And then what?

Even Armand had realized he was behaving differently around Lestat. Armand always had plans within plans, ten steps ahead of everyone in pursuit of his goals. He played 4D chess with his and others lives, but just being around Lestat, favoring his company, his usual manipulation tactics were on the back burner. Sure, he hoped that they would progress into something more, but even now he was simply enjoying their time together. Instead of planning and plotting, he was living for himself for once. Maybe he’d thought he’d plans in the beginning, but not now. He had started to realize that manipulation had brought him nothing but pain. So now, he simply existed. He was trying to live. Surely, Lestat had noticed this change as well.

And at the offer of what he would like to do, and Lestat taking consideration of him, he was surprised. It took him back a bit, the kindness of it, and the enjoyment that the other held. He was thinking of Armand. Maybe he also wanted a distraction, but the kindness had been noted.

And again, as he’d managed a few times tonight, Armand laughed. Hands were in his pockets, his feet kicking the sidewalk idly. Oh again if he could blush! “ That is not true, Lestat. “ He meandered forward, leaning forward and taking a playful sort of stride. “ You know I enjoy the fine arts. Art itself has always been a precious thing to me. And you know I love the stage. “ Though that hadn’t always been the case. When Marius dragged him to operas, at first he’d found them very boring, much to his maker’s dismay. But over time and not under his thumb? Well .. once Lestat had freed him from the graveyard, he learned to love the stage all over again.

How long has it been since I’ve been painted? He’d thought. Armand would melt if he was ever painted again, and painted truly instead of the ways his maker manipulated him into characters in paintings. No, a true portrait? Such a thing would make him weep with happiness.

He stopped walking, and he rolled his eyes a bit with a smile. “ I do have some silly pleasures. “ He pointed, growing closer to him. “ I shall tell you if you promise not to laugh! “ Which surely he would. Whatever his answer was, he finally told him.

He closed the space between them instantly and stood before him. Though this time the happily blood drunk vampire placed his hands on Lestat’s chest. “ I love films! “ He said it happily. “ Especially sci-fi. It’s my favorite. “ He peeked up again at him, through his lashes in that Marylin Monroe way, and he knew it would be hard for him not to laugh “ My real guilty pleasure is going to appliance stores. I gave an appliance store owner a coronary when I said I’d take his entire store. “

I think I just like pushing the buttons. Blenders are my favorite though. Have you ever seen a rat blended or chopped? It’s like… of work of art.

He spoke in with in their way, in the mind, but then he tapped his chest with his hands, only to let go with a laugh. “ Did you know there are blenders out there that have up to TEN speeds now? “ His eyes glimmered in the night, his joy shining through in spades.

Ah yes, the arts. A love they both shared, though Lestat had not recently found himself in a opera house or a theater. The last year and a while had been dedicated to the band, to the writing of songs and the recording of music and the creation of an album, all in preparation for the tour, which was now in full swing. Larry, Tough Cookie, the rest of the band? He could not imagine bringing them to listen to the symphony or see an hours long opera performed exclusively in Italian. As the times had changed, so had Lestat's tastes. For seventy years, Armand and Louis had cultivated hobbies and preferences, courted art dealers and musicians and architects.

Lestat had been alone with himself, though the advent of the internet had made it easier than ever to connect with the outside world. In his self imposed exile, while he suffered penance for his sins, he did not partake, but simply watched it all happen around him. His return to civilization had been at Louis' gentle prompting and once he'd allowed himself to enjoy things again, it had been remarkably easy. The technology was available. Music, movies, art, politics, religion. Everything at his finger tips. It did not surprise him, though, to hear Armand refer back to the things they'd both loved.

He had, hoped, however, for something more current and that came as he listened to Armand speak. "I would never laugh at you," Lestat replied, sincere and genuine, perhaps too much so for the mood, which deserved to be lightened. "Are you a Star Wars fan? Or Star Trek? I'm led to believe you can't be both. To whom have you sworn your allegiance?" His expression was curious, as if awaiting a revelation, bright and amused. "Or perhaps neither! I watch all kinds of movies. Whatever tickles my fancy. Some of them are beautiful works of art and others are...not." Lestat laughed.

Then, he raised both eyebrows and stopped walking, so they were very close and Armand could reach out and touch him. "Blenders? Have I ever put a rat in a blender? No," he made an incredulous face and continued laughing. "And laundry appliances, do you like to watch the clothes go round? And before you say it, I'm not laughing at you. I said I wouldn't. But you must admit, it's very funny." Brightness and happiness seemed to pour out of Lestat, from his bright blue eyes to the sound of his laughter and the broad smile on his lips. He was having a good time. He wasn't drugged up or drunk or fucking and he was still having a good time.

Who knew? Usually, when left alone without the substances and the distractions, the silence became unbearable and the voices returned but somehow, with Armand as company, he had not fallen victim to them yet. "You have blood on your face," he said, after a moment, reaching up to wipe it away with his thumb, just next to his mouth, before he brought it to his own lips. You would have found the world eventually. I only helped you along. You're a survivor. You would have adapted to the world somehow, when you could not longer hide in the shadows. It wasn't kindness at all. It was arrogance. I thought your ideas were stupid, he reminded him, with a chuckle. But I'm glad you're here now.

“ I suppose you might say I’m bitrekual. “ Armand nearly giggled at his own joke. God, how long had it been since his heart felt so light! “ I like both of I’m perfectly honest. But the film Blade Runner had always been a favorite. I’d watch it again, and again, and again. Oh! Have you seen Event Horizon? It’s so ghoulish I almost want to praise the mortals that made it. “

Now Lestat was pulling more words out of the elder vampire than Armand thought possible. It was.. nice, enjoyable even to have another to talk to, though at the laundry comment he rolled his eyes and gave him a light playful push for even suggesting such a thing! The Vampire Armand? Watching clothes spin? The ridiculous thing was that it was true. “ I do no such thing! “ Though, the playful look on his face gave away that he was blatantly lying.

Armand had taken well to devices and gadgetry. He’d made a ridiculous amount of money buying and selling art. But sometimes, it wasn’t the fancy things like his tablet that he loved the most. And yes, he too, learned how to use the internet. Sometimes though, his fascination at appliances and how they worked, could be all the more interesting to him. He was learning, too, and learning to enjoy vices of the mortal world.

Oh but suddenly the mood changed. He was full of blood now. Were his cheeks just a bit flushed as Lestat touched his face and rescued the drop of blood. Another indirect kiss, the second of the night. He couldn’t stop staring into those lovely grayish blue hues, and he became lost to time for several moments.

Reminded of the old days, Armand spoke again in their way. Because they were stupid. It was a coven I never wanted to lead, that I was forced into. Truly, you gave me the excuse to break free from the graveyard. For hundreds of years, in was trapped in that hell, lost as my maker was gone. I was no longer the boy that flitted about Italy, even after I was turned. So unintentionally, you gave me a chance at life again. Well, whatever living our kind has.

It was again, staring into those eyes again. They were so close now, the closest they’d been thus far. Armand smiled, lifting his fingers to push some stray blonde hairs behind his ear. His fingers lingered passing over a cheek, only to take them away. “ Take me out to the stage tonight, or to a film. Let us enjoy this night together, right up until you must return to coffin. “ Armand had been enchanted.

Perhaps we shall find ourselves another meal to grow fat on. Armand smirked softly.

Lestat had taken off ahead of him but Armand was quick to follow, moving in shadow and speed with his dark gift. As the girl was pulled away, the boy didn’t even have time to protest. He’d turned his head away from she and Lestat, softly whispering. “ Shhh.. I promise you she’s in good hands. As are you.. “ He cooed softly, and willingly the boy started to turn his head, and Armand slowly sunk his fangs in.

He was delicious, a pure overload of passion and testosterone. He’d been aroused by her, and now aroused but this bite. Armand always did love to let some of his victims feel a type of bliss. It made the blood even sweeter. Just like a steak may taste worse if the cow died painfully, the same went for mortals. Dying happily and horny especially, always made them taste divine.

And like Lestat, his intense, bright eyes had lifted to watch the other vampire feed and he couldn’t lie to himself. He was aroused by the sight. Lestat always seemed to favor the girls, and just as easily his beauty and sweet words could charm any of them. He looked especially beautiful now, as he drank from her, his flesh already growing more mortal pink from her hot blood.

Armand embraced the boy until he was near death, stopping of course before his heart stopped. “ Mm. “ He licked his own lips, but of course not a single drop was spilt. “ With multiple women in fact. This was his favorite place to fuck — “ He followed Lestat’s lead, gently laying him back, posing him there with the girl, placing his hand atop hers. “ And they never said no. That’s what he believed anyway. “

Armand bit his thumb, moving it to the boy’s throat, rubbing it where the two dots on his neck were, watching them vanish easily. He lapped the little bit of blood off his throat, laughing softly at his hunting partner’s quip. “ Shall I take my bow? How many curtain calls, do you think? “ He chuckled softly, eyes raking over their respective victims, then to Lestat. “ No one wants to be alone. Now they can be here, together forever in death’s sweet embrace. “ He smiled a little at that.

With healed wounds, they looked... peaceful. Two lovers, hand in hand, enjoying an evening together. And how many nights had he passed the time just like this, with Louis? When he'd thought their lives together would stretch out endlessly into eternity, that Louis would be constant, that their conversations on benches would continue in perpetuity, until the end of time. But they hadn't. They'd turned quickly to silences, long silences between them, filling with resentment and sorrow. Their habit of enjoying a park and musing on life had quickly grown sour until they sat together, miserable, and waited for the other to speak. When things had been bad, as they often seemed to be, communication had been... infrequent. Louis tolerated him, and Lestat endured.

Louis rarely had anything he wished to say and the words Lestat swallowed down would have been pathetic and begging. Even when Claudia had joined them, making them three, it had not lasted. Louis had promised to be happy and in the spirit of that promise, he'd turned her. For a time, such a short time that he sometimes wondered if it had happened at all, they had been. There had been love. Birthdays, occasions, memories. Now he was a thousand miles away from that park bench and yet still there, always there, watching Louis walk away. And just like that, he was pulled beneath the surface of the dark, into the memories, into the melancholy, like a drowning man reaching for something, anything.

And there was Armand. Did he know where Lestat had gone? Had he seen it, in his mind, the old memories of a life that had not felt like his in some time? Once, Lestat might have lashed out. Turned on Armand, offended by his own violent recollection, but not this time. A glance at Armand confirmed he knew. He'd noticed. A consummate performer, Lestat. But Armand had seen him and would see him again and the instinct to gouge out his metaphorical eyes was...not a lingering one. It was gone as soon as it came, the veil of sadness. Lestat clasped his hands behind his back, and began to walk backwards down the path, even as he continued to observe Armand, not getting too far away.

His smiled broadly, a glint in his eyes. He was feeling satisfied now, by his meal. "I know how you feel about the parties. I would say we could go back and enjoy ourselves but I fear it would be less enjoyable for you, no? So what would you like? You and I. If you could do anything, in this grimy little city, what would it be? It's not one of the more memorable places but I'm sure they have something to entertain. I don't even know what you like. How is that? Have you never told me? Perhaps I never asked. I'm asking now. Tell me, Armand."

Even Armand had realized he was behaving differently around Lestat. Armand always had plans within plans, ten steps ahead of everyone in pursuit of his goals. He played 4D chess with his and others lives, but just being around Lestat, favoring his company, his usual manipulation tactics were on the back burner. Sure, he hoped that they would progress into something more, but even now he was simply enjoying their time together. Instead of planning and plotting, he was living for himself for once. Maybe he’d thought he’d plans in the beginning, but not now. He had started to realize that manipulation had brought him nothing but pain. So now, he simply existed. He was trying to live. Surely, Lestat had noticed this change as well.

And at the offer of what he would like to do, and Lestat taking consideration of him, he was surprised. It took him back a bit, the kindness of it, and the enjoyment that the other held. He was thinking of Armand. Maybe he also wanted a distraction, but the kindness had been noted.

And again, as he’d managed a few times tonight, Armand laughed. Hands were in his pockets, his feet kicking the sidewalk idly. Oh again if he could blush! “ That is not true, Lestat. “ He meandered forward, leaning forward and taking a playful sort of stride. “ You know I enjoy the fine arts. Art itself has always been a precious thing to me. And you know I love the stage. “ Though that hadn’t always been the case. When Marius dragged him to operas, at first he’d found them very boring, much to his maker’s dismay. But over time and not under his thumb? Well .. once Lestat had freed him from the graveyard, he learned to love the stage all over again.

How long has it been since I’ve been painted? He’d thought. Armand would melt if he was ever painted again, and painted truly instead of the ways his maker manipulated him into characters in paintings. No, a true portrait? Such a thing would make him weep with happiness.

He stopped walking, and he rolled his eyes a bit with a smile. “ I do have some silly pleasures. “ He pointed, growing closer to him. “ I shall tell you if you promise not to laugh! “ Which surely he would. Whatever his answer was, he finally told him.

He closed the space between them instantly and stood before him. Though this time the happily blood drunk vampire placed his hands on Lestat’s chest. “ I love films! “ He said it happily. “ Especially sci-fi. It’s my favorite. “ He peeked up again at him, through his lashes in that Marylin Monroe way, and he knew it would be hard for him not to laugh “ My real guilty pleasure is going to appliance stores. I gave an appliance store owner a coronary when I said I’d take his entire store. “

I think I just like pushing the buttons. Blenders are my favorite though. Have you ever seen a rat blended or chopped? It’s like… of work of art.

He spoke in with in their way, in the mind, but then he tapped his chest with his hands, only to let go with a laugh. “ Did you know there are blenders out there that have up to TEN speeds now? “ His eyes glimmered in the night, his joy shining through in spades.

But Lestat was different. He enjoyed the hunt, he took pleasure in it and embraced being a vampire. It was a welcome change honestly to what he’d known before. There was a thrill in taking a mortal life, tasting their memories, absorbing their stories. There was fun in just being in good company, picking out which mortals would be their meals. Yes, Armand didn’t need to feed as often, so when he was with Louis since it upset him, he always stretched it out. But here with Lestat, he could freely be himself, without judgement. Rarely did he allow anyone past his carefully crafted surface, but with Lestat it had started to feel easier.

The park was a perfect hunting ground. In ways it reminded him of Paris, and as he said before, all the mortals loved to be gathered near the water. Places like this were perfect hunting grounds. He could hear all their heartbeats, all their internal thoughts.

But damn, he’d forgotten his cigarettes back on the tour bus. He made a gesture with his fingers toward Lestat, requesting a puff of his. “ I favor the couple there. “ He gestured with his head alone. Lestat could feel and hear them just as much. “ Look at them, swallowing each other’s tongues. He wants to throw her on the ground right now and have his way with her. “

Armand chuckled softly. “ Passionate blood always does have a remarkable taste. One for each of us. “ He smiled a little. “ What do you think? “

Lestat passed Armand the cigarette and watched him intently as he took a drag, before he nodded toward the couple and Lestat looked away to see. There were some street lamps but nothing too illuminating, and there were trees and decorative brush along the paths, which besides the couple, was largely absent of people. They could take them, quick and quiet. Disposing of the bodies he'd leave at each stop was not as easy as it had been with an incinerator but the river was deep and wide and would hide the evidence long enough for The Vampire Lestat to move on. The manner of their death might raise questions, but the wounds could be disguised, made into thick and bloody gashes rather than the result of fangs, and the police would wonder why such a nice couple ended up nearly decapitated in the park.

It was a courtesy to the any vampires in the area, though Lestat's experience with the local covens hadn't been positive. Still, he knew how to clean up after himself. Taking his cigarette back, Lestat smiled, took a drag and let what was left fall to the ground, crushed under his boot. "I'll take the girl, if you don't mind," he purred, eyebrows raised in questioning expectation of his response and when Armand did not contest, Lestat was off. Much less pretense, perhaps a little less showmanship than he'd shown in earlier years. Today he didn't want to play, he wanted to feast. He moved with the speed allowed by the dark gift, and appeared next to the couple. In the dim light, he separated the women from her paramore, whispering something soothing to her, arm slipping around her waist as he dipped her slightly and buried his fangs in her throat.

She didn't even cry out. The man, of course, was left to Armand. Lestat drank deeply. Armand was right. They did taste better when they wanted to fuck. He'd always thought so. He could feed without killing, but he had no use for the girl after the fact. A groupie, maybe. A bite, a grope. Fun all around. Unfortunately this woman found him particularly hungry and without the patience to acquire multiple victims. When he pulled off the woman, who had grown limp in his arms, he looked until his gaze found Armand. And wasn't it a sight! To see Armand hunt was to watch an artist paint. The man, much like the woman, did not panic or scream. There was no time for that. Armand descended upon him and made quick work.

He licked his teeth, blood still coating the inside of his mouth, and he moved to arrange her on the nearby bench, looking perfectly alive, if not a bit tired. Her eyes were closed, but her expression was peaceful. "In the river? Or we could pose them here, together forever in death. A bit macabre but it's a little romantic, isn't it? He was cheating on her, you know. And she thought they'd get married, on a beach. Two children, maybe a dog." He stroked her cheek, almost tenderly, tilting her head back so it wasn't falling forward onto her chest. "I think she would have stayed even if she'd known. It's worse to be alone." His voice was wistful, sad, before he grinned and looked back at Armand. "Dinner and a show."

Lestat had taken off ahead of him but Armand was quick to follow, moving in shadow and speed with his dark gift. As the girl was pulled away, the boy didn’t even have time to protest. He’d turned his head away from she and Lestat, softly whispering. “ Shhh.. I promise you she’s in good hands. As are you.. “ He cooed softly, and willingly the boy started to turn his head, and Armand slowly sunk his fangs in.

He was delicious, a pure overload of passion and testosterone. He’d been aroused by her, and now aroused but this bite. Armand always did love to let some of his victims feel a type of bliss. It made the blood even sweeter. Just like a steak may taste worse if the cow died painfully, the same went for mortals. Dying happily and horny especially, always made them taste divine.

And like Lestat, his intense, bright eyes had lifted to watch the other vampire feed and he couldn’t lie to himself. He was aroused by the sight. Lestat always seemed to favor the girls, and just as easily his beauty and sweet words could charm any of them. He looked especially beautiful now, as he drank from her, his flesh already growing more mortal pink from her hot blood.

Armand embraced the boy until he was near death, stopping of course before his heart stopped. “ Mm. “ He licked his own lips, but of course not a single drop was spilt. “ With multiple women in fact. This was his favorite place to fuck — “ He followed Lestat’s lead, gently laying him back, posing him there with the girl, placing his hand atop hers. “ And they never said no. That’s what he believed anyway. “

Armand bit his thumb, moving it to the boy’s throat, rubbing it where the two dots on his neck were, watching them vanish easily. He lapped the little bit of blood off his throat, laughing softly at his hunting partner’s quip. “ Shall I take my bow? How many curtain calls, do you think? “ He chuckled softly, eyes raking over their respective victims, then to Lestat. “ No one wants to be alone. Now they can be here, together forever in death’s sweet embrace. “ He smiled a little at that.

Whatever this was, was a delicate dance. Armand was not ignorant that he was plagued by ghosts, visions. He had indeed observed him talking to what he knew was Claudia. He’d sworn to protect him, and if that meant not prying because Lestat might simply shatter? He would not pry. Perhaps one day, they would speak of such things. For now, he provided merriment and distraction.

Armand laughed lightly as he spoke of his diet. Yes, he could suspend the thirst for a much longer period of time than a vampire of Lestat’s age, but it didn’t mean he still didn’t enjoy the kill. “ I may not need the blood as often as you do, but you know I enjoy hunting. Even all those years ago, we hunted together, if anything but to enjoy each others company. “ He chuckled softly. Sort of like now.

“ I would hunt every night with you if you wished it. “. He paused. “ Well on the nights you aren’t enjoying your delivery, getting fat on your fan’s love! “ He’d laughed again as he teased, and when he’d said he grew fat on their blood he’d reached over to playfully pat his tummy in mocking.

Now this, Armand was enjoying. There were no expectations as of now. He didn’t have to dwell and think on his feelings for him and at the same time he didn’t give Lestat a chance to dwell in his darkness. No, this was simply companionship, and that was something they’d definitely needed.

So quickly Lestat moved, and that hand was placed at his lower back. Well, if he could blush he might have, but his face only blushed when flushed with blood. It always made them look more human. But it brought a soft laugh, a damn near giggle out of him as he guided him forward.

“ Always by the water. You know, no matter the continent, New World or Old, they always gather by it. “ He remembered nights he’d walked the Seine with both Louis and Lestat at different points in his life. Then he cast that wicked little grin. “ Now you have me starving for them! “ Without thought he wrapped an arm around his shoulders for a moment and squeezed, then released him.

“ I long for our feast. “

As they exited the venue, Lestat was pleased to make Armand laugh. He always had enjoyed the sound; there had been so little of it during their first meeting so many years ago. Armand often kept his true emotions and feelings trapped below the tense suspension of the surface, like an unbroken pond only disrupted by a pebble. Someone thought he was entertaining, which was nice. In fact, spending time with Armand was nice. It was not tense or awkward as it might have been, as perhaps it should have been.

Claudia berated him for his betrayal, another on-top of the pile, but if Lestat was being honest, he was more concerned with being alone than he was about his phantom daughter and her hateful words. She did not keep him company as often as he might like. To see her, this effigy of her, was both painful and meaningful. Like lashes on his bare back, suffering and bliss in one. But sometimes he needed an anchor in the real world, and that had become Armand. Louis was safe, off doing whatever it was Louis did, and Lestat was safe, too.

Guarded by The Vampire Armand, who had once been his enemy. They made their way through the dark city streets, the moonlight barely catching Lestat through the haze of light pollution. People going about their business, oblivious. A few vulnerable unhoused, which were not Lestat's first choice. They frequently smelled like urine and stale cigarettes and weren't always in the best of health. Crowded neighborhoods gave way to the river district, walking trails and benches and a smattering of green. A park, sprawling, mostly empty at this hour.

"Do you see anyone you like, cher?" Lestat inquiried as he took a drag from the cigarette he'd lit up some blocks back, letting the smoke waft from his open mouth as he turned glittering eyes back to Armand. Two predators, beautiful and hungry, hunting side by side. Louis had never loved it the way Lestat did. Lestat could have forgone the sex, the physical intimacy. It would have been difficult, yes, but this? This was so much more meaningful.

But Lestat was different. He enjoyed the hunt, he took pleasure in it and embraced being a vampire. It was a welcome change honestly to what he’d known before. There was a thrill in taking a mortal life, tasting their memories, absorbing their stories. There was fun in just being in good company, picking out which mortals would be their meals. Yes, Armand didn’t need to feed as often, so when he was with Louis since it upset him, he always stretched it out. But here with Lestat, he could freely be himself, without judgement. Rarely did he allow anyone past his carefully crafted surface, but with Lestat it had started to feel easier.

The park was a perfect hunting ground. In ways it reminded him of Paris, and as he said before, all the mortals loved to be gathered near the water. Places like this were perfect hunting grounds. He could hear all their heartbeats, all their internal thoughts.

But damn, he’d forgotten his cigarettes back on the tour bus. He made a gesture with his fingers toward Lestat, requesting a puff of his. “ I favor the couple there. “ He gestured with his head alone. Lestat could feel and hear them just as much. “ Look at them, swallowing each other’s tongues. He wants to throw her on the ground right now and have his way with her. “

Armand chuckled softly. “ Passionate blood always does have a remarkable taste. One for each of us. “ He smiled a little. “ What do you think? “

Lestat's fangs peeked out as he stood up and looked at Armand for a moment. "Hate me? Oh, please what the hell did I even do to you?" He asked while he moved in front of him. "Because I have more reasons to hate you than for you to hate me, no?" The thought of bring Claudia up killed Lestat but he needed to get his point a crossed.

" You act like you want to play rough but deep down inside you are a weak little thing. Now go on and go back under your bridge you little gremlin. You come back out when you are ready to play with the big boys. "

With a growl Lestat plunge his fangs deep within Armand's wrist and sucked on his blood. A moan then left his lips as that tasted he remembered all those years ago kicked back in.

You and I have been doing this song and dance for many years now. Just to come down to this moment. A moment I woule change for the word, Arun.

He heard the words in his head, and instantly walls started to melt at the single mention of his real name. Lestat still remembered, after all these years. Armand always felt vulnerable when he heard it, but it was amidst their vows of promises and love. It made him melt.

They stared into their eyes, but the sudden kiss made him swoon. Lestat had him utterly then, and Armand moaned, whimpered really as he was tugged close, fingers finding their way into those blonde tresses.

In-between kisses and whimpers, his mouth now hung open hotly. He needed him more than ever as his hips bucked into his body. “ Make love to me, Lestat. “ A whisper, fingers softly running down his cheek, then over his lips. “ And I will make love to you in kind. “

His maker was here, in the flesh. For the first time in over two years. Daniel had intended to shout. To sneer. To turn his back on the person who'd turned his back on him. Yet here he stood, unable to do any of that. It was like he was caught in Armand's orbit, unable to break free of it.

“ Still as sassy as ever, I see. “ Which was honestly something he always adored about Daniel, even when he was young. But when he was young there was mesmerism really. Now that he was seasoned, he was all the more sharp on his wit. Though .. if he thought about it Daniel was still newly born.

He noted the defensive arm position. Even now, Daniel was hugging himself, protecting himself. He’d watched his fledgling from afar, and so many times he had wanted to step forward and say things to him, but Armand couldn’t bring himself to do so. He hasn’t been strong enough until now.

Slowly, as if to not scare a skittish animal, he crossed to him. He even touched him, a hand falling on one of his crossed arms. Oh and his rage was exquisite. “ I am here, as I finally grew the courage to step from the shadows. And I am here because you are in great danger with Lestat, Daniel. “

This had nothing to do with jealousy. He knew his fledgling, his only fledgling was in grave danger. Daniel had his bloodline, and he took to vampirism beautifully, but he still cared. It was.. hard for Armand to admit such things to himself.

Then without a second thought, his hand lifted and the back of his fingers stroked his cheek. “ Seeing my own eyes looking back at me. Blood of my blood. “ He offered a meek smile. “ You bare all the more beauty now that I see you this close. “ Much better than the shadows. “ My only fledgling. “