Chapter #9: He's Alive?
It had been a few weeks since Claudia had killed Lestat, and I was still trying to overcome the shock it caused me. Louie and Claudia didn't tell me where they hid his body, which REALLY pissed me off. Claudia began to read books in the library, trying to find 'our kind'. I knew they had to be out there, mostly because of my dream. Those vampires were going to kill me if Lestat stayed, and they must still be out there.
Louis, Claudia and I were going to take a ship across the world to Europe, hoping to find our kind. All of our furniture was covered in white sheets except for our piano. I wouldn't let Louie cover it because it reminded me of the last time I saw Lestat. I sat in a chair by the piano, reading a book. Claudia was playing the piano for me, and Louis came up the stairs with a bird cage in hand.
" Look who we forgot," Louis said. I looked at the bird in the cage. It reminded me of the time I was at the asylum. " Let's set them free," I said. He set the cage on the piano just as the doorbell rang. " It's the carriage."
Louis headed downstairs as Claudia set the bird free out the window. We went down the stairs just in time to see him struggling against a pale grey hand and trying to shut the door. " NO, LOUIE! HE'S BACK!" He finally shut the door and turned to us. Claudia was screaming like crazy, so I picked her up and she buried her face into my shoulder. We all ran up the stairs and to the piano room. I heard the piano being played and I gasped. Claudia didn't kill Lestat. He was sitting at the piano, playing it. I put Claudia behind me and Louis as Lestat began to speak to Louie. " Listen, Louis...there's life...in these old hands still. Not quite furioso, moderato, cantabile, perhaps."
" How could it be?" Claudia whispered. Lestat was pale and scary-looking. " Ask the alligator. His blood helped. Then, on a diet of the blood of snakes...toads...and all the putrid life...of the Mississippi...slowly...Lestat became something, like himself again. You've been a very, very naughty little girl, Claudia."
He got up and Claudia screamed and jumped back. He went charging at her, but Louie jumped in his path. He pushed Louis aside and went at Claudia. I stood in his way. He stopped and stared at me, speechless, then laughed. I raised an eyebrow and said," I know I'm stronger. I love you, but I love Claudia also."
Louis took this time to throw a candle holder at Lestat, and he caught on fire as he screamed. I ran over to Louie and Claudia, and a blood tear ran down my face. Louie put an arm around my shoulder and led us away from the room. We ran out of the house and I grabbed Claudia and lifted her up with one arm, knowing it would be easier to run faster if I grabbed her. Louis grabbed my hand and we ran from the house, me holding Claudia. The whole square was burning, and the ship had begun to get ready to sail. " The ship is sailing without us!" Claudia yelled. We ran even faster and we ran onto the dock where our ship was. Louis jumped aboard and pulled me after him. The men helped us onto the ship, and I let go of Claudia and placed her down on the bow.
" That was close," I said. We walked to the bow and watched as the place burned down. The fire made patterns across our faces, and I felt Claudia tug on my dress. I bent down to her level. " You saved me. Why?"
" Claudia, I may love Lestat, but I love you and wouldn't let him hurt you." She nodded and hugged me as we set sail.
We spent many months on that ship. It was free of rats, so we would feast on unexpecting humans. We kept to ourselves most of the time, and we soon reached the Medditeranean. We searched everywhere for our kind. Country after country. Town after town. Ruin after ruin. We never found anything. I began to hear rumors of garlic, stake in the heart, stuff like that about how to kill a vampire. Trust me, you're a dumbass if you try doing that.
We finally arrived in Louis's dream town, the mother of New Orleans. Paris. We had gotten an apartment in the best part of Paris, and us 3 seemed back to normal once again.
Tonight, we were going to a ball to feed on people. It was masquerade, so Claudia and I were getting ready in the washroom. She had picked out my outfit. It was a mix of white and pink. I looked like Oddette from Swan Lake. The sleeves dipped down by my wrists and it was well-fitted around my waist. I wore my hair in banana curls, so my hair went downto the small of my back instead. I wore some pink lipstick and blush, but that's it. Claudia was wearing a light purple gown with a simple purple mask. I had a white mask with pink lace. I wore the necklace I had gotten 20 years after I was given the dark gift, which was a simple pink necklace with a pink diamond.
I walked out of the bathroom and to the living room. Louis sat there, waiting for us to get ready. Claudia finally came out and we took a carriage to the grand hall. Once we arrived, we fed on a few people, and we began to be included in the ball. Louis and Claudia had gone out to dance, leaving me alone. I got a feeling of being watched and looked up. I saw a man with black-auburn hair in a ponytail watching me. He had golden-red-brown eyes. I couldn't help but feel connected to him in a way. That's when I sensed it. He was a vampire. He kept watching me for another 5 minutes before he came over. He held out his hand and asked," May I?"
I placed my hand into his and we went out to the floor. We danced and I said," What's your name? I know you're a vampire."
He looked at me. " Armand. And...you are?"
" Penelope De Lioncourt."
" Are you serious?" I looked at him. His eyes looked full of wonder. " Yes. My father was Lestat. Why do you ask?"
We put our hands together in the air and walked in a circle. " I happen to know him. He owns the place I live."
I looked into his eyes. I nearly got lost into them. " Where is it?"
" Theatre de Vampires. You should come to the show sometime."
" I might just do that." He grabbed my hand, causing me to be closer to him. " Tomorrow night at 8. Be there by 6:30 at the doors. I'll be waiting."
He slipped an envelope into my hand. He kissed my hand and disappeared from sight. I went over to our table and seated myself. I looked at the envelope and opened it. It had an invitation in it for the Theatre de Vampires. I knew I had no choice but to go, but I knew I couldn't tell Louis about my encounter with Armand. As much as I loved Louis, I couldn't. I didn't know why and I never will.
I left later than the others because I went out to hunt and I returned later that evening. When I entered our home, Louis and Claudia were fighting. " Why are you two fighting?" I asked. Louis turned to me.
Claudia came over to me and held out her hand. A diamond ring was on it, and I asked," When did this happen...?"
" A few months ago."
" Why didn't I know about it?"
" We had a small ceremony," Claudia said. She turned to Louis. He looked at her and they shared a small kiss. My head couldn't bear to see him with her. STOP IT! I yelled in my head. Louis pulled from her and looked at me with confusion. Did he just hear me?
Claudia slipped the ring off of her finger and placed it in Louie's palm. " I have to dismarry you, Louis. Penny, can I sleep in your coffin tonight?''
I nodded, still mad. I was mad at both of them for not telling me about their marriage. The sun was nearly up and Claudia got into my coffin, and Louis offered me to stay with him. " No...I'll sleep in the closet."
I stomped towards it and slammed it shut. Luckily, no light could shine through the cracks. I felt a wave of tiredness wash over me and I closed my eyes.
