. I had to take my mind off of him though, I had to take my mind off of Lillianne. If I did not, I'd be lost.
So once again I went back to my life, my existence. Running the coven, hunting and find new acolytes. If I did see my people break the laws though, I allowed my frustrations to be released. People started thinking of me as darker and darker. I was becoming more and more an angel of darkness. My black wings, growing stronger every night.
Sometimes all they did was come in, say one word and I'd growl a them.
Santiago:
I made my way down the Avenida Los Placeres to a restaurant that I happened to know the owner and chef of, El Parron. He had hired me once to perform for his daughter's 16th birthday. Ever since that time, he had become a friend and told me that I should only pay him what I could afford for the meals. It was never much and I was never allowed into the restaurant proper but it helped. He offered me a job once that I had thought of taking, but I loved what I was doing, I didn't think becoming a waiter was what would lead me to my destiny.
I approached the back door to the restaurant and knocked on the screen door. He turned and smiled, bringing me a cloth sack with a couple items in it. I gave him the last of my money and thanked him with a smile. I got the usual lecture about coming to work for him. I bowed deeply with a flourish.
Sorry Señor, it is not in my blood.
Neither are these performances you put on for pesos a night! He reminded me.
I laughed and went on my way. I made my way down to sit next to the water and opened the sack. The smell of the charquicán and pastel de papas that he had made, bringing a smile to my face. I sat there looking out over the ocean, so far from home as I devoured my meal.
Night came quickly and I made my way to the main plaza. There were several other performers here as well. Minstrels and bards as well as other acrobatic acts. I usually drew the attentions of the people walking by because I was known for doing all of these things. "One day you will perform in majestic settings!" I would be told as they dropped coins into the cloth sack that rested at my feet. I smiled and bowed for them, thanking them for their gracious charity.
Tonight's performance was no different. I claimed my small section of the area and began my night by leaping backwards and landing on my hands, demonstrating my balancing abilities as my legs were repositioned in many ways in the air. I finally brought my legs down slowly in front of me and stood.
I caught a glimpse of something through the people gathered. Someone in the shadows. When I blinked, they were gone and I thought nothing more of it as I continued my performance. Reciting plays and continuing acrobatics.
As the hours grew late and the crowds dispersed, I took the pile of coins I had made, drawing up the edges to hold the coin tightly and pocketing it. I waved to the other performers and heard the minstrel call out.
Santiago! You would get more money if you did not look as haggard!
I smiled. I shall go to the tailor tomorrow. In a couple nights, you shall see me in new clothing, I swear it! I actually had planned to use this money on new clothes, that was one reason I was glad for the large crowd.
I made my way to another section of town. I entered one of the donkey barns and curled up against the piles of hay to sleep until the next morning.
Lillianne:
Santiago's performance ended and the crowd dispersed as Armand and I stood in the shadows, in a place where we knew no mortal would be able to spot us. His eyes shone as he watched Santiago walk away with his reward for entertaining the mortals. I had left money for him, enough to have a decent meal at least for two or three nights. Armand looked at me after I did with a devious smile on his lips. I always loved those smiles of him. I also heard what Santiago said to the minstrel as he was about to go. So he would go visit the tailor... he was going to buy new clothes. Armand was too distracted staring at him and playing with a coin he had between his right hand's fingers... so I thought of something.
A few minutes later, Armand and I were at my place, where he told me I would need to get loads of money in order to stay in the city. I reminded him that was not a problem for me, with my abilities, I would be able to get all the money I wanted from my victims. Armand told me something about me wanting to change my lifestyle that alarmed me a bit, but being an ironic comment, I left it pass. I was not going to quarrel with him, he could have perfectly gotten rid of me, though I knew he was not going to do such a thing... I was the one that was going to give to him what he wanted the most. Armand left that same night, and a few moments later, I went out the house again. I found nourishment in a handsome, medium-high class man after he went out a pub, I knew he was not good and that all the money he had did not come from legal businesses. And for what I had seen so far, he was considered an undesirable guest. So... taking advantage on both situations, I got rid of a criminal and got some good money.
Leaving his corpse behind in a dark alley and still savoring his blood, I found my way to the tailor. I went in the store. The man stared at me as I did the same with him. Then, he spoke to me.
"Buenas noches... puedo ayudarle?"
"Oui... I'm here for a special request Monsieur."
"Ah... so you're a foreigner! France, I assume?"
"Yes. Le Paris. But let us go into the topic that interests us both straight away, s'il vous plaît. Time is something I cannot afford to waste, Monsieur. Take no offense, please."
I told the tailor to make Santiago's clothes. I told him about that boy he used to make clothes for, and he knew who was the one I was talking about immediately.
"And please... use good quality cloth. Comfortable, simple. But good quality cloth. Do not worry about the price, I am up for paying for them."
I also left a "little gift" for the tailor. A good amount of money, to keep my identity safe. Putting the money on the table and seeing the man's eyes widen as he looked at it, I said...
"And this is for you, Monsieur. Do not tell him I payed for his clothes. Do not tell him it was a woman who did it... it is... a gift for him. Remember, you do not know me, you have not seen me. Ça va ?"
And I said those words, I walked towards the door. I turned to see the tailor, who was looking at the bag with coins with an astonished look. He looked up at me.
"Remember, not a single word."
The man nodded at my words as I walked out the store. I grinned to myself... and a thought came to my mind as I did.
... do not force me to kill you.
Santiago:
I awoke the next morning to a foot being rammed into my hip. Get up vagabond, go sleep on the streets and stay out of my barn!
I scrambled to my feet and bowed, apologizing and telling him that his hay was quite comfortable. I walked back down toward the main part of town, finding a secluded area and taking the cloth sack from my pocket. I untied it and began counting how much I had actually earned last night. To my ecstatic surprise, there was more money in it then I had ever made before. The crowds did not see any larger, so it seems I had someone who felt generous last night.
With a new lightness to my step I made my way to the tailor. The little bell above his door rang as I opened it. He looked up and smiled.
Señor, I have come in need of some new clothes, these appear to be falling off my body. I tugged at the clothes about my body showing how tattered they truly were. Please make them of the finest cloth this time, I have enough money and I wish them to last.
He held his hand up in front of him. Santiago, an admirer of yours came to me last night. I have been generously paid to make you anything you wish. He threw down a book in front of me. Go through this, find whatever you want made and it will be yours.
I was taken aback. Anything I wanted? I could once again wear the velvet's and lace of my childhood. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I eagerly tore into the book and began looking for exactly what I wanted. When I flipped open to the page, I pointed at the outfit of my youth. The sleeves were full and cuffed in lace, the pants were velvet and fit nicely around the legs.
I want that. And please, also make me another outfit like you have before, and another poncho, a dog got a hold of the last one.
The tailor nodded at my second request and looked at the book to the page I had it open to. It will take me a week to make that, is that fine with you? I nodded, I had forgotten the feel of such soft fabrics upon my skin.
Señor, if you should see the person who paid for me to have this luxury, please tell them that they have my deepest thanks and I should be willing to perform for them in private if they so desired.
He nodded and bid me farewell. I headed right over to the cobbler; a new pair of shoes to go with my new clothes was in order. I told him what it was I was looking for and handed him the coins he needed. I shook his hand and headed out. Today was turning out to be the best day I had in as long as I could remember.
Lillianne:
I woke up early. I went up the stairs from the basement and towards the small living room. The sky was still purple, and the first stars began shining as I looked up at them from the window. The silence around me was dense, the houses nearby were abandoned but in perfect state, exactly what I wanted. I could not stay in a place frequented by mortals, so this was perfect. I looked towards the large couch by the empty fireplace... I had gotten a big amount of money and jewels from my victims last night, it seemed that Valparaiso overflew with bureaucratic criminals, men and women equally... ah... this was going to be a feast for me. Of course, I would have to go hunt in the cities next to this one, especially during those balls the local government threw to show off all their hypocrisy. I had experience with them... for my father being a general in France. Diamond necklaces, ruby earrings and gold rings... and thousands of pesos. I laughed as I walked towards the couch and sat heavily on it, recalling that adjective Armand used to call mortals.
"Fools."
I grabbed my booty and took it downstairs, to the basement where I had my coffin, and deposited it in it. I would have time to put it elsewhere later tonight. Now, I had to get ready to go see the tailor, to make sure that my request was taken and that Santiago had picked the best clothes. Once I was ready, I found my way to the city. I was already thirsty, but I could wait a bit more. I wanted to go see the tailor before he closed the store, or I would have to wait until the next night. As I walked through the street, the scent of the mortals' skin almost drove me crazy, but I had not spotted any criminal yet... and I had things to do first. I reached the tailor's store and opened the door. The ringing of the little bell over it caused me to look up at it as the tailor greeted me kindly.
"Buenas noches! I was wondering if I was going to see you again, madame."
"Bonsoir, Monsieur. I came to see if my request was taken. Did... ah... what is his name again...?"
I moved my hands as if I was trying to remember Santiago's name.
"Santiago?"
"Ah, oui... Santiago... he already chose his clothes? I would like to see what he picked, if you are so kind."
"Yes, he picked his clothes. He has good taste, to be a boy from the streets..."
A boy from the streets. What the tailor did not know was that Santiago was going to have more than he used to have before, more than the tailor was even able to imagine. The man picked a book and opened for me to take a look.
"This is what he picked, madame..."
"Ah... beautiful clothes the ones he picked... they are parfait."
"Yes. I will have them done in a week. Oh, by the way, Santiago left a message for you, madame."
"A message? Please do tell me."
"He said he is deeply thankful to you, and that he will gladly perform for you in private if it is your desire."
I almost grinned. This was absolutely perfect! So Santiago was willing to perform in private for me... I did not think this was going to result so easy. I put my best surprise face and brought my right hand to my chest, delicately.
"Oh la la! Please tell him it will be a pleasure to receive him in my home for a private performance. It is my desire to appreciate his show just for me. Tell him that I live by the outskirts of the city, in the number 19. I will be waiting for him in there."
The man asked me if I was alone, because I was young, and a young lady must not stick around without company, especially because there are lots of men in the taverns. Maybe he wanted to get to know me better, but those were not my plans. The less he knew, the better... for his own sake and my own, if I failed, Armand would never forgive me, and he would end up killing me.
"Do not worry. I am not alone, Monsieur."
The tailor smiled at me and told me he was glad to know I was not alone. I nodded slightly at him and walked towards the door. I went out and started walking to go find my first victim of the night, when I spotted Santiago running down the street towards the main plaza, exactly towards me. He could not see me! Not yet! I could not go in the tailor's store again, if Santiago stopped even just to say hello, he would see me. Just by the store's side, there was an alley. I went in it quickly making use of my vampiric abilities and hid in the shadows. When he passed in front of the alley, I could smell his blood's scent. I smiled deviously... and in a low voice, just for myself, three words came out my mouth.
"Bonsoir, mon chére..."
Santiago:
I had a new set of clothes on the way and a new pair of shoes being made. My life had finally taken a turn for the better once again and I was on a high. There was a girl that I had my eyes on, she was the bakers daughter but he had forbid me from seeing her since I had nothing to offer her. Tonight though, I would send her the flowers that she was so deserving of even though they could never compare to her beauty.
I ran down the alley's near the tailor toward the main plaza. I saw a woman standing near the doorstep of the tailor and then she was gone. I slowed and walked to where she had been, looking around. She had a European look to her, her skin was pale compared to the darkened flesh of everyone else here, and it seemed to almost glow. I looked around and saw no one. So took off running to the florist again.
Was she the one that I had seen the night before? Was she my benefactor for the new clothing? I'd have to keep an eye out for her during the day, see if I could make out her features any better. I put my hand against the door of the florist just as he was closing it.
Señor, please... I know what I want, I will be quick!
I flashed the little cloth pouch showing him that I had money. I was not looking for handouts no matter what my clothing told him. He finally nodded and opened the door. I ran in, picking up a small group of probably three or four Lillis and handing him the coins before heading to the baker's home.
The baker was still downstairs, cleaning up the bakery, but I knew Danielle would be home already. I moved quickly around behind the building and climbed up the tree that they had near their home. From there I moved carefully onto their roof, making sure I remained on the beams. I made my way over to her window. Putting the stems of the flowers in my mouth, I made my way down off the roof and balanced myself on the open window ledge. I carefully brought my tall frame in through the window and laid the Lillis down on her bed. I took a small piece of parchment from my pocket where I had written of my love for her and told her that these gifts were from me. A noise was heard just outside her door and I quickly climbed out her window and dangled for a moment before dropping to the ground a floor below.
I whistled the entire way back to the alley where I would sleep and dream of a life of having everything once again.
Lillianne:
I remained quiet as Santiago ran down the street towards the main plaza. I stealthily went out from the place I was hiding in to prevent him seeing me as I felt his presence going away, and then, peeking from behind the wall's edge, I saw him going in the florist. Lucky me, Valparaiso houses were not that high, so I easily reached for the tailor's store roof and went on it. I could see him perfectly now, but I wanted to know what he was going to do. I needed to know what he was going to do. I saw him when he put his hand on the door and went in, asking the man inside to allow him to do so. He disappeared through the door just to emerge from the store a couple of minutes later, carrying a small lillies bouquet. Le merde ! He was spending the money on flowers???
Where are you going, mon beauté?
I followed his steps as he ran down the streets. It was not a problem to me to follow him always remaining in the safe shadows of the roofs. Once he reached a small but decent house, he quickly moved towards a tree near the house and climbed on it. I was crouching on the roof, and then I noticed that he was going to go on it, exactly on the spot I was hiding in.
Merde!
I quickly moved out of his way, jumping to the roof of the house next door. From there, I could see him going down to the window below. I could not see what he was doing, so I quietly, vampirically moved towards the tree and went on a branch as I saw him going in the house through the window. I crouched on the branch... fortunately, we immortals are... light. I remained in there like a marble statue, watching him. Ah, he was so distracted... it seemed as if he was in love. A noise made him flee, climbing out the window and dropping to the street as I watched into the room. A beautiful girl went in, and ran towards her bed as she spotted the lillies and the note.
Oh, non. I cannot permit that, mon chére. Je suis désolé...
I saw Santiago walking down the street and dropped to the ground. I started following him... my steps were so light and silent that he did not realize I was behind him. He went in an alley, where he would probably spend the night. I could not have him sleeping on there! I went back to the main plaza and asked a boy to pay for a room in the inn and then go for the boy that was in the alley next to the tailor's store, giving him a few coins that surely signified a treasure for the ingenuous child, in exchange for his silence about my identity. As the child ran down towards the alley, I went on the roof again to see him. The child found Santiago, who was already almost asleep, and then told him about the room in the inn. Santiago seemed to do not be able to understand how was that possible, so the child dragged him out the alley and to the inn.
From the roof I was on, I saw Santiago go in the room on the inn's second floor and jump to the bed, and I could hear his laughter. Happy with the results, I went off the roof to find my first victim, grinning with an intense feeling of victory, yearning for the night when Santiago and I would finally meet, the night of his private performance, just for me. Ah, Armand... you will have your treasure...
Santiago:
I had just gotten comfortable on the steps of the alley when a small youth came running up to me and grabbing my hand. I almost snapped it away before I realized how young he was. If he was older then 10, I'd have been surprised.
What is it you want child, can a vagabond not sleep in comfort anymore?
That's what I am here for Señor. A lady has paid for you to stay at the inn.
A lady? I thought of the one I had seen in the alley earlier in the night. Can you describe her to me? The child shook his head and I sighed. I couldn't even describe her to myself. The child pulled harder on my hand.
Come Señor, please. I am to take you to the inn.
With a deep sigh I stood and followed the boy. When we arrived at the inn the child pushed a large number of Pesos into my hand and ran out of the inn laughing. I smiled, something told me that he'd made a week's worth of money tonight as well. I turned to look back at the concierge and he smiled at me as I put the money on the counter and he slid a small key over the counter to me.
The room is yours for a week Señor Santiago.
A... week? I couldn't believe it, I didn't realize how much the child had put into my hand. I laughed out loud and found myself running up the stairs to my room. Opening the door I flung myself onto the goose down mattress with peals of laughter. It had been years since I'd slept in a real bed. I even wondered if I was going to be able to sleep.
I got back up and closed the door, seeing a letter sitting on the small table next to the bed. I opened it, the handwriting was of a beautiful scripted hand.
Beautiful Santiago,
The tailor tells me your clothes will be ready in just under a week. When he gives them to you, he will tell you where I wish you to perform for me. Please wear the new garments, I wish to see if clothing truly can improve your beauty, though I think it will not matter.
- L
A short, embarrassed laugh came from me. I knew, when I tried, I could get most women to swoon for me, but to have one write such words when I'd never even spoken with her was quite unexpected.
----------------
The nights passed, but I found myself performing less and less in the market. I was not sure what I would do when my week was up at the inn, but that had never worried me before. I found everywhere I went now, I was told it was all paid for. My meals, my necessities, even the owner of the bath house came out as I walked by and told me to come in and enjoy myself, it was paid for. I was beside myself.
When the end of the week approached, I rushed quickly to the tailor's and stepped through the door. I had been washed and cleaned at the bath house and my desires taken care of at the brothel. I could not ask for more at this exact moment. When the tailor smiled and brought out the clothing, I fell to my knees. It was perfect. The colors and details were everything I remembered. I took it from him and stripped from the simple garments I wore. Closing my eyes as I slid the new clothes on, feeling the silky texture of the material. I sighed happily.
It is perfect Señor, thank you.
He nodded and handed me the new pair of simple cotton clothing as well. The lady that paid for these items, you will find her home in the outskirts of the city at number 19. She says you are not to come before nightfall.
I shook his hand and nodded, thanking him before tossing my old rags into the stove that was there. I stepped outside, feeling like a new man. My clothing was extravagant for the area, but it was what I wanted and it reminded me so much of the home I could never return to. I quickly took the spare set of clothing to the inn and made sure I was completely presentable. When darkness fell, I made my way to the outskirts of town. When I found number 19, I knocked gently on the door before hearing a beautiful voice tell me to enter.
Armand:
Weeks has gone by since last I spoke to Lillianne. Every night I paced the floors. They walked by me with their little requests and questions and for some sort of direction. Most of the times I growled at them and told them it was time for them to make their own decisions or speak to one of the others.
Some, like Laurent, moped around like shadows and all I wanted was to take him and shake him. Tell him to do something. How could I wait for years before you would be ready. Most of the time with immortality, years did not matter. Now this was a goal and it felt as though each night was just a second. I had to get my mind off of you. It was the only way I'd be able to continue on. They did not need me to be so cruel to them. They did nothing wrong to deserve this.
Tonight was be the first night I would try to forget, that was until Lillianne sent correspondences. I had already planned on the address for her to mail them to. A small home we had helped the residents vacate rather quickly. Amazing how illnesses moved so quickly. All correspondences would be sent there and every 6 months we would come and check to see if anything had been delivered.
I wondered what she was doing even now and how the development between the two of your were going. But no, I had to forget. It would only destroy us all.
Lillianne:
A smile came to my lips as I woke up by nightfall. The night when Santiago would perform for me had finally arrived, and I was already impatient. That is something Armand always used to tell me about, my obvious lack of patience. Always wanting to have everything at the very moment. But I knew I had to wait, and to calm myself down, I dedicated to hunt as I never did since I got to Valparaiso. Rumors of strange deaths ran through people, from ear to ear, but being scoundrels, thiefs and non-desirable mortals the ones who were found dead, people did not care too much about them. To the cemetery, to the common pit and that is it. I laughed softly to myself so many times... it was so easy... a deep cut on a visible vital spot and they fell for it.
I dressed up for the occassion. An expensive burgundy dress I brought from Paris, that left my shoulders uncovered, burgundy gloves to go with the dress, too. A necklace clinged from my neck, a perfect-shaped red rose made with emeralds and rubies. I also got my hair curled and tied up with a hairpin... the one my mother gave to me. A few curls fell gracefully on my shoulders. My lips, crimson red. It was perfect. I did not use to dress this way, but this was a special moment. I made sure evrything was in place and then I went up the stairs to the living room, where I noticed it was still early. Making use of my abilities, I could quickly feed and come back... I did not want the beautiful Santiago to be in danger because of my thirst. First, because of Armand, and second... because I already wanted Santiago so much that I could not think of harming him.
So I did. I went out and fed from a man that kindly offered me his help... I was lost... and I was a foreigner... "Monsieur, s'il vous plaît, I am lost... could you..." the mortal kiss and there he fell. I came back to the house and lit a few candles here and there, never too much light... though I wanted to go out Les Innocents, I was already used to the dark atmosphere, but it was not in my plans to scare Santiago, so I lit a few more candles than I normally do. When I was staring at the last candle I lit, I felt Santiago's presence approaching the house and a grin appeared on my features. I walked towards the divan and sat down, not completely lying on it, but comfortable enough, and then, I heard him knocking on the door. It was open, but I knew he would not go in without announcing his arriving. I told him to go in...
"You may enter, mon chére... the door is open."
The first thing I saw were his fingers as he opened the door slowly. Then, his face, peeking in, a bit shyly. When he went in completely and I saw the wholeness of his body covered with the clothes the tailor had made for him, I almost gasped. Ah, Armand! You have excellent taste. Pity that I did not see him before Armand did... but Santiago was Armand's treasure and I was the one in charge to polish this rough diamond for it to shine. There he stood, before me, as I studied him carefully. I gazed into his eyes with a smile on my lips as he greeted me.
"Good evening, madame. I am here to perform for you, just as I offered and you accepted. My name is..."
"Santiago."
He was sort of surprised that I knew his name, but I knew what to say.
"Ah, mon beauté... I know what your name is... as you already must know, I am the one that has payed for all your accomodations and desires... I had to know your name in order to ask for those services to be given to you, do not fret. I hope you have liked everything?"
A shy smile came to his lips as a lock of dark hair fell on his face. Oh non... what a sin he is...
Santiago:
I opened the door slowly, unsure of what it was I would confront of my unknown patron. The room was well lit with the candles, each one dripping wax down the length to pool at the base. And then, my eyes fell upon her. It was the woman I had seen in the alley the other night. Except this time, her skin was not as translucent white. I can only assume she was wearing makeup the other night. She was obviously of European descent, and stunningly beautiful. There was a grace about her that was unequaled in anything I had seen in my life. I blinked, realizing suddenly that I had been quiet and was staring.
Good evening, Señorita. I am here to perform for you, just as I offered and you accepted. My name is...
She delicately held up one hand, indicating her wish for my silence, then finished my sentence showing her knowledge of my name. I was surprised and awestruck. Why should she wish to learn the name of a simple street peddler? I had realized before that she was my unknown advocate and the reason for my luxurious treatment this past week. As she spoke, her voice and soft French accent lilted through the room and seemed to cloud my thoughts.
I finally gathered myself, this was not my normal behaviour, she seemed to have something about her that I had never felt before, like I was standing before something heavenly. I smiled shyly, my head tilting down just slightly causing a lock of my hair to fall across my face.
Sí, Señorita, everything was more then I could have dreamed. I thank you for such kindness... I hesitated and she tilted her head slightly to study me.
Go on Santiago, do not fear your words around me.
I looked at the ground. I just do not understand what I have done to deserve such treatment by one so beautiful as yourself.
Her laughter rang through the room like the chime of crystal bells. It was entrancing and pulled me in.
If it will ease you, then I will explain. I saw you out there in the plaza, performing. You were flawless both in your physical charm as well as your movements. I set my mind in that moment to convince you to perform here for me.
I had been told such things before, but never by one of such standing or beauty. I took a leg, one arm sweeping wide out to the side as I tucked the other in against my waist. When I rose, my confidence in myself had returned and I moved confidently toward her. Taking her hand, I kissed the palm of it softly.
Then if it is a performance you want, I shall give you all that you desire.
I stepped back and moved a couple pieces of the furniture and unbuttoned the dark blue velvet frock coat, laying it over the back of a chair. It had been so long since I had worn pants such as these, I just hoped they would move sufficiently with my body.
I bowed once more and then began a performance of acrobatics, balance and flair that I was not even sure I was capable of until that moment. I had watched her, she clapped and her eyes sparkled as she watched me. I wanted to impress her, be the man she never knew she wanted. I finished with a Spanish love song as I sat down at her feet, looking up at her smiling as the song finished.
Lillianne:
The sensation of Santiago's kiss on the palm of my hand remained on it as if it was carved on it with fire. It was a so gentle kiss, so soft, but still, so passionate, proper of a young strong soul. My eyes were fixed on his as he told me that he would give me all that I could desire... but was he sure about what those words meant to me? Had he the knowledge of what I wanted? I think not... and it was not just what I wished to have but what Armand wanted as well. So he was facing the desire of two immortals, though I knew he was not going to be mine. I was happy though, I was the one that was going to bring him to the Darkness, to the eternal world of immortality. I would be the first one tasting his blood, the first drink, virgin blood. His body was not virgin, of course... but his blood, it was never taken or drank by anyone before. And that filled me with an immense satisfaction.
Santiago stepped back, leaving the scent of his young skin impregnated on my hand. He moved a couple pieces of furniture to have enough space to perform and took off the velvet frock coat. My eyes followed his movements, every single movement, as if I had fallen into some kind of trance. Once he was ready to start, he bowed once more before me and began with his acrobatics. Talented, the beautiful boy... and he could do more than that being an immortal. Jump higher, move faster, have all of the equilibrium he would want. This was just the beginning of the end. The end of this mortal life, and the beginning of his immortal existence. I found myself clapping at his performance, his graceful, amusing movements. I was fascinated with him. I knew my eyes were sparkling with thrill, this was better than I was expecting, and Santiago was even more charming and beautiful having him this close.
His performance ended with a Spanish song, with him sitting by my feet. His voice filled the room, beautifully. So he was not just a skilled acrobat but a wonderful singer too? Every word of the song was delicious, with that Spanish accent and the tone of his voice. Though I was not completely familiarized with the language, I knew the song spoke of love, of stars, the moon and the night. A nocturnal love? Ah, Santiago... do you wish for a nocturnal love? Come into my arms and your wish will be granted. Come to me and you will have the night, just for you. I smiled at him when the song finished, a smile on his own lips as well. I knew he was feeling something he had never felt before, I could see it in his eyes. I wondered if I was causing him to forget that girl I saw by that house? Was his attention centered on me now? Was his attention centered on the foreigner that had just gotten to the city of Valparaiso? If it was that way, I would make sure of it... I would make him mine. My fingers caressed his chin.
"Ah, Santiago... mon chére... thank you very much for this wonderful performance, you have completely impressed me."
My fingers continued moving, towards his earlobe and through his dark hair.
"Would you really give me all that I might desire?"
Santiago:
My eyes stared deep into hers, if I believed in such things as eternity, I could have swore I saw it there in her eyes. I blinked and smiled softly as her hand caressed my chin. Her words, once more, the sound of twinkling crystal. I had impressed her!
In that single moment, I don't believe that I could have ever told you if I had ever impressed or entertained anyone before. She'd have taken me for a fool if I had spoke my mind in that flash of time. I took her hands in mine and kissed them, all the while thinking that she was beautiful, that I should proclaim an undying love for her. Feeling the tips of her fingers brush against my ear and then move through my hair.
At the instant of her question my heart felt as if it was going to crash through my chest. "Yes! Tell her yes!" my mind screamed at me.
I can not guarantee that I would be able to give you all that you desire, my beautiful señorita. It is no secret that I am a poor street performer, you deserve the wealth of a kingdom at your feet.
I kissed her hands once again and stood from my knees. When she stood with me, I was slightly taken aback. I bowed my head to her, closing my eyes and smiling. I turned to go and felt her grab my arm. It was commanding, yet graceful. Firm, yet soft. I looked down at her and was caught up in her eyes once again. I didn't hesitate and if I had, I might have realized that there was something mentally pulling me into it. My lips found hers as my arms went around her waist.
It was if I was in a dream until I heard my name spoken, as if directly into my mind. It startled me awake and I took a step backwards quickly, half tripping over a small table that was there behind me. I looked at her with wide eyes, a demon! It was why I had fallen for her so quickly! I rushed over to the chair, grabbing my coat. I moved to the door, opening it. I looked back over my shoulder once and swallowed hard. My heart once again feeling as if to shatter my chest. I think I had just sold my soul to the devil...
I closed the door behind me and returned to the inn. I stripped out of my new clothing and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. If she was a demon, was it so bad? My sleep that night was restless, filled with dreams and thoughts of her. Of how badly I wanted her. When I woke just before dawn, I could have swore that I had just felt her body pressed against mine, but I was alone. I wanted her... I already knew she would fill my every thought.
The day passed with fevered pacing of the room, her constantly on my mind. She had told me I could only come after dark, was that always true? As soon as darkness fell, I was at her door, banging loudly.
Señorita! Señorita, please let me in! I must see you. I must be with you!
Lillianne:
Santiago's eyes were fixed on mine as he stated that he could not guarantee to give me everything I could desire, for him being just a street performer, that I deserved the wealth of a kingdom at my feet. But did he know what I desired? No. He was thinking about material things, money, jewels, a beautiful Château just like the one I lived in before I was born to immortality. But what I desired... was him. I had left a life of luxury and wealth when I decided to go after the one I loved, and then I was dragged to this existence where luxury did not exist. In extreme. As Children of Satan we could not enjoy the pleasures of it, and that is why Armand did not agree with my tastes. But in order to attract Santiago, I needed fine things... I could not attract him wearing those rags we wore in Les Innocents!
I felt his kiss on my hands and then we stood. He closed his eyes and smiled at me, and then he turned to go. Oh, not yet... I grabbed his arm carefully, I could not make use of all my strength or I could have ended up hurting him. His eyes met mine once again, and a second later, his lips met mine in a kiss and his hands went around my waist, igniting my desire for him. Ah, Dieu... my right hand came up to his cheek and my left one to his shoulder, and then I called for his name, mentally, softly... silently. He took a step backwards, while I had my eyes still closed, savoring the taste of his lips, my right hand suspended on the air just as if his cheek was still in there. I opened my eyes to see him looking at me with widened eyes. I did not move from the spot we were standing by. My hand went down to my chest, resting on it. Santiago grabbed his coat and quickly walked towards the door, opening it and looking back at me over his shoulder. An evil sly smile came to my lips... I did not worry... he would come back... he had already fallen...
I sat down on the couch again as I felt his presence fading away with speed. Yes... run... run, Santiago... you cannot escape anyways. I went to the basement and changed my clothes. I took off the fine dress and put on something more comfortable for me, and then went back upstairs. Midnight had already passed, but I wanted to hunt. Just as the predator I am... Santiago's lips taste made me hungry once again, no matter if I had fed before he came. I was thirsty... and I needed to quench my thirst. After getting rid of a few miscreants I went on the roof of the house in front of the inn. I saw him, naked, marvelously naked, lying on the bed... but his sleep was restless. I looked into his mind, and what I saw filled me with desire, more, if that was possible.
I went back to my place and went to sleep. I surrendered to the slumber...
When I opened my eyes and lifted the coffin's lid, I knew it was early. Goddamned custom of mine to wake up so early! But I was already awake and I was not going to fall asleep again. A few moments later I was upstairs, choosing the place I would hunt. Better to do not go for Santiago now... he was quite frightened. Leave him alone tonight... but then I felt his presence, what made me turn to look at the door. A second later I heard him banging on the door and calling for me. I was not exquisitely dressed just as I was last night, but I had no time to get changed. I was wearing a simple blue navy dress, not marvelously decorated, and I was not wearing jewels. Fortunately, I was wearing some make-up to cover my pale skin, and my hair was loose.
I waited a few moments to see what was going to happen, but his banging did not stop. I slowly walked towards the door. He stopped banging when he heard my footsteps. I opened the door to see Santiago standing there... he repeated what he was saying as he stared at me.
"Señorita, please let me in! I must be with you!"
A smile came to my lips...
"Ah... bonsoir, Santiago... come in, please..."
I completely opened the door and stepped away to let him go in. He came in quickly and I closed the door. Then, I turned to look at him...
Santiago:
When she opened the door, her dress was plain and her hair loose about her shoulders. I still could not take my eyes off her. Did I care that she was a demon? It had been almost a decade since I was last in a church, perhaps this was my penance. To be loved by a demon such as her, I should sell my soul for certain.
Señorita, please let me in... I must be with you!
Ah... bonsoir, Santiago... come in, please...
As soon as the door was opened wide enough for me to enter, I was through it. The entire day I had spent planning this night. I had thought of wearing the full outfit again, but something told me not to bother. When I heard the click of the door shutting and she turned, I had her in my arms, kissing her with abandon. My lips moving across her cheek and down her neck.
Her hands were so cold as she placed them on my shoulders, but it didn't stop me. My hand went up, working at the hooks of her bodice. I expected her to have the full corset and petticoats on, but when the material slid down her body, she stood there naked before me, perfection. I felt her hands on my face as I stared at her marble white flesh. A perfect little tuft of hair hiding the last of her treasure from me. She pulled my face to hers and I tasted her lips. There was a warmth that entered through my mouth, moving to every appendage, and my body shuddered.
When the kiss ended, I ran my tongue across my lip, getting one last taste of it, before I looked into her eyes. Their color was different now, like the colors within them were alive. I picked her up and carried her into one of the rooms, laying her down on the bed. As she moved, my eyes went once more down between her legs and my hand caressed gently up one leg. I wanted to ask if I could have her, but in my mind, before the question even formed, I knew the answer. The answer was that I could have her as often and as many times as I could handle.
I quickly pulled my shirt off and stepped out of my pants. Her hand reached over running a single finger along the length of my arousal causing me to put my hand against the wall to steady myself. Climbing onto the bed began a night I will never forget. She was insatiable and no matter how many times I pleasured her that night, she wanted more. After about the sixth time, I couldn't move anymore and fell asleep with her in my arms whispering in my ear about doing this every night... I think I groaned a reply, my body sore and exhausted then I passed out.
When I woke, it was about two in the afternoon. I was alone in the bed and, forcing the muscles in my legs to work again, I slowly climbed out of bed and put my pants on before I went looking for her. She was nowhere to be found and I sighed. I found a small purse with some money on the table and a note telling me to go to the market and buy whatever foods I wished.
Lillianne:
As soon as I closed the door and turned to look at Santiago, I felt his arms around me, holding me, this time, differently. It was not the soft -maybe shy hug he gave to me at first. This was the embrace of a man abandoned to the passion. His lips met mine in a passionate, deep kiss, and then my hands went up to his shoulders, do not paying attention to their coldness. His kisses continued, moving across my cheek and down my neck, causing me to almost moan, my eyes closed as I felt his lips touching my neck. His hands came up to undo the hooks of my bodice, and once he was done with them, there I stood, completely naked before him. I held his face as he stared at my pale body, and then we fusioned in another kiss. This time, I gave him a small portion of my blood... a blood kiss.
Santiago carried me to one of the rooms, laying me on the bed. There was no necessity to ask... both of us wanted the same thing, and I was going to give him all the pleasure he could ask for. He took off his clothes as I touched him, teasing him, inviting him... he climbed on the bed for an intense night of pleasure to start. No one had made me feel that way before. No immortal gave me so much pleasure, no one caused me to tremble with passion as much as Santiago did. I do not know how many times we became one, all I know was that I wanted more... and more... and more... during our lust and desire night, I gave my blood to him twice, or thrice, in very small portions. I wanted him to become addicted to it, for him to drink it properly when the time come.
Maybe after the sixth or seventh time, Santiago collapsed between my arms. I ran my fingers through his hair as his head rested on my chest, both of us breathing heavily. With shaky and low voice, I whispered a few things into his ear, inviting him to do this every night, to come to me every night and succumb to this divine sin. He accepted my invitation, though I think he could not even hear himself, he was exhausted, and then he fell asleep. I grinned to myself... parfait ... parfait ... mon beauté enfant Santiago ... it was almost sunrise when I carefully moved him on the bed for me to have freedom of movement, and giving him a soft kiss on his forehead, I went out the room.
I walked through the living room, naked. I took a purse with money and left it on the table along with a note for Santiago, and picking up my dress from the floor, I went down to the basement, and do not paying attention to my nakedness, I went in my coffin and fell asleep, still feeling Santiago's touch and kisses. The next night, I found my way to the city, where I remembered that girl Santiago used to visit. I knew he was losing his interest on her, a simple teenager, having me. But... I had plans for her. I was quite thirsty due to the activity I had last night, and quickly I found my way to her house's roof. I saw her going out, waving her right hand at his father as he told her to be careful and come back early.
I cannot assure you she is going to come back, Monsieur...
I waited for her father to go in the house and for her to walk a bit, and then I jumped off to the ground. She did not even realize I was following her. She was heading to the Main Plaza, maybe to see Santiago. The only thing she did not know was, that Santiago was not there. He was at the inn, eating all he wanted and enjoying the softness of the sheets of his bed. I waited for her to get there and take pleasure at her disappointment. When she was about to go back to her home, she went in an alley, maybe a shortcut, maybe her wish for death? Maybe she wanted to die deep inside, and her subconscience guided her to that dark alley, where I was patiently waiting... she walked through it, and then, as she passed the dark spot where I was hiding, I went out and stood by her back.
"Good evening, mademoiselle... what a beautiful night, non?"
The girl turned quickly, and I was not putting any effort to hide my supernatural aspects. She was frightened. I was a lady, and still, my clothes did not say so...
"Who... who are you???"
"I am not Santiago, I can assure you..."
"W-what?"
"Oh, ma belle... I know about you and Santiago..."
"Leave me alone!"
I gave her a sly evil smile, and before she could even scream, I was already pinning her against the wall, one of my hands covering her mouth, the other one, uncovering her neck. I saw the vein pumping blood, and then I sank my fangs on her neck, a muffled scream and a short weeping... her hands fell to her body's sides, and then I stopped drinking before the heart stopped its beating. I sealed the wounds on her neck with a bit of my own blood, and inflicted a wound on her torso with my dagger. The blood that still remained in her body started pouring through it. Poor girl! She was victim of a criminal! My heart was broken... oh, pity. I took her earrings and necklace... they were not authentic jewels... but let us pretend... I looked at her face... so sweet...
I almost laughed. But non... I silently went on the roof and found my way to my place. Santiago would be on his way there as well... every night that followed our first passionate encounter was as intense as it was, even more, if that is possible, thanks to the infusions of my blood I gave to Santiago. I do not know if he suspected something about the girl's death... but it was too perfect for him to think I was the one to blame. If he did, he did not say a thing to me... he was completely lost in my spell...
Santiago:
That first day, I bought several things that I could eat immediately and then several things that had been salted and preserved. I used some of the money to pay for a couple more nights at the inn. I wasn't sure what my future held, so for now I would continue to live day by day.
That night, I returned to her home, the door was opened and I let myself in. Another note on the table telling me that she would return soon and that she had left something for me on the bed. I didn't even know her name and yet I was willing to do everything she asked of me. This wasn't like me at all, but I didn't care.
I moved into the bedroom and saw the black linen shirt and pants laying out on the bed. I ran my fingers over the material, this was very high quality linen. I didn't wish to soil the new clothing so went into the bathroom and stepped out of my cheap cotton clothes and bathed myself, making sure that I was clean and dried before sliding the soft linen on. It moved so freely against my body, so light.
Hearing her come in, I walked out into the main living room and leaned against the door frame. He skin was not as white tonight and I wondered why. She smiled at me, walking forward and placing her hand against my cheek, it was no longer as cold. She pulled me to her and kissed me, giving me a taste once more of that forbidden fire that she alone contained within her.
I wanted to ask her name. It had been two nights now and I'd never known it, but before it even came from my lips, I heard it spoken directly into my mind... Lillianne. It was as beautiful as she was.
Days became nights and back into days. My nights were spent with Lillianne, most not leaving the bed, others were spent walking along the water or through the city streets admiring the scenery. My days were spent in delirium, lying in bed in a cold sweat, my dreams filled with thoughts of being with her once again when night fell. I had forgotten all about the baker's daughter, she was but a mere child compared to Lillianne.
Months passed like that. I had an entire new linen wardrobe and I wanted nothing more then to please her. The surprise came when, after another extended session in her bed, she told me that she was leaving Valparaiso to return to Europe and wanted me to come with her. Without hesitation, I agreed.
Lillianne:
The baker's daughter death did not bring the consequences I was thinking it would bring. No one said a thing about that beautiful foreigner lady that had arrived to Valparaiso, though I heard here and there a few mortals asking for that boy that used to perform with the other youths by the Main Plaza. Ones said he had became rich "God knows doing what" and others did not bother on comment, they just said they were glad that Santiago had gotten a better way to live. All those comments I heard when I went in the taverns cleverly disguised - oh, you know ladies do not frequent those places - to find the one that would become my victim.
I bought fine linen clothes for Santiago, black in their majority, but also royal blue and purple ones. I left them for him in my bedroom and then headed out to feed. When I came back, he was there, wearing the clothes. Oh, so perfect. So divine. His eyes were already shining differently thanks to the blood infusions, but that was something no one would realize, at least, not mortals. That night, I finally revealed my name to him, spoken directly to his mind. Lillianne. Lillianne Dauphinée. Though my last name I did not use anymore the day I died for the mortal life and were born to Immortality.
I knew that the infusions were already having an effect in Santiago. He was sleeping during days and remaining awake during nights, complete nights, until sunrise, thing he was not able to do those first days when he fell asleep at 3am when I was still up to hunting. That filled me with pleasure, and I knew the time to go back to Europe was slowly coming. But not yet... I wanted to be sure about it.
Maybe five months later I knew it was time. Santiago had already an extense wardrobe and his soul was entirely mine. Though he would have to give to Armand later, I was already satisfied... I had enjoyed him in body, mind and soul. Still, he would be with me for a long time. A night, after our passionate encounter, I informed him about my return to Europe. I told him I wanted him to come with me, to what he agreed without any hesitation.
Ah... Europe. I would be in my element, yes. We would know several cities before heading back to Paris where I knew that Armand was impatiently waiting. I knew I could not bring Santiago to Paris, for Armand wish to have him. We would go to Italy. Ah, Le Rome...
I told him we would be leaving in a week. I told him to buy and get everything he would want, though he already had acquired almost everything he wanted. I could feel him getting less and less human, if you want to call it some way. His skin, his eyes, his movements... and the best thing of all... he wanted me to give him "my forbidden fire" as he called it, more... and more... and more...
Santiago:
The week before we left flew by. Lillianne spoke to me of places we would see. Rome had interested me the most in our discussions. When I asked if we would be visiting Spain, she peered at me, but finally nodded. I was told that although we would check in on my family, I was not allowed to speak with any of them. I hadn't spoke with them in so many years, it didn't matter now.
All of the preparations were made for the travel by ship. Our clothes were all packed and I bought several pounds of various salted meats. Lillianne asked that I purchase several bottles that were empty but could be sealed tightly. She would have them filled, but I was not to touch them. I went to question her but she silenced me with a kiss... the fire... I was silent after that. The night we left, I noticed all of the bottles had been filled and sealed. It was the darkest wine I'd ever seen.
Our items were all loaded onto the ship and I stood there on deck watching the shoreline drift away. I was going home... I turned when I felt her hand on my shoulder, she was beautiful as always. She'd purchased a new dress just for this trip. It was a dark crimson color with black lace. I wore the latest outfit she'd purchased me, a black linen shirt with billowing sleeves and matching pants. I laughed when one of the crew told me I looked like "a bloody pirate".
There was a large trunk that was kept in our cabin that I was forbidden to look inside. I did try to open it once, but although it contained no locks or means of holding the lid down, I was unable to open it. During the trip I could not figure out where Lillianne disappeared to during the day. I had always wondered that, but now, aboard a ship, there was no place for her to go. Her forbidden fire kisses grew less and less and her skin paled more with each night. I worried about her, but she promised me that she was fine and would return to being her normal self once off the ship. The bottles of wine she had brought were emptied before we reached Italy.
I was beginning once more to be awake during the days and helped out where I could with the duties on the ship. I would see Lillianne for several hours a night before I would fall asleep. She would tell me that the night was my time and that once we were back on land, I would never wish to see daylight again. Those nights she laid with me until I fell asleep were filled with dreams and I would awake in the morning tired and my neck was sore like I had slept badly on it.
The day we reached Italy, I couldn't find Lillianne again. She had left a note on the bed stating that I was to wear my finest clothes, the ones I had originally picked out, and have all of our belongings taken to the following address. She would be with me that night.
When I exited the ship, I had forgotten how good solid land felt. I stood there looking around for a carriage, a Spaniard dressed in the finest silks, surrounded by Italians. I stepped back into the role of royalty once again, placing one arm behind my back, standing up straight, and walking over to one of the youths moving the cargo. I snapped my fingers at the boy and he ran over to me. I pointed to each item as I spoke so that if the boy did not understand my words, he would understand my actions.
I wish transportation for myself and my belongings. See that it is completed and the baggage is loaded safely and I shall pay you a full day's wages.
The boys eyes grew wide as I pulled out a small sack of money Lillianne had given to me for this purpose. The boy looked at the bags and ran down the street. I had not paid him so I only hoped that meant there was another reason for this. He returned shortly with a very fine carriage.
I smiled as he loaded the bags and secured them. The large trunk that I had never been able to open was placed next to the driver up front. I paid the boy his coins and stepped into the carriage. I looked out the window as we sped down the streets. Yes, this was to truly be a whole new life for me and I welcomed it with open arms.
We pulled up to the address that Lillianne had given to me and a gentleman about my own age emerged and began unloading the luggage. For a moment I wondered if this was the life she had planned for me as well. To bring me back here and be her servant, unloading the luggage of each gentleman she invited here.
The man spoke broken English, but enough that I might understand.
Welcome, you and your mistress are welcome here with us.
My mistress? This was not her home then it seemed? The man paid the driver and escorted me into a magnificent palazzo. My eyes took in everything I could as he showed me to our room. The room was about as large as the home Lillianne had picked out back in Valparaiso. I watched the baggage being brought in before moving out onto the balcony that overlooked the ocean. I could get quite used to this once again.
Lillianne:
The moment when we would go on our trip to Europe had finally come. I had arranged everything to assure my nourishment while we were on the ship, I had acquired several bottles to keep the blood in... I took in this task the last three nights, I was used to do this anyways... to drain humans just as if they were rats. Oh, but I have to say human blood has better taste. I had also bought a new dress... crimson-colored with black lace... to suit my nature. Santiago also asked me if we were meant to go to Spain, so he would check on his family. I agreed, with the condition that he could not speak with them.
When everything was ready, we went on the ship and looked at the city of Valparaiso fading to black by the horizon. We were finally leaving South America and its colors to go to Europe, the continent that saw me be born and die... to resurrect among the dead and become what I am. We would not go straight to France yet, though. Santiago was very interested on Rome, so his wishes would be granted. Rome would it be. It was perfect... I cannot say the trip was pleasant for me, every night that passed I became paler, drinking cold blood. It made me sick, but surviving was the most important thing and I could not kill any sailor... it would be suspicious. I had done that before, but I did not want to put Santiago under any risk. I consumed the blood bottles one by one, slowly, as the days passed. Santiago was sort of worried about my health, but I assured him everything was fine with me.
I slept in the large trunk we kept in our cabin. Santiago was forbidden to look in it, to try and discover its content, for it being me. He was unable to lift the lid though, it was too heavy for him. If he tried to open it, I did not know. Santiago was awake during days again and spent time with me by nights. After he fell asleep, I drank his blood, savoring it, but just little bits. He would not notice I had done, he would just feel pain on his neck.
We finally reached Italy. I had spent a lot of time in there being a mortal, and also as an immortal. I had given Santiago the address of the palazzo where we were meant to stay.
When I woke up, I could not feel Santiago's presence in the room, thing that was good. I lifted the trunk's lid easily and went out. The room was beautiful. I assumed that Santiago would be looking around the palazzo, it was huge and it would take time for him to explore it completely. Its huge halls and decorations would have him distracted for a while, so I took a bath and dressed up with a royal blue dress, black silk gloves and diamond jewelry. My lips crimson red, as always, and my hair filled with curls. I walked out our room and tracked Santiago's presence towards the gardens. There he stood wearing those linen clothes that did suit him so perfectly, and the scent of his perfume reached me as the night breeze brought it to me as he looked at the ocean. It was the perfect view due to the palazzo being on a hill.
I walked up to him and put my arms around him. He laughed softly as he felt my touch and put his hands on my arms. I rested my head on his back for a few moments before he turned to see me and put his arms around me as well, so we were embracing. I do not know if it was due to the blood infusions, but Santiago had a new beauty in him that captivated me. He was acquiring this supernatural beauty that we immortals possess, he was more perfect every night that passed, the almost invisible imperfections he could have were slowly vanishing, and his voice was acquiring that softness, that velvet tone we vampires speak with. We kissed just as a couple of lovers would do, and then I spoke.
"So, mon ange... how do you feel in here? It is a beautiful city. And I do hope you like the palazzo?"
Santiago:
When night fell once again, Lillianne appeared as she promised. She looked stunning her in blue dress and decked out in diamonds. They suited her so very well. Her lips were so very bright red compared to her white skin. She was still not quite herself, I could see it so very clearly in the light of the palazzo.
My gaze was cast out across the ocean once again as her arms went around me then I laughed softly, my hands placed on her arms. I closed my eyes as I felt her head resting against my back. It was here we stood for several moments before I turned to her, my back to the ocean, and placed my arms around her.
The scent of the ship still clung to her hair and my own, it would disappear slowly as the days passed. I ignored it and kissed her, with a deep passion. I wanted things as they were before we left on the ship. I wanted to be her companion and lover instead of just a face she saw for a few hours a night.
I feel like I am finally home, my mistress. This city is beyond what I dreamed it to be... and the palazzo... I have no words.
I put my hand under her chin. Mistress, you must take care of yourself, you are not well, I can see it in your features. I moved my hand across her cheek.
She pulled away slightly. Santiago, I will go, but you must remain here. Will you abide me?
I sighed then slowly nodded. If it is what you wish of me, then yes. You will return to me tonight still? She nodded and I offered her my arm.
We strolled through the gardens for a few moments before she kissed me. When I return, you shall receive the kisses you long for again Santiago.
Those forbidden fire kisses, yes I had missed them. She parted from me there and I walked back inside. If I believed in ghosts, I would have swore I just saw one. It looked like a revenant perched against the wall but as my eyes locked on it, it became a blur of motion and disappeared. I ran over to where it was at, but there was nothing there and no signs of it as I looked around further. I recall a mass of auburn hair and shreds of clothing, but nothing more. Did Lillianne know of what it was?
I moved through the palazzo, the minutes seemed like hours that Lillianne was gone. I did even begin to wonder if she would be returning to me tonight.
Armand:
Constantly patrols were sent over the cities. Checking to see if there were any new acolytes out there for our coven. Then one night as one parolee returned, Adrien, I was given news. News I had been waiting for, for almost a year. There was a sighting of Lillianne in Rome. Rome, to Santino's old coven. I had to see what was up. I had not received a letter from her in some time. I wondered if, hoped that, Santiago would be with her.
Then next night I gathered a few pieces of clothing and quickly traveled out to find her. Still I would not make my appearance to Santiago. There still was so much training that was needed. He was not ready yet, he could not be ready yet. I wanted him perfect when the time came.
When I finally reached Rome... I followed the directions that Adrien had given me. And what became quite disturbing was the home she was using. It reminded me much of Marius's in Venice soo long ago. Flagrant use of mortal lifestyles. What was this? This could not be the home that Lillianne was staying at? But all around I could smell her, sense her. She was throwing our ways in the air, as though they did not matter!
Quietly and cautiously I entered. This had to be wrong. Maybe she was nearby, but not here. Maybe in one of the nearby crypts. It was just then, as I was walking around a corridor, that I saw him. There.. he was dressed in finery. What was going on? What was this? I could not sense Lillianne presence, but I knew she was here. I could smell her all over him.
And here he was almost coming in my direction, I had to hide. Quickly I moved into another room, and waited till he was clear from here. I turned around and looked.. silver mirrors and combs on the dresser.. a dressing gown on the chair.. satin slipper on the floor. It all smelled of her.. My face in disgust.
Hah! She felt that she did not need to follow the rules.. well I'd teach her. I'd make sure she learned and knew who left the message to remind her. Quickly I headed for the gold gilded wardrobe in the corner. Flipping open the door. Dresses, beautiful mortal dresses. Quickly, pulling one from another.. I started to rip them, shred them. She'd learn. This was not acceptable.. and after a few minutes all that was left was rags, all over the fine marble floor. And on top of that a bottle of ink poured.
Yes she would see when she returned and know my displeasure. I wanted to scream, but I could not disturb Santiago... and in one quick whisk, I was gone.. And soon to be gone from the city. Once again forced to wait, and hope that she did not destroy our plans and work. She was good at her tasks, but so disrespectful at the same time. All I could do was sigh.. when I was finally home once again.
Lillianne:
As I walked off the gardens after my meeting with Santiago to find my nourishment, I knew he was already starting to see and sense as an immortal. His sight was now acquiring that precision we own, for he began noticing all those details he could not see before on me. I grinned to myself as I used to do as I slowly walked towards the palazzo huge main entrance, and to the street. Oh, this is was better than I thought it would be. Yes, I was doing a great job and because of that, I would have a feast tonight. I would drink as much blood as I desired, I would take as many lives as I wanted. I deserved it...
Rome's streets were filled with young blood drinkers, I could sense them and see them, but they did not dare to come closer to me. I walked through the market looking at all those fine clothes and jewelry I never wore before, and oh, why not? I bought a beautiful ruby necklace. There, in the market, I found the ones that meant to become into my victims, young men all of them. I did not want a woman. I wanted men. I do not know how much time I wandered through the city, mingling among mortals now that my flesh was decently blushed with the blood I had consumed. I received invitations from a few gentlemen to have a walk with them under the roman starry sky, but I had someone waiting for me in the palazzo, the beautiful Santiago.
I had promised to him that I would be back to him tonight to give him those "fire kisses" he loved so much, the ones he craved for once that night had fallen over the city. Yes, I would give those kisses to him, I would give him kisses and everything he would wish from me. So then, I found my way back to the palazzo to look for Santiago and show him the necklace I had bought. I could wear it tonight for him, and nothing else.
I nodded slightly at the youth that received me by the palazzo's door. He told me good night in Italian, that language I always have loved.
"Buona sera, signora..."
"Buona sera."
I decided to go to our room before going to look for Santiago. I walked through the palazzo's corridors and up the stairs, oblivious to what I was going to find in our room.
The door was opened, and I thought Santiago was there. I smiled and softly pushed the door...
"Santia..."
My eyes widened as I looked at the terrible sight before me. My dresses, all ripped, shredded, ruined. Ink all over them, rags of satin and velvet gloves destroyed. I hurriedly walked towards the closet. Not a dress was saved from the destruction. And the scent of someone I knew to the perfection on them. Armand. Armand had done this to me! My anger was coming to the surface, I took off my velvet gloves and threw them to the floor as blood tears of rage filled my eyes. Damn! How could he... how??? How he pretended I could attract Santiago wearing rags and smelling like tombs and death??? I took the rags of satin with trembling hands to let them fall to the floor again. I took the small red velvet bag containing the ruby necklace. I took it off the bag. And broke it.
"... Armand."
I remained standing there, with a terrible rage inside of me, wishing I could do something to do not fear Armand as I did... I wanted to scream... but I was not able to.
... I felt Santiago standing by the door, by my back.
Santiago:
I stood in the doorway, wondering what had happened in here. All of Lillianne's items were destroyed. They were just items of clothing, but watching her pull off her gloves and throw them to the floor, I knew it bothered her, I just didn't understand why. She picked the shreds up and let them fall through her fingers back to the floor, the ink staining her hands.
I extended my hand forward as she pulled the necklace from the bag, but before I could say anything, she broke it. Several of the precious stones slid across the floor to rest at my feet. A name... Armand? Who was Armand? One of her previous lovers? A husband she was running from? I could see her shoulders move as she wept. I finally walked toward her.
Stay away, Santiago! Her voice hard and cold but filled with grief.
No my mistress, I will not.
I continued to approach her, sinking slowly to my knees behind her and wrapping my arms around her. I felt her fight my grasp for a moment before giving in and relaxing back against me, still crying.
It will be alright. They were only cloth and material, we will have more made my mistress. You would still be beautiful in rags.
She wept louder and I turned her around in my arms. Her cheeks were stained red as dark red tears ran down her cheeks to fall upon the material of her clothes. I pulled away in shock but she grabbed my arms.
No Santiago, it's alright. Please, hold me.
I hesitated for a second, I needed to have a doctor called, she should not have blood coming from her eyes. She knew it though, like this was normal? She needed me, so I stayed and pulled her against me. Her blood tears would not be seen on my black clothing.
We sat there in one anothers arms, my chin resting on the top of her head as she wept against my chest. I wanted to kill the person who had made her feel like this. She'd done nothing to deserve this. And then, as if she'd read my thoughts, her words were soft.
He cannot be killed Santiago. Not by the hands of any mortal.
She lifted her head and looked up at me. I was confused, why could a man not be killed? And then, as if she spoke directly against my ear, her voice came through my head loud and clear.
Because he is not a man...
The revenant I'd seen? Was that who she spoke of? I didn't think to question how her lips never moved as she spoke to me, I didn't care that this... thing could not be killed, I would find a way. And then her lips were against mine, kissing me deeply. The taste of the fire and the press of her flesh against my body made me forget the world once again...
I woke the following night just before the sun had set and even the minuscule amount of light in the room coming from under the door from the hallway bothered my eyes. Lillianne and I were both naked, but for the first time, she was still here in my arms. We were covered in her shreds of clothing that we'd used as a blanket.
Laying there, I played with her hair, but she seemed so still, I became worried. Her body was so cold and I could not wake her. I stood quickly and picked her up, laying her down on the bed. My own tears beginning to build in my eyes. Then, her eyes fluttered open and I pulled her close to me.
Oh my beautiful Lillianne... you are alive!
She ran her fingers through my own hair and smiled. I am fine Santiago. There is more you need to know, but it will come in time, not tonight.
She stood from the bed and put on some of my clothing. They were too large for her, but using the shreds of her clothing, she tied the pants tighter around her waist and rolled up the legs. The shirt she just let hang long.
I must go out again tonight. We will leave Rome after tonight, see what you want of the city, we will not be back here anytime soon.
I nodded my head at her as I put on another pair of my pants. I didn't understand what was happening. As she left the room, I sat down on the bed and tried to remember the night before. My hand went up to my neck, it was sore and I had a metallic taste of blood in my mouth. Her fire kiss... Leaving my shirt off, I walked out into the hallways and down into the main room of the palazzo. The staff asked if they could help me, I ignored then and walked out into the garden once again.
Lillianne:
That night, after I cried as I had not cried in many years, Santiago soothed my pain sharing his love with me. Once again his caresses were just mine, as same as his kisses and his passion. He made me forget Armand and his coward act, coming here when we were out and shred my clothes to rags. I wondered why he did not face me... because he felt pity of me or just because we was using me to get what he wanted? I knew my chances of beating him were close to zero, if they were not already zero. Maybe he did not wait for me because he knew we would end up quarreling? Fighting? With me completely dead? Who knows.
When I woke up, Santiago was almost crying, and pulling me close to him, he said I was alive. Well, that was relative... I was alive in a metaphoric way of speaking. I told him that there were many things he still needed to know, but that he would have knowledge of later. I needed clothes, so I opted to wear Santiago's. This is what I was used to when I was not wearing those horrible rags Armand forced us to wear for us being Children of Satan, so it was not a problem for me to look like a man. I adapted his clothes so I could wear them and informed him that I had to go out again and that we were leaving Rome. I was a stupid thinking that Armand would not try to get news of us. Especially with us being in Europe.
I knew that Armand would be still in the city, so I was decided to find him. I did not know what would happen, but I was sure that Armand would not kill me. He needed me for me to finish what I had started, the making of Santiago. He would never dare to give him his blood, so yes... he needed me. With those thoughts in my mind, I left the room after I asked Santiago to do what he had to do in the city. I walked through the palazzo's empty corridors and towards the main room, where the staff seemed to do not recognize me because of my clothes, but once they realized it was me, they greeted me. I greeted them back just as I could, because I could have perfectly growled at them.
An instant later I was already walking through the streets of Rome, passing the mortals by just like a shadow. It seemed just as if no one had a face, they were mere ghosts... I just had a face in my mind, and that was Armand's. I do not know if I was walking, running or already flying, I just knew I was moving as fast as I could. I was not thinking on feeding, I did not care about that at that moment. I was just looking for him...
Finally, after maybe 20 minutes of wandering and looking here and there, I sensed Armand's presence in an alley. I suddenly stopped and scared a couple of girls that were walking through the street.
"Scusa..."
The girls remained standing there, wondering if what they had seen was a man or a woman, a ghost or a person. Before they could even reply to my apologize, I was already in the alley. A few steps forward I saw him, with his beautiful face and his auburn hair falling on his face. The rags he wore making him look as the fallen angel he is. He looked at me with his expressionless face.
"Armand."
He did not move. Neither I did. Before Armand, I had always felt as a prey, no matter how strong I was. His name came out my mouth from between my clenched teeth and filled with rage, and still, with fear. More blood tears coming to my eyes as I glared at him.
"Armand!"
Armand:
I saw her and her infuriating glare, staring back at her, dressed in my dead rags. Clothes from the corpses in their graves. After all they were dead and so was I. At one time clothing as she wore, were like that which I wore, but Santino showed me the light the truth of our existence. How dare she yell at me.
Calling out to her "What is that I see? Is that a man or a woman? Is that a vampire or a mortal." Walking closer to her. "It must be a mortal though I can sense them as though they weren't. Vampires do not dress as mortals. Mortals live, we are dead, angels of death. Satan's servants." Then I played as though I was in shock. "Is that, is that Lillianna? My... but what does she wear?"
Coming closer to her, running my hands over those threads, then I ran my glossy nail into the fabric of her sleeve, ripping it, it tore open till it showed only her flesh. "What are you doing? Who do you think you are!!" Grabbing her chin in my hand and squeezing it, as though I could break her jaw this very minute. Turning her head one way then the other. "Yes... it is Lillianne. What do you think you are doing?" My voice rising even louder. "Is this some sort of pleasure trip you think you are on? Damn you."
"Get out of those mortals fabrics and be who you are. Give him the truth, show him our existence. I don't want a human when he comes to me, I want a vampire." My eyes glowing as though they were on fire. "I should not have to tell you this."
"I allow you everything you heart desires, give you everything you want. You ask for furniture, I say not a word. I give you it all and you throw it in my face. This is not a life of Leisure. That life is gone. You should remember that and he will. Do I have to find another to do this task, or drag him back and throw him into pure turmoil. Or... Can you do as I wish?"
"I want him trained and prepared when the time comes. I am trying to be understanding.. but you are truly trying my patience. I will be back in Paris by tomorrow.. I hope I don't have to stay and take this into my own hands. I hope not for your sake. Fix this!"
Lillianne:
I stood there before him, with my eyes filled with blood tears. He was still a boy when he was turned into a vampire, and still I feared him. His soft voice reached me as he walked closer to me, asking me if I was a man or a woman, a vampire or a mortal, and I was not capable of moving a muscle. Angels of death. How many times had I already heard those words from him? Satan's servants. Oh yes... every time we had new members in the Coven. His cynical words asking if I was Lillianne almost caused me to swear at him, he was filling my heart with anger. My face turned into a disgust expression as I listened to his words. How can something so beautiful, be so devilish? A cruel Angel, and I was mad at myself for fearing him that much.
Then I felt his hand grabbing my chin, painfully squeezing it and making me gasp. Was he finally going to put at end to that dark existence of mine? He studied my face turning my head here and there as blood tears fell down my cheeks without I could even control them. I could not fight them back. Armand's voice rose louder as he asked me what I was doing, who did I think I was. He ripped the shirt I was wearing, and I was again on rags. A low cry escaped my lips as he did. How I wished to tell him to complete the task, to leave me alone, or kill me. He could perfectly drain me at that very moment, I could not do a thing about it. How I wished I could tell him to go to Hell, if we already were not in there. But no. I thought of Santiago. I could not let him fall in Armand's hands without being trained or he would lose his sanity.
Once again, those words telling me he wanted a vampire, not a human. About my whims, about the things I liked to have. He asked me to fix the situation, and then he stepped away. I glared again at him. Fine. If he wanted to kill me, he could do it, but I had to tell him a couple of things. I wiped my blood tears from my face with the ripped shirt's sleeve as Armand looked at me, he was mad. But I was going to tell him what I had to tell him. My voice was impregnated with rage, and so my words.
"Yes... you want Santiago... you want him. I know you want a vampire, not a human. I understood that since the first time you asked me to go pick him in South America."
I lost my temper.
"But how in the earth you want me to attract him wearing rags??? Smelling like death and looking like a monster??? Answer me!!! Why do not you go and try to bring him to you looking like that???"
I felt Armand going even madder. I did not know if he would end up killing me. He walked towards me, forcing me to walk backwards. My back crushed against the wall. I could not go any further. Still, I spoke once again.
"Answer me!!!"
Armand:
The anger flaring up from me. "Do you not think that at one time I was any different?" Walking still closer. "Do you not think that at one time I was human, or that I was always a monster?" Snarling at her. "You love to down play me, any moment you take that option. We are, do you hear me, we are servants of hell, we had our chance in the mortal world. We are no longer mortals, we are vampires. We are not alive, we do not live in the living world." Emphasizing every syllable. "We belong in a grave..." Holding my head in my hands, running my hands down my cheeks, and over my chin, my eyes looking back at you. "Why do you try to me so? What can't you just do as you are told? I treat you like a shining star in the nights sky. I answer to your every whim, and you can't even respect our laws."
"What are we to do with him when the reality comes that fancy clothes and lovely homes do not exist to us? Steal all that beauty once more from him? Do you think that is fair? Do you? You drag the boy back to this world only to disappoint him once more. Show him who we are." Taking you face in my hands once more. Then before you can you can utter a single world, my hands fly at your clothes once more, my nails moving in quick possession and slashed through all the material, leaving only a shattered rags, to give you some decency.
"Now go to him in these rags! Show him the truth, prepare him for his future. I don't want a human I want a vampire, a child of the night!!" And with on last swift movement of my hand I slap your face, your body wavers, my nails scratching through your cheek. "Do not try me Lillianne. Do not!!!"
"Do as you are told..." Patting my hand over your bruise. "Like the good Acolyte you are. Make your coven Master proud! I will be gone tonight, back to Paris, but I expect this remedied and not to hear from any others of your antics. Oui?.. Now Go!!!!!"
And through the nights air you can hear my voice as I walk away. "Clothes do not make the man, he should learn soon enough what he is to be... Do not tease him by fancy things... I am sorry to say, but I was not lured by them to my coven... I promise you... My Dark Master, taught me well, stripping me of humanity my first night away..." Marius was not who I spoke of, for he was tooo human to be vampire, Santino was my lord and Master...
Santiago:
Somehow, I knew the moment Lillianne returned to the palazzo. I had been out in the garden once again, having returned a short while ago from walking around the city. It was a very beautiful place, I'd have to come back here some time.
I rushed back in, seeing her clothing torn from her body in the flash of movement as she ran into the room. I scaled the stairs three at a time and ran into the room, pausing at the door as Lillianne was throwing items into the chests.
She refused to turn around and look at me, but I grabbed her arm and she fell to the floor before me, crying. It was then her head turned and I saw the damage to her cheek. I called out the room for a medic and she screamed a quick "No!" I looked at her astonished, she looked as if attacked by a wild creature.
Mistress, you must have that taken care of right away! It could become infected.
She held up her hand and slowly pressed it against my cheek. Santiago... what I have done... where I come from... there are laws. I have broken them and this is my punishment. Those of... my kind, are not allowed to walk around in such fancy garments. These rags, that were once so beautiful, are what we wear.
I turned my head and kissed the palm of her hand.
Lillianne, I don't care what it is you wear, you are beautiful to me. If it is rags we must wear to end this punishment you endure then let us. I've done it so many years now, it matters not to me.
I watched as she leaned forward and kissed me.
Santiago... there is something about me you must know. And from here, you shall make up your own mind...
She moved to my neck and I gasped slightly as I felt a sharp prick at my neck and then a complete bliss, memories flooding through my mind of everything we'd seen and done together. I found myself growing tired and she pulled away.
Watch, Santiago... Open your eyes and see.
I wasn't sure what it was that I was watching... until right before my eyes, the flesh on her cheek began to heal until there was just a barely noticeable mark. I ran my hand over it, unable to comprehend.
I am a vampire, Santiago. You have been chosen, but I must show you our ways, help you to understand.
As tired as I had been a moment ago, I was now wide awake and fascinated. I had sold my soul to the devil after all, but if it was to forever be like this... I would have asked where to put my signature if the paper was held before me.
You are going to show me tonight? I asked a bit surprised and excited by it all.
She shook her head. Not tonight, Santiago. We must leave here now. The coven master knows of our presence.
The revenant!
She nodded. I hadn't seen him well enough to know anything more. Go get something to eat to recover from the blood I have taken from you and then we shall be packed and on our way tonight.
I smiled and pulled her close to me once again, kissing her. I had heard tales of these creatures, vampires. They hunted the nights, killing those who had sinned. I would have thought them horrid and grotesque from the tales, but if what Lillianne said was true and if they were all as beautiful as she... then I could not wait.
I quickly had something brought up to the room and we began packing between bites of food and even a session of passionate love-making and a forbidden fire kiss, I now understood the secret. We were on the road that night, headed to England. Lillianne promised me that it was there she would begin to teach me all I needed to know. I couldn't wait.
Lillianne::
There I stood watching at Armand as he walked away and faded to black in the darkness of the alley. My face was sore due to the deep scratch and the pats that Armand gave me on it, and I was again wearing rags. The beautiful clothes I had bought for Santiago were destroyed, and I was infuriated. I was so furious that I could have killed dozens of mortals just because, I could have drank blood until my body started rejecting it. Deep inside, that is what I wanted to do. But those mortals were not the ones to blame for the terrible state I was at that moment. No. The one to blame had a name, and it was Armand. The beautiful devilish angel, the Coven Master.
Once Armand's presence vanished, I started moving. My body was still wavering and my face was covered in blood, both with the blood that was pouring out the scratches and my blood tears. I could not go out the alley in this state or I would cause collective panic. Instead of that, I went on the roof and moved through them, as fast as I could, making sure that the mortals could not see me, and towards the palazzo. I knew that Santiago would be in the gardens, so I went in through the huge backyard and through an enormous window that was open, with its curtains slowly blowing.
I jumped and a second later I was already walking through the corridor and towards our room, covering myself by holding the rags in place. I pushed the door and went in, and I immediately started throwing all our things into the chests. At that moment, Santiago found his way to the room. I did not want to turn and see him... not like this... but he grabbed my arm and I could not avoid the unavoidable. He saw the terrible scratches on my face... he told me that we should call a doctor. I refused... so this was the time to tell him all the truth.
I explained to him what I was, I showed him why it was not necessary to call for a doctor, and I also told him about the Coven Master. Santiago was thrilled with the idea of me being a vampire, and it seemed as if he was yearning to become one as well. Well, after sealing our stay in Rome making love passionately, we were on our way to England. We would go to London, where the Gentlemen elegantly greeted the Ladies and everything was high-classed. I was about to start teaching Santiago everything what he needed to know in order to turn him into an immortal, he would learn how to feed and the ways of the vampires. Now Santiago knew what was that chest he could never open, why I always disappeared during day. I dedicated myself to explain a few things to him while we were on the road, but when he asked me who turned me into a vampire, I simply did not know what to tell him, for I was abandoned for my maker. I only know he was a tall, strong, dark-haired vampire. His name was unknown to me.
Santiago was definitely thrilled with all the explanations I was giving to him, and he was filled with questions, just like a child starting to discover new things. Most of his questions caused me to laugh merrily, but this was understandable... we immortals are just myths for the mortals. A few days later we were already in London. Yes... now I would start training Santiago, he would start becoming what Armand wanted him to be. But I would do things my way. I would wear fine, elegant clothes. I would stay in beautiful mansions. I would do what I wanted. And Armand would not stop me. After all... I had his beautiful treasure with me...
Santiago:
When we arrived in London, I personally saw to the chest containing Lillianne, carrying it carefully into our room at a very high class hotel. The other things were brought up quickly and the coins were handed out to each who provided their services. With my top hat pulled down low over my eyes to help shield them from the brightness of day, I walked the streets of London.
I was learning their behaviours, mannerisms, and attitudes. It all seemed so very formal once again. It amazed me how different everything was from Valparaiso and how there appeared so much more money and wealth here. I took it all in and before I knew it, dusk had fallen over the city. I turned to return quickly to the hotel, but I heard her voice and stopped. Smiling, I looked to the right and there she stood. A beautiful crimson colored dress. Her flesh pale as she had explained it was each time before she fed. I walked swiftly over to her and put my hands around her waist and picked her up, loving the sound of her laughter then kissing her with abandon. I didn't care if that was the style here, I wanted to kiss her and thus I did just that.
Once I set her back down, she took my hand and asked if I was truly ready to witness her feeding. Nervous I definitely was, but excited and ambitious in the same thought. I thought we should take off running with no cares through the streets until she found what she wanted, but instead she forced me to offer an arm and we walked as proper English aristocracy through the streets. After a while, I felt a slight tug on my arm and with proper form, she motioned for the youth across the street. As my eyes found him, he appeared to be only a couple years older than I. It made me wonder what designated how she chose. Here I was on her arm, yet one who was clearly more handsome was to be her victim.
I guided her across the cobblestone street and she greeted the youth. He looked at me and I offered him a congenial smile. I think he worried that I should become upset if he said the wrong words to her. I assisted in helping him believe that I was only an escort, not her husband or jealous lover. There was a moment of hesitation on my part when her hand left my arm to be taken up by the youth, but she knew what she was doing. I followed behind them both at several paces, watching as she guided him to an alley. As I came around the corner, it was then I saw her bare her fangs, shove him hard against the wall and drink from his throat. I stood there watching, mesmerized. No blood was spilled, it was all so very clean. The youth's body seemed to just fall asleep. His knees buckled, but she held him up, his hands slid off her body to hang limp at his sides. And just as his eyes closed, she pulled away and let him fall.
When I looked at her, I could see her flesh darkening and becoming even more radiant. She licked her lips, turning them from the dark crimson of his blood to the subtle pink of human lips. Her eyes shone brighter and when she looked at me, her smile entranced me all over again. I held my hand out and she approached me, taking my arm once again. She killed two more this way that night before we returned to the hotel. I had already begun undoing her bodice of her dress by the time we reached the room. As the door closed, her dress was off and she was shedding her petticoat and bloomers as fast as she could. I got my shirt undone and she was already working on the side buttons of my pants.
We made love the rest of the night and she would drink from me each time I peaked then as I relaxed, she would give me her blood to revive me for another round. I had never laughed as much as I did that night and as morning came, she closed the heavy velvet drapes and curled up next to me. I woke to a knock at the door, it must have been some time around 2pm. Pulling the bottoms to my undergarments on, I opened the door slightly. It was the staff asking if they could clean. I couldn't let them in with Lillianne sleeping in the bed. I told them to charge the room with any extra costs that might be needed to have the staff clean the room at night instead. With a bow, they left. That was easy enough. I locked the door and returned to the bed with Lillianne, curling up with her in my arms once again.
Time passed quickly and we moved out of the hotel to a mansion she had picked out and purchased. Every night I learned something new and a few times she had me seduce and lure the prey to her. I found she liked to watch me with other mortals as well. Male, female... it didn't matter. Experimentation became part of the game. When their hearts raced from their release, she would strike. If I was ever attacked by the victim, once my arm was sliced deep by a knife, she would heal the wounds with her blood.
Several years passed like this, always leaning more. I was nocturnal like her now. I had begged that she change me over and over, she told me it had to be when the time was right. My hair was kept trimmed just below shoulder length. Long enough to pull back in a strand of silk, she said that was where it looked the best.
One night we brought back a rather sadistic minded individual and I was rather hesitant at playing with him for the night, but Lillianne would just smile at me. As it began my hesitation showed when I was tied up. Lillianne just watched as she usually did. What happened next was all so quick I wasn't sure what exactly went on. I saw the flash of a knife and a searing pain washed over my chest. When I looked down, there was a knife buried deep into my chest and Lillianne sat on the victim, draining him dry. I tried to talk, but couldn't. He'd punctured a lung. She moved over to me and untied me and removed the knife. I could feel my life slipping away from me and I wanted to cry, but only a single tear appeared. I couldn't die, I was to become immortal! She'd promised me!
Her hands were coated in my blood and she held my head.
Santiago, listen to me. You must die before you can be reborn. Your last lesson... My eyes went wide as I looked at her. She leaned down and drank from my wound. My heart began an even slower rhythm and I felt myself slipping away. My eyes closed. That was the final step, I'd seen it time and again when she fed. I lay there in blackness for a moment before hearing her voice.
You must drink Santiago. Swallow, please, you must! I could feel the fire over my tongue. Her blood... yes, I remember it. Some vague and repressed instinct took over and my arms shot out, grabbing for the source of the fire. Her wrist... my hands clasped around her arm, pulling it to my mouth as I latched on. I couldn't explain what I felt. It was as if I could feel the wound in my chest... mending! Time slowed and it seemed as if I drank forever. Her voice was slow, like it dragged in time. And as if the rope that was pulled taught, dragging me into death, snapped, time returned to normal and Lillianne pushed me away from her as she fell back onto the foot of the bed.
I held my hands up before my eyes and everything changed. Then came more blinding pain. Every orifice of my body seemed to open and out came every last remnant of what was human in me. I felt Lillianne pick me up and carry me into the bathroom, setting me in the tub and carefully washing me clean. I could see my skin had become much lighter though not as much as hers. I looked into her eyes and saw minute color changes I'd never seen before. Everything seemed as if it was alive. The gleam of the water as it moved in the tub, the movement of her hair as a breeze blew through the room. I could name every scent that came in on that movement of air. When she was done, I stood from the tub and pulled her against me, kissing her. The taste of blood on her lips still. My blood...
Welcome to immortality, Santiago. She whispered to me.
The corner of my mouth lifted in a slight grin. I'm hungry... I whispered back at her.
Lillianne:
In England it would be. Santiago's death and rebirth would take place in London. Despite Armand's threaten and demands, I would do this my way. He could come and shred my clothes, scratch my face and threaten me as many times as he would want, I would always find the way to get my luxuries back. I was not going to wear rags, I was not going to be a mere shadow haunting in the darkness. I would be deadly, and beautiful. As same as Santiago. His beauty could not be gloomed by wearing rags, I was not going to permit that.
I bought more fine clothes for the both of us, beautiful jewels and expensive accesories. The finest fabric we could acquire. We stayed in an elegant hotel, where we picked the most expensive suite, a huge beautiful one, from where we could see the city and its shiny lights from our balcony at nights and before we went out. Santiago saw me feed several times, the way I picked my victims and how I drank from them until the light stopped shining in their eyes, until their exhaled their last breath and they knew life was leaving them behind.
I enjoyed having him luring the victims, bringing them to me, giving them the fatal invitation as they accepted, oblivious to the idea of death awaiting for them in the shape of a beautiful fine lady. They would accept without hesitation... Santiago is very beautiful to reject him. Men and women fell for him equally, and how I found pleasure watching him with those mortals, taking in his kisses and touch... then I would make my move. I would take their lives and drink their blood like an elixir containing the secret to eternal life.
We lived in a mansion that I had acquired. It was not hard to find money from my victims, for they being very wealthy. And my thirst helped... three and even four victims a night... then their possessions would be ours. We successfully mingled among mortals... every night after I fed we enjoyed the company of a few of them, who had recognized us and our mansion as one of the most beautiful things they had never seen before. Several years passed, and Santiago became a very fine gentleman, handsome, attractive. Then I knew the time had come. I would turn him into an immortal.
I cannot say I was not nervous. I knew I was more than capable of doing it, and I knew Santiago was strong enough now. I would have to see him die, I would have to see his life abandoning him to then bring him back to life. He found death in the hands of a psychopath... who would think that the beautiful youth that pretended to be a very stable individual was in reality a murderer? Ah... I got my sights on him since the very first time that I saw him. I would give him a few more years for his heart to get darker, for his soul to drown in evilness, and then I would strike. And so I did.
The Dark Gift would be finally given to him. When Santiago was already dying, I drank from his wound. Then I sank my fangs on my own wrist and urged him to drink. The vampiric instinct. He grabbed my wrist and started pulling my blood out the wounds, craving, just like the vampire he was becoming into. With a scream of pain I pushed him away from me and I fell onto the foot of the bed, holding my wrist with my other hand until it healed. I stared at Santiago as the process was completed, and then I took him to the bathroom and washed him. Once he was fully clothed, he was stunningly beautiful. A perfect vampire. Lustful, deadly... and he was my creation.
I took him out for him to find his first victim. His eyes shone incredibly, both for the supernatural bright they had now and for the thrill that was invading him. He was thirsty... very thirsty.
"This is your night, mon amour. Choose your victim... choose the one that will give you his or her life for you to keep being as beautiful as you are..."
I told him about drinking from the victims once again as we walked down the street, waiting for the perfect doomed soul to appear.
"Remember you have to stop drinking before the heart stops beating, Santiago."
He nodded, and the sketch of a grin appeared on his lips. I could partially see his deadly fangs. Ah, what a magnificent creation of mine! Then he spotted a young man that was coming out a tavern. Good-looking, and evil. Vicious, lascive. I knew Santiago wanted him, and then he guided me towards the young man, who headed towards a darkened street. It was empty... just the two of us, and him.
"Go for him, mon beauté..."
A second later the man was pinned against a wall, struggling to set himself free from Santiago's grasp. But he was too strong... Santiago seemed to particularly enjoy seeing their victims' terror faces before sinking his fangs on their throats. The young man stared at Santiago as he grinned at him, and before the man could even scream or ask for mercy, his blood was already flowing in Santiago's mouth. A smile of pleasure appeared on my lips as I witnessed the show. Santiago took two lives more that night. I had to pull him away from his third victim, a woman... he was so taken in the killing that he almost forgot to stop drinking before her heart stopped beating.
Years passed, hundreds of mortals lost their lives in our hands, individually or shared. Santiago's thirst during the first months was something I had not witnessed before. He was indeed the perfect vampire. And blood was his aphrodisiac... long sessions of love-making until the sun rose by the horizon kept us busy after our hunting... bloodletting helped us keep the rhythm until we were forced to succumb to the slumber day brought to us.
Then, a night I found a note on the floor, it seems it was slipped under the door. It was an anonymous one, but due to the beautiful handwriting, I knew it was from an immortal. It said that the Coven in Les Innocents was completely destroyed. Burned down to ashes. I knew that Armand was alive, he could not perish in there. Who could have brought this note to us? Would Armand appear before us a night? Santiago and I had a long conversation about the success... what would happen now? We decided to wait.
And so we did. Time passed again, and then a night, when we were about to go out to feed, someone knocked on the door. This presence... an immortal. Santiago opened the door, and there he was. Laurent. He was elegantly dressed... maybe he was on his own now that Les Innocents was destroyed. But then I saw something on his hands. He was carrying a note with him. He looked at Santiago and slightly nodded at him, greeting him. Santiago returned the gesture, touching his top hat with a very English style. Then he took my hand and kissed the back of it.
"Long time no see, Lillianne."
"Oui... a long time has passed since we last met, Laurent. I must say this is quite a surprising visit."
"More than to visit you, thing that I would do with pleasure, I am here to bring you this."
He extended his right hand, giving me the note.
"I am afraid I cannot stay any longer. I must go back now. Please read the note, it is very important."
Before I could even reply, he was already gone. Santiago came closer to me and slid his hands around my waist.
"A note?"
"It seems so. Let us see what does it say."
I opened it. That handwriting... I knew that handwriting. It was Armand's handwriting. So Armand had sent Laurent to give us this note? That means he spared Laurent's life? Why Laurent? Was he the only one? We started reading. The content of the note made me think what was Armand up to now.
The note was an invitation to the Théâtre des Vampires, in Paris.
Santiago:
I was alive more then I had ever been or felt before. The nightly hunts, I wanted more always. Lillianne had to pull me off victims from time to time because I desired their blood. I didn't care who it was I drank from, I simply wanted the blood. Good, evil, rich, poor, male, female... none of it mattered. Lillianne kept trying to explain why it was preferred I drink from the evil doers. All I could do was laugh, none of it made any sense. It was the blood I wanted, who cared how they lived their lives.
This frustrated her, I knew it, I could see it in her eyes. It seemed there was some pact that her coven had made. Could I really be considered part of that place? I would attempt to make up for my indiscretions each night by taking her mind off my kills and putting it back on my body and love for her. I had a strength and stamina now that would leave us both exhausted, covered in a thin sheen of blood sweat each and every morning as the sun rose. The sessions were each so very different then when I was a mortal... I could now truly pleasure her as she needed me to.
One night, as I sat on the couch reading, Lillianne walked in and sat down across my lap and leaned her shoulder against my chest, showing me a letter. I read it as I kissed her cheek. Les Innocents... that was the place she'd come from. That it was destroyed years ago was a good thing, right? We no longer had to worry about those of her coven coming to harm her again? She told me all about Les Innocents. I wasn't all that impressed with vampires living underground in catacombs. The world was ours, why hide beneath ground?
Weeks passed and we laughed in each others arms, about to go out on our nightly hunt when a knock came from the door. I opened it and there stood another vampire. A young boy with blond hair that shone almost white escaping the sides of his top hat. His eyes shone with an age that surprised me, he acknowledged my presence with a slight nod and I tipped my hat to him. Lillianne came up beside me and he took her hand, kissing it. They knew each other. Laurent was his name? Should I have been as happy as I was when he turned and left, having given his delivery?
A note?
It seems so. Let us see what does it say.
The handwriting was immaculate. A very old style too from what I could see of it. An invitation to the Théâtre des Vampires, in Paris... I was excited and hesitant in the same moment. The look in Lillianne's eyes spoke of sadness and I held her close to me.
Lillianne, if going there brings you such sadness, then we won't. We will stay here, we will travel anywhere but Paris. You are what matters to me.
She shook her head. No Santiago, we must go. This is one thing that I cannot get out of. If we do not go, we will be hunted down and destroyed.
I caressed her cheek. Then we go tomorrow night and we will leave just as quickly.
Lillianne:
Santiago was exactly what Armand desired. The perfect vampire that would kill and feed until he was fully satiated... though Santiago did not distinguish between the evildoer and the innocent souls. And if he did, at least he did not care. I could not hide my frustration about this fact, for there were laws and rules that had to be followed. Those laws that Armand taught me and that I had to learn so well. All what Santiago did was laugh at the lack of sense of those words, for all he wanted was the blood, no mattered if it came from an evildoer or an innocent one.
I could not do anything about it. He was an individual and I could not force him to do anything he did not want to do, or to follow the rules. My task was to turn him into a vampire and so I did... Armand would teach him if needed. Though that was not exactly what I could have wanted, for Armand was not as patient as I am. Santiago was indeed a strong one to be young in the blood, his stamina was something I could barely handle, though I have to say it pleased me that we could keep our sessions as passionately as we wanted without me having to give him blood infusions to give him energy.
With Les Innocents destroyed, I thought we could have many years to share together... but Armand was still around, and I was sure that he would come to claim his treasure someday. Soon or later, I would have to let Santiago go and fall into Armand's arms. With Armand's beauty, it would not be hard, but could I say the same about me? Would it be easy for me to give Santiago to Armand after all these years? I bet it would not. But nothing could be done.
Finally, the night I feared so much came. Laurent came, and he gave us a note from Armand, an invitation to the Théâtre des Vampires in Paris. A Théâtre? What was Armand up to? My heart filled with sadness. So the time had come... Santiago could clearly see my sadness and asked me to stay in London or travel somewhere else. But that was impossible. I told him that we would be hunted and destroyed... though Armand would not destroy him but me if I did not give Santiago to him. It was fate and it was unavoidable. He caressed my cheek. So we would be heading off to Paris tomorrow night.
And so we did... we found our way to Paris. It was still that avant-garde city I left years ago to go catch Santiago in South America... we did not need to look for a place to stay. It was obvious that Armand wanted us to go straight away to the Théâtre, so I took a look at the note once again to check the address while we were on the carriage. Santiago was thrilled with the idea of the place being a Théâtre, but I could not say the same about me. Soon we were in front of the door, and Laurent was the one who gave us the welcoming.
We went in the place, it was really what Armand would like it to be... I could not say a single word, for I had a knot in my throat. I did not know if I wanted to stay in there. I would probably leave and disappear, become a lonely predator. I would not afford to see Santiago in Armand's arms, and once he was Armand's, I would not be allowed to touch him. I could not bear it. Santiago was admiring the Théâtre and was telling me about the atmosphere reigning in it, but all I could do was smile faintly at him. Ah, Santiago... if you just knew... nothing would be the same now. That invitation was not exactly a courtesy one, it was more a note to tell me "I want him, and I want him now." Laurent asked us to wait here as he disappeared, and so we did until another appeared wearing elegant clothes, velvet everywhere, his auburn hair perfectly combed, all of his curls had a perfect shape. He looked like a young gentleman. As beautiful as always, as well as deadly.
There he was, looking at us. The deadly angel. Armand.
The End
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