Visitors
Marius and Armand were sitting listening to Sybelle play as Benji sat propped in a corner reading the Times muttering obscenities about Bush’s latest tirade against the ‘Axis of Evil’. Then Armand heard it and by the look on Marius face he did too.
It had started a few weeks ago, since they had come back to New York. It started with a devilish laugh, but they couldn’t find him with their minds or physically. It was like he was a one way radio you could hear him just fine but no matter how hard you yelled he’d never hear you.
But this time as it had in the past three days it continued. The message that would catch their attention from that infernal movie none the less (Armand had taken it as a personal insult that they had depicted him as a living cherub man) “Come out, Come out wherever you are.”
“That’s it!” Marius exclaims not interrupting Sybelle’s playing or Benji’s reading despite the harshness of his tone. “Let’s go,” he says standing in a flurry of red velvet.
“Do you think we can find him?”
“The brat must be bored.” Armand nods and stands and looks down at himself, he was in blue again. He had just fallen into wearing it again. Today it was a pair of dark blue cords and a matching ribbed sweater. Sybelle had purchased them, from the Gap he believed. His reddish brown hair was cut in short tonight more in matching with his clothes. They went out again in search of their ‘brat prince’.
*1* Pyra and Lucky ha gone to the movies, Josh and Edge had opted out of coming claming that the two of them in a movie theater during a horror movie none the less was a catastrophe waiting to happen. Lucky and Pyra’s defense was that the characters shouldn’t be that stupid. Though this night they had seen a horror movie that had silenced them both ‘Signs’.
“Okay that was actually scary,” Pyra says.
“Then why did you keep laughing?” Lucky asks confused.
“Well it wasn’t all scary, oh those aliens eww!”
“They had creepy fingers, and when he chopped them off . . .”
“Ah! Eww!” Pyra says draping an arm around Lucky.”
“Food?”
“Sure, what?” They exchange a knowing glance and together say “Pizza.” It was almost an addiction in a house where everyone could cook more than cereal.
Lestat is sitting in his living room annoyed, why wouldn’t they answer him. They were back in his city which he had picked up on a visit to Manhattan. The least they could do was answer him. He had resorted to sending completely annoying messages to Armand and Marius expecting the child of the millennia to scold him within the hour for using his gifts in such a way. It had been almost a week! Right now he was sitting alone, his three companions out feeding, they’d be back soon enough and they’d distract him from his course of action but for now he wanted to kick the both of them.
Lestat supposed he could spend some time with the mortals on the property, though he doubted how mortal they were. They were obviously not normal Mystic had exposed her extraordinary power against Merrick who had been sparred because of some strange connection he didn’t understand. Then there was Lucky, Pyra’s cat and sometimes boy, the only evidence he had ever seen of her power besides the formidable barriers in her mind.
The only minds that were easy to probe were Lucky’s and Pyra’s boyfriend. Though probing Lucky’s mind was pointless, what he was thinking would be exactly what he would say. Though the same couldn’t be said for Edge he thought was interesting that a cat and a man had the same mental prowess and somewhat funny. How they had not yet discovered they were vampires was beyond him, then again their lives were so hectic they may not have any real proof that they only moved during the night. Well he could go see Mystic. The more he thought of it the better the plan was.
Marius and Armand were walking down the street. Armand saw no point in this activity. New York was the perfect place for a Vampire, people only saw what fit into their world and everything strange was classified as escaping from the East Village. They saw everything and remembered nothing but he continued anyway since Marius was determined to find Lestat and throttle him before the night was thorough.
He looked into a pizzeria window and saw a pretty young man eating pizza in the neatest way possible. He had delicate features, high cheek bones and the most innocent looking green eyes. He went into his mind and was caught off guard by the simplicity. He searched for Lestat and found him. It seemed to be a scene from earlier that night, Lestat waving from what looks like the steps of his home.
“Marius,” He hissed in a volume below normal human hearing. His former master was at his side almost instantly. “The boy.”
“Pretty I know but are you forgetting what we are here for?”
“He saw him earlier tonight, he is living under the name Quinn, his mind was impossibly simple.”
“Strange, his companion has barriers that if I dare to cross she will be aware of my presence. I can see nothing from her.”
“What should we do now?” Armand says turning to Marius to avoid staring at the boy.
“We’ll follow them, it would seem he’s their neighbor, though I would have never thought Lestat such a fool.”
Pyra and Lucky sluggishly leave the pizzeria 20 minutes later. They hail a cab back to Here and are followed by the two vampires. Marius senses the doorman’s knowledge of Lestat and veer over to the gate arriving a few minutes before Pyra and Lucky.
“Hello what is your business here?” The guard asks calmly muting his television.
“I’m here to see an old friend, Quinn?”
“Ah yes Mr Jude,” He takes out one of six clipboards and sees that it is completely blank. “You’re not on his list of expected visitors, does he know your coming?”
“No, it’s a surprise,” Marius says wondering what kind of home Lestat is living in. He picks up a phone and a separate sheet of paper.
“Names?”
“Andrei.”
“Mr. Romanus.”
“Well surprises don’t go well here, but you seem like nice enough fellows,” he says double checking the bullentin board of pictures of people which mean to press the red button and help will come. “So I’ll just give Quinn a call.”
“Thank you.”
“No answer sorry.”
“Can we just go and see?”
“I’m sorry that just isn’t possible. You’ll have to leave now he says his foot hovering over the red button.
“But . . .” Armand starts.
Pyra and Lucky walk up and the guard is relieved to see them though he keeps his foot in close proximity to the red button.
“Hello Miss. Jacobs. These gentleman are hear to see Quinn but they’re not on the list and he doesn’t seem to be on the list. But,” he whispers, “He hasn’t left the property.”
“Uh huh,” Pyra pulls out her cell and dials Quinn’s cell.
“Hello?” Quinn says picking up right away.
“Dude, its Pyra I’m at the gate, two shmucks are here to see you do you know an,” Pyra indicates for them to tell their names. “Andrei and Mr. Romanus.”
Marius was stunned and Armand was to busy staring at Lucky to notice, his former master’s indignation at being treated so rudely. Lucky on the other hand is staring at a leaf floating in the air.
“Yes, yes I do I’ll be right there,” Lestat says hanging up and already walking to Mystic’s door.
“He’s coming,” Pyra says to Marius who nods. She looks and Armand and almost laughs the guy was practically salivating at Lucky. Lucky of course had no idea and was staring at nothing that Pyra could see but then again he was a cat.
Pyra waits until Quinn shows up. He hugs Marius and Kisses him on the cheeks and does the same to Armand who finally stops staring at Lucky and hugs Armand.
“What took you so long?” Lestat says to Marius as Lucky is finally done with his leaf and notices Armand.
“Hi,” Lucky says ignoring the two older men. “I’m Lucky.”
“Andrei,” he says and when Lucky repeats his name he seems to blush. Lucky sticks out his hand and Armand is a little reluctant to take it but does expecting a quick shake. “Hey you have small hands, they’re like mine. Pale too, hey Pyra come see.”
“Lucky give him back his hand,” Pyra says not moving from next to the guard.
“Its alright,” Armand says knowing he should be worried about his translucent nails and doubly sure when Marius gives him a sharp look. Lucky though looks right past them, having sharp nails of his own which Armand finds surprising. Lucky clearly saw noting strange in his hand. He looked at Lucky and smiled and he returned the grin and Armand was even more confused. His teeth were all too sharp looking, more like his than a humans.
“You’re never getting your hand back I hope you know,” Pyra says calmly walking over to Lucky who was now comparing their hands much like Tarzan did in the Disney movie.
“I think Andrei is enjoying the attention,” Marius says smiling remembering the impression Lucky first made on the vampire.
“Should we leave these two alone?” Lestat muses.
“Huh?” Lucky says finally letting go of Armand’s hand.
“Lucky why not show Andrei around the compound?” Pyra says and he grins.
“Okay, if you want to?” Armand nods. “Let’s go he says pulling him towards the eye scan.
“What was that?” Lestat asks Pyra.
“Lucky doesn’t meet many people with similar features as him every time he does he gets really excited. I’m not sure why exactly.”
“I see,” he turns to Marius, “I think its about time you see my home.”
“Alright, Quinn ,” Marius says snickering as they both indicate ladies first and Pyra shakes her head as she takes the lead.
“One of these days I’ll get used to it,” she says smiling.
“Americans,” Lestat says, “Its not the accents they love it’s the manners.”
Pyra turns to face the blond vampire, “Half the time you sound completely American, you have no accent!” Pyra continues as the gate is open from the inside and Mystic steps out.
“Hey there,” Mystic says as Marius extends a hand.
“Mr. Romanus, Miss . . .”
“Mystic,” She says as he bows and kisses the air above her hand. The girls walk off in the direction of Mystic’s house as the guys walk off towards Lestat’s place on the other side.
“You missed the cute one,” Pyra says once they are alone. “But he’s like 15 or something. Pretty cool though with Lucky.”
“How so?”
“He had girly hands like Lucky so . . .”
“Lucky went all crazy with the touching,” Mystic says finishing the sentence.
“Yeah, but the way he kept staring at Lucky I’m sure he has the hots for him.”
“Look at that, where is he?”
“On a tour of the grounds with Lucky,” Pyra says.
“A romantic tour? Ooo, Lucky has a boyfriend.”
“Now you know Lucky likes girls, punky pale goth girls not boys straight out of the gap.”
“Now I wanna meet him. What’s his name?”
“Andrew, no wait And . . .something with an A.
"I see well come on."
Pyra easily finds her cat, sitting in a tree pointing out the sights from the height. Each time pausing to see if he wants to know more. Pyra looks at the 'kid' he was extremly patient, Pyra had always wondered how girls had put up with Lucky's hyperactivity at the slightest thing. He points towards the woods and Armand nods.
Lucky jumps out of the tree and lands soundsly in a move that would break a normal person's leg. Armand follows in the same gracefull jump.
"He is cute," Mystic says watching the two boys run into the woods. "Aww look at them frollick."
"Mystic you're crazy," Pyra says.
"Did you and Lucky get thrown out of the theater?"
"Of course not, why would you think something crazy like that?" Pyra says the picture of innocence.
"Mmm Hmm," Mystic replies doubtfully, knowing Pyra and Lucky just couldn't behave in a movie theater.
*2* "So anyway this is the lake there are real fish and everything."
"Are there other animals her?" Armand asks.
"In the woods? Sure, the horses and Mystic's raven and stuff like to chill here, its really nice." Armand nods. "You act . . .never mind."
"What?" Armand asks curious.
"Are you older than me? You look 15 but you act like an adult and stuff."
"How old are you?"
"I'm . . . uh . . .21 yeah 21," Lucky says.
"Well I am a few years older than you," Armand says.
"Are you human?" Lucky asks suddendly to the vampire who had been standing too still. Armand looks at him sharply and Lucky cowers sitting on a rock. "I won't tell!"
Armand looks at Lucky, how had he percieved it so quickly. While he clearly didn't know he was a vampire he saw that he was different. Armand saw the same traces of differences. The way he had jumped out of that tree and the fact that it had taken a little of his (sorry Myst) preternatural speed to keep up. Was that enough to open up to him? Could he trust him? He was clearly an innocent and reminded him in some ways of himself. He diecided to play it safe.
"I'm a magician," he said and Lucky nodded. "What are you?"
"Lucky . . . oh you mean. I'm a cat." He says, "but your not a magician."
"How do you know?"
"If you were . . . never mind," Lucky says having no interest in exposing Pyra or Mystic to some weird space alien or something. Armand picks up the thought but before he can use it to prove his power Lucky says.
"Are you a space alien?"
"No!" Armand says laughing. "What makes you so sure I'm not a person."
"You act to old sorry, you look young but act like that dork David just not as bad." Armand just smiles.
"So I'm a dork?"
"No . . ."
"You're a cat? You say?" Armand says having no interest in confusing Lucky.
"Um . . .yeah," Lucky says not sure on the brilliance of revealing that. He had never done it before.
"So how long have you been a boy?"
"This time? Um . . . we left for the movies at like 5 so what time is it now?"
"Wait are you saying you can revert to a cat or boy on will?"
"Yep."
"How did you get this power?"
"I won't tell!" Lucky says quite fearfully.
"Alright," Armand sighs, "I won't force it out of you."
"Oh okay," he says calming down, "You gonna tell me the truth yet?"
"Alright, I'm a vampire."
"So you bite people?"
"Yes."
"Ok. Hey can you be a bat or any of that cool stuff?"
"No, but I can take to the air. So how does this change work?"
Lucky stands a little eager to show off for his new friend. He takes a couple steps back and in a burst of flame is a little black cat. In another quick burst of flame he is a boy.
"Amazing."
"Eh. Now I'm hungry, you hungry? Wait don't be hungry."
"I'm fine I perfer the evil doer."
"Ooo! Can you eat Endora? She's so stupid and annoying."
"I've never met her."
"Dopn't bother," Lucky says with undisguised contempt.
Lucky and Armand walk to Pyra's house. They walk in and are greted by Pyra and Edge making out. Lucky walks over and hits Edge on the top of the head. He pulls away from Pyra and reaches for Lucky who backes out of his reach.
"Back so soom?" Pyra asks.
"Hungry, we have cake?"
"Ice cream and chocolate, take your pick."
"Man I love my life," Lucky says pulling Armand into the kitchen. "You don't mind right?" He says pulling out a paper plate and a knife. He cuts his slice and grabs a plastic fork. "Let's get out of here before they start having sex."
"Bite me," Pyra says annoyed qnd he and Armand share a smile and start laughing as they walk out.
"I should go see . . ." Armand stops when he sees Lucky holding his head. "What's wrong?"
"Brain freeze." Lucky says licking the plate clean and dropping it in a nearby trashcan.
"You want to go see Quinn and stuff right?"
"Yes where is their house?"
"Come on," Lucky says taking off in one direction. Armand follows and Lucky knocks on their door. Louis pulls it open and looks surprised to see Lucky. "Yeah, yeah, I brought you a present." He steps aside and Louis walks out to embrace Armand.
"Come in . . .er Quinn was just wondering where you were." Armand steps in and drags a reluctant Lucky in with him. There is only one empty chair and Endore is the first to comment.
"Why is he here?"
"Why are you ugly?" Lucky replies.
"This is my house."
"Yeah, well I could get that fixed. Dump you in the lake or just pour a bucket of water on you that makes Bitches metlt right?"
"You stupid little . . ." Merrick says approaching him.
"Ooo I'm so scared," Lucky says yawning.
Merrick raises a hand to slap Lucky and is stopped by a delicate child like hand that she could no more move then lift a pyramid. She tries to wrench her hand away and Armand doesn't budge.
"Let go! Damn you!"
"A thousand times over," Armand says still holding her hand. Merrick looks around for some help. Lestat is watching legs casually crossed with no intent to move. David and Marius are too engrossed in a painting to notice and Louis is looking at his feet.
"Release my hand."
"You forgot the magic word," Lucky says and Merrick rolls her eyes.
"You heard him," Armand says.
"Please," she mutters.
"Huh? What was that?"
"Please!" She shrieks and Armand lets go and she stomps up the stairs.
"Told you," Lucky says.
"I could have done without that encounter," Armand says.
"Lucky you are a menance," Lestat says smiling.
"A brat prince you might say," Marius adds.
"I never acted anything like Lucky!" Lestat says.
"Fearless, sharp tongued, and a plain nuisance? I must be thinking of someone else."
"I'm insulted," Lestat says with a fake pout.
"Lucky, why must you insult everyone you meet?" David asks dropping the painting him and Marius had been observing.
"I don't stop being an old man or something," Lucky says and Lestat can't help but laugh. Lucky didn't know how close to the truth he was. David was just annoyed but couldn't help study the way Lucky acted and moved. The shallowness and grace of a cat. But theway he spoke so rude. The nerve of this pale faced boy.
"You're rude to Endora, you're rude to me. I don't know how anyone can tolerate you."
"People like me just fine," He points to Quinn who's still smiling, "Quinn likes me and he thinks I'm funny."
"Quinn humors you, I have no patience for brats."
"David!" Armand says surprised as Lucky runs out.
He blinks a few times and seems confused, "I'm sorry I don't know what came over me."
"I have an idea," the ever silent Louis says looking towards the stairs. Armand goes after the cat/boy and is surprised to find him sitting on the front steps crying into his hands. Armand sits besides him and puts an arm around him and lets him cry a while longer before he speaks.
"David says he's sorry. No one thinks that of you."
"He wouldn't say it if he didn't mean it," Lucky says sniffling. A hand hands him a napkin and he wipes his eyes when he notices one of Armands arms is around hs shoulder and the other is holding his free hand. He looks up and sees David.
"Lucky, I'm sorry I don't know what came overme it was like i was possessed."
"By the Voodoo Bitch?" Lucky says now angry.
"Maybe I don't know. I know those weren't my words. I really do sometimes act like a stuffy old man."
"Sometimes?" Lucky says rasing an eyebrow.
"Lucky," Armand says in warning.
"Okay, okay you sound like Josh. Always with the Lucky be good, Don't says things like that. Think before you speak blah blah Blah . . .
"Have you ever thought of listening?"
"Why? So stupid people like Merrick can make fun of me?"
"Doesn't Miss Pyra ave something to say about this?"
"Miss Pyra? Dude old stuffy man, or is it cause your from England?" David smiles.
"Maybe a little of both, a lot of the old man I'd say." Armand says.
"The sharpest tongue and the face of a Botichelli angel."
"Who?" Armand could have kissed Lucky right there, he had been called an angel for far to long.
"An artist from a long time ago. He painted beautiful pictures of angels and such. David and a lot of people I know think I could be one of those paintings.
"Uh-Huh. Is it true? Do you have one?
"No but a few museuems in the city may."
"Okay but I'm telling you you don't look like an angel, maybe a model but I think they let the boy ones eat." Lucky says standing.
"Where are you . . " Armand starts.
"Musuem? It was your idea."
"Now?"
"No high noon, yeah now."
"I'll let them know where you went," David says going back inside.
"Armand has taken his new friend, Lucky to a musuem to see some of Botichelli's works."
"There is something different about that boy," Marius says.
"You don't say," Lestat says.
"You know what it is," Marius says.
"Well it may have something to do with the fact that he's a house cat."
"Don't jest."
"I swear on my mother's grave."
"Your mother has no grave and you know it."
"He's a cat, mind you one that can speak but still a cat."
"Lestat!" Marius says annoyed pulling him up out of the chair by the collar as Lestat laughs surprised.
"He's telling the truth," Louis says and Marius drops Lestat who fixes his collar then sits as if nothing had happened.
"How is that even possible?"
"The world is filled with wonder and horror," David says.
"So, what have you been up to?" Lestat asks.
"Apparently nothing as entertaining as you. Why this mansion in a fortress?"
"It has its advantages. Follow me," Lestat says leading Marius down to the catacombs and gives him a little tour of the lower area. He walks to the most ornate coffin that is collecting dust.
"Yours?" Marius asks.
"Yeah, I'm more partial to beds."
"This was just here?" Maruis asks.
"Yeah we just had to clean up a little," Lestat says, "Louis, David and Merrick usually stay here in the day."
"Hmm . . ." MArius says picking up a Queen of the Damned dvd in Lestat's coffin. "Guilty pleasure?"
"It was fun being in it," Lestat says taking it with him back upstairs.
"You did what?!" Lestat chuckles.
"Just a scene or two."
"Scamp!"
*3*
At the museuem Lucky is peering at the painting and back at Armand. After about a dozen times he shakes his head. "I don't get it you don' even have long hair."
"I used to."
"Oh whatever, I'm bored come on since we're down here let's go have some fun." The two boys are at an exclusive art gallery in Soho
Lucky takes Armand to a funky goth club where he is a regular parton. A watress in a green and black corset and a short black leather skirt, green checkered tights and wedge boots sees him and smiles from ear to ear.
"Lucky," she says walking over and kissing him on the cheek.
"Hey Betty, hey that tickles," He says as she starts to run her long red nails up and down his torso.
"Who's your pretty friend? Or is he more than just a friend?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Andrei this is Betty. Okay so I want a really big one this time."
"Are you sure you're 21?"
"Maybe."
"You're friend looks a little young."
"Ha! He's older than me."
She returns a few minutes later with a large pitcher of milk and a glass, and Armand smiles a little.
"What you think I would drink that pee water again?"
"Pee water?"
"Beer," Lucky explains.
"What do you mean again?"
"I had it once and then I think I had sex with Betty but I'm not sure and every time i ask she smiles and laughs."
"What do you remember?"
"Woke up in her bed, everything was messy so I cleaned it up while I tried to remember where I was and my head hurt."
"You cleaned her house?"
"No, her room it helped me find my clothes."
"If you weren't wearing any clothes . . ."
"Yeah I know but why can't I remember then?"
"Beer is not the best thing for the mind."
"Oh brother," Lucky mutters looking past Armand. He turns to see what he is looking at and see three men dressed like vampires with capes and white face paint. Armand shakes his head but decided it was worse when real vampires did it. They approach Lucky and he doesn't look at them drinking his milk calmly
"If it isn't Lucky? So they let you out of your 'special' school to play with the big boys?"
"I'm the special one? You who walks around like a clown all day? You wouldn't know a Vampire if it bit your fat ass." Lucky says not looking up.
"And who's this your keeper?"
Armand remains silent easily sensing what the guys were planning. Not only had Lucky slept with Bettie, the ring leader had walked in and found them in bed together. Lucky had slept through most of this and now the plan was after months of banter and insults they would be Lucky within an inch of his life if he was lucky. None of his friends were woried about the addition of the small picture of a man he made.THough one did find both him and Lucky attractive and felt this was a pointless endevor. His whole reason for being there was to keep Lucky alive and call the ambulance if need be.
"You know Bettie will hate you for this."
"Shut up? All day you've been with this, do you like this retard or something?
"What about him?" He says pointing to Armand.
"Look at him its past his bed time. Hey you! Can't you talk?" Armand doesn't look in his direction or even act as if he heard him. "Let's go for a walk Lucky," he says putting a hand under Lucky's chin to turn his face towards him.
"You still here?" Lucky says wrencing his face away as the Leader smacks him cutting his cheek with his ring. "Asshole!" Lucky shrieks and Armand sees his eyes revert to that of a cat then back to a person's again as he wipes the light trickle of blood. The image is too close to his own adventure with that foolish English lord for his tastes and is about to tell Lucky that they should go outside and put an end to this nonsense.
"Bret stop this!" Betty says walking over to them. Bret's greasy long dyed hair smacked him in the face as he turned to his former girlfriend. Armand gets a bit of Bettie's mid and sees she feels extreme guilt over this because she hadn't had her way with Lucky. She had just stripped his clothes and placed him in her bed with the express purpose of making Bret, who remindied Armand more and more of a hog as time passed as Jealous and as upset as she was at a similar trangression. "I hate you! Just leave Lucky alone>."
"He stole you away from me!"
"Sleeping with Jenna stole me away from you."
"Baby, I told you it was an accident!"
"How the fuck do you accidently fuck someone?"
"He fell in," Lucky says grinning as Bettie starts making multiple blue dot gestures.
"Fuck that! Get out!" She shrieks actually having taking a liking to Lucky which was not part of the original plan.
"And if I don't?"
"You know what? Gino! I have some trash for you to take out." The club's bouncer comes over and picks Bret and the dumber of his two friends up by the collar and carries them out as the last calmly follows behind the bouncer.
"Look at what they did to your face," Bettie says kneeling down in front of Lucky. "I'll be right back with something for it." She returns with a bandaid for Lucky who hasn't said a word as he starts scratching the bandaid which Bettie carfully placed on his face.
"Lucky," Armand says as he stands and moves besides the boy who is still irritated by the bandaid. Armand peels it off and gives the scratch a blood kiss healing it. The color rushed to Lucky's already pink cheeks as Armand's face remaind inches away from Lucky's. He leaned down and kissed Lucky on the lips and for a second Lucky resisted then sinks into the unearthly embrace. When he pulled away Lucky blinked then smiled.
"That was cool," Then he sort of frowned then smiled again. "Can . . ." Armand kisses him again in answer to what he thinks is the unasked question.
"Let's go," Lucky says throwing a handfull of bills on the table with out looking back. Armand did some quick math and realized it was at least 50 dollars. he took Armands hand and ran into the night.
"And I always thought liking boys was weird," Lucky says to himself.
"I'm not your average male. Where exactly are we going?"
"Duh, if kissing is that fun I want to know what else boys together. Hey can they have sex? Wait no where would they put it. . .but boys do have sex . . . Ok wait explain this to me like now." Lucky says his mind on over drive. Armand smiled wondering if he had ever been this crazy. His mind flashed to his time in those houses of debauchery. "Lucky there are some things a vampire can't do."
"Like sex?" Armand nods. "Even with a girl?" He noda again. "Boring hundreds of years with no sex?"
"There are other things . . ." Armand says.
"Like what?"
"Feeding for one is quite an intense experiece."
"You said you ate already right?"
"Yes why?"
"Might be fun to watch,whatever," Lucky says kicking at some street trash. "Hey you didn't answer my question. How does it work with two boys."
"Well . . ."
*4*
"So you were answering?" Lestat says. "I wonder . . ."
"Wonder what?" David asks as Lestat stands.
"I want to try something, Marius I'm going to keep up a conversation with you tell me what happens." Lestat returns a few minutes later. "I never stopped hearing you. What about you?"
"I did stop hearing you what did you do?"
"I went outside the gate amazing," Lestat says smiling.
"How did you never know?" Marius asks.
"Have you already forgotten we can't hear our children?"
"How is it even possible that a gate can block a power that can traverse continents?" Lestat shrugs not really caring. "Why do you live here?"
"Why not?" Lestat says as Marius grabs for the annoying vampire who jumps into Louis' lap. Louis decks him and Lestat stares at him in shock. "Et tu Louis?"
"Lestat you need a spanking, your acting worse than normal. What were you doing before this?"
"Playing SmackDown2! with Mystic."
"Five minutes with the girl and you're worse than a giddy child."
"Speaking of giddy children, did Armand say when he would return?"
"Well we all did see how he was looking at Lucky."
"You don't think . . ." Louis starts.
"Armand wouldn't," Marius says.
"For his own saftey, I hope not," David says.
"Not that nonsense again David," Lestat says.
"What nonsense? Why would Armand be in danger?
"You met Pyra, well David feels and I quote 'she is the greatest danger the world has ever known' end quote."
"That rude little girl?" Marius asks.
"One and the same, Lucky is her cat," Lestat says.
"So it really is true."
"Just a small showing of her power."
"You feel she is dangerous?"
"We've been living here for years and she hasn't so much as lifted a finger against us. She's quite aware of our preference to the night at says and does nothing. Mystic on the other hand nearly killed Merrick with good reason," Lestat says.
"Who's Mystic?"
"The other girl you met."
"Well I'm sure Armand can handle himself," Marius says.
"As long as he keeps him safe he'll be fine. Pyra loves Lucky like a chid."
"And he will he finds Lucky beautiful," Louis says and Lestat rasies an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"
"He wouldn't be the first to make a beautiful companion," Lestat says staring directly at Louis who blushes.
"Armand has enough companions," Marius says calmly.
"But, just in case I think we should go find them," David says.
"If you insist," Marius says.
"Oh brother, David all your worring is unbecoming," Leastat says as they all leave.

"So this is your place? Nice," Lucky says following Armand into his home.
"Thank you," Armand says looking around. The house was silent which meant that Benji had dragged Sybelle away from the piano long enough to feed. He and Lucky were alone. Lucky had been yawning incessantly on their way here. "Tired."
"Yeah, I need a nap," Lucky says yawning again.
"Come with me." Armand leads Lucky to his bed room and Lucky glances at the super thick curtians.
"And I thought Pyra hated the sun," Lucky says sitting on the side of the bed and unlaces his boots and slips them off. He climbs into the bed besides Armand. "Sleepy too?" He just nods and pulls Lucky into his arms. Twenty minutes later Marius, Louis, Lestat, David, Sybelle and Benji all enter the house. They walk up to Armand's room followed by Sybelle and Benji who want to see this Lucky.Lestat opens the door to the room and laughs.
"So dangerous indeed," Lestat says walking over to the sleeping boys.
"Let them be," Marius says pulling Lestat downstairs as Sybelle walks over and strokes Lucky's cheek.
"So soft, just like Armands," says as Benji pulls her away.
"You heard him, let's go."
They all sit in the living room and Lestat keeps looking at David.
"What?"
"Now will you give this notion up? Pyra is a very kind girl and quite funny."
"She really is," Louis says.
"You know what I think? I think you dislike her to remain on Merrick's good side."
"Don't be a fool, you didn't read the files you don't know the things she did long before we evwn moved there."
"Forget it you're a stubborn old man."
"Hello Lucky," Louis says having eeryone turn. barefoot Lucky was quiter than a vampire.
"Hi guys, where's the bathroom?"
"Third door to your right," Marius says.
"Thanks," Lucky says yawning. He goes and returns to bed with Armand waking a few moments later.
Armand watches Lucky sleep his face so very peaceful. He really was beautiful, and Armand wonders if he wasn't too rash in telling Lucky vampires couldn't do anything but kiss. Marius had done quite a few things to him when he was still a mortal boy. Then again he had be on the reciving end and he couldn't get past Lucky's innocence. Armand started studing his features. The milky white skin, the high cheekbones, the naturally pink cheeks. His rosy lips and he knew if Lucky opened his eyes the intense glittering green eyes.
He had been extremly kind to Lucky and he had a feeling it was because of those eyes. He had been very open in a way to the boy, and he hadn't shown him any of the cruelty he had shown so many of his own kind. He wondered if he shouldn't show Lucky the darker side of vampirism. Then again he was a modern child just like Sybelle and Benji he might just smile and nod. He wasn't sure, but Lucky must think him some kind of angel to have no fear of sleeping in his arms. The scent of Lucky's blood was invading him from everywhere and it would be easy sport to just bite him. He looked down, Lucky was looking directly at him. His eyes seeming to glow in the darkness.
"I've been sleeping long?"
"About 45 minutes."
"Oh," Lucky says sitting up. "All your people are here."
"I know, Armand says having long sensed the other's presence. "Lucky why do you trust me? It would have been easy sport for me to feed on you while you slept."
"Yeah but then you'd be dead," Lucky says tying his shoes."Besides Yo're nice to me."
"You think you can kill me?"
"With you being a vampire and all I don't think so.
"Then why would I be dead?"
"Don't worry about it," Lucky says standing. Armand stood silent considering what Lucky said, he had said it with such easy conviction. He clearly had no doubts about what he said. But then again much children believed their parents could save them from everything that was dark in the world. He watched Lucky primp in the mirror for a few minutes.
"You think something in this world could defend you from me?"
"Think? Sorry, I shouldn't have said that," Lucky says thinking he's lost his mind. Pyra told him to never tell anyone and here he was blabbing away.
"What do you think I am?"
"A vampire, or were you lying about that?"
"No but I may just grant you're wish."
"Wish what wish?"
"What you asked me before."
"I forgot wait . . ." Lucky's eyes suddendly widen as he thinks he remembers. "No freaking way! That's sick, there is no way that doesn't hurt like hell! You aren't sticking anything anywhere!"
"And if I wanted to how would you stop me?"
"One nap and you go all crazy! Stop trying to scare me!"
"What makes you thinK I'm trying to scare you? Maybe this is who I really am," Armand says advancing on Lucky.
"I thought you were nice," Lucky mutters, "do you even know how much trouble I could be in?" He says near tears. "Why'd I even talk to you?!" He says bursting into tears. "What I'd do?"
Armand feels horible he hadn't expected him to cry just be scared. Lucky hadn't done anything. He was still just as cruel as he had once been. He gave Lucky a hug and the boy broke off. Armand waited a moment and then hugged the taller boy again. "I'm sorry don't cry. I was trying to scare you. I just find it hard to believe you don't care about the crimes I comitte to surive.
"So what? Have you ever watched the news? Cops are dumb more people getting rid of bad people the better." Armand smiles wiping Lucky's face with his hands. They go downstairs thinking about what transpired. David who had heard bits on the conversation now picks up on his thoughts.
"Ar-Andrei can I speak to you?"
"I'll wait outside," Lucky says calmly.
"Armand what happened?"
"What do you mean?" Armand says annoyed at David's constant butting into his head.
"We heard you two." Armand sighs and gives an abridged version of what happened. Saying that he told Lucky he was too trusting and he could have done anything to him.
"And what did he say?" Lestat asks.
"That I'd be dead but not by his own hand."
"Don't worry about it," Lestat says.
"That's just what . . ."
"Don't worry about it?!" David explodes, "Lucky would know a lot more about her than we would. He would know if she could save him without knowing he was in danger! I tell you, you underestimate her at every turn."
"No! I've gotten to know her, unlike you living with your head in your papers. Armand go enjoy the rest of your night and don't let David's foolishness keep you from your new friend." Armand takes the out not wanting Lucky to hear this and having ideas of his own on what to do.
"Let's go," Armand says putting an arm around Lucky's waist.
"What was all that screaming?"
"David. But I think its time I took you home, don't you agree?"
"Oh, okay. Hey can we fly there?"
"I really don't like doing that," Armand says.
"Oh, well then we gonna walk?"
"Yes, so tell me about your home, who were those two people we walked in on?"
"Oh, Pyra and Edge, yeah its like all they ever do is make out and have sex. But they're both really nice. Pyra is much cooler though, and you didn't meet Joshua. But you've probably seen him on TV."
"TV?"
"Yeah you know JC from Nsync? Oh wait do you watch TV?"
"Not much but I don't live in a hole, I know who he is its hard not to." Lucky grins.
"I know, when you have your own underware you're famous. So tell me about you, how'd you become you know a vampire."
What follows is quite similar to the tale he told David except he leaves out many names. If Lucky ever reads the Vampire Armand he may learn a lot of things about his neighbors and the visitors they have.
"Wow, that must have been crazy, but I think I would have killed everyone in that curch thing."
"I didn't have the strenth back then, someone else took care of them later but that's not my story."
"Look were here, I can't believe we walked all the way from Manhattan."
"You must be exhausted," Armand says.
"Not really I like walking its nice unless its like raining or really cold." LuckY looks at the sky and can see it lightening up a bit. "Don't you have to go?"
"Yes, don't worry," Armand says knowing he can get to safety quickly enough. "You know you can't . . ."
"Ever tell anyone about you sure," Lucky says bored. Walking over to the eye scan. Armand walks over to him and gives him one last kiss on the lips.
"Come visit me any night."
"Okay, hey you too, I don't get visitors."
"Neither do I."
"We can be each other's visitors," Lucky says grinning.
"Goodnight Lucky."
"Good morning, Andrei," He looks up and can already feel the heavyness in his limbs.
"I don't think I can make it," He says suddendly feeling drained.
"Come with me then," Lucky pulls him onto the property and into the house. They silently go up to his room as Armand explains about the unconscious lashing out as Lucky drops the blinds and closes the thick curitians he had never before touched. The room swam in blackness as Armand climbed into his bed and Lucky walked out and locked the door. He brought his cat bed up from downstairs and became a cat and went to sleep in front of the door. He spent the entire day there and Pyra didn't so much as question him though she did bring him some food and ask if he had had fun.
"Yeah Andrei is awesome."
"Its nice that you made a new friend."
Once the sun sets, Lucky waits until Armand opens the door glad that everyone is downstairs. He looks down and sees the cat and smiles.
"You sat there all day?"
"Yeah, its no big deal I am a cat you know."
"I can see that," Armand says stroking Lucky.
"Hey stop, I need to be a boy." Armand takes a step back as Lucky transforms.
"I would like to thank you for defending me," Armand says and Lucky blushes.
"You make me sound like a knight or something."
"Not everyone would have done what you did."
"I'm not your average cat."
"Thank you, Lucky," Armand says putting a hand on his face. Edge comes up the stairs and sees the tender moment and turns right back around almost knocking JC down.
"Dude!"
"Shhh . . ." Edge hisses and JC looks past him and sees Armand kissing Lucky. Lucky looked like he could no longer stand.
"What'd you do?" Lucky whispers leaning against the wall to fight the dizzying feeling.
"A blood kiss, now I really must be off," Armand says.
"Alright," Lucky walks him off the property as Lestat, David and Louis come back all giving Armand a questioning look. He smiles polietly and tells them all mentally to mind theirs.
The End