Chapter #12: Madeline and the last good-bye.

Louis had gone out a few nights after our conversation to talk to Armand, and Claudia went to the doll maker again. I went out to the balcony and sat on the ledge. I enjoyed the balcony. It was my favorite spot, after all. I spent many nights alone there. I stayed there for about an hour before I heard noises again. I tried to look underneath me, but ended up falling over. I let out a small shriek, but I only fell a few feet. I was caught in mid-air and I looked to see who saved me. Of course, I met those golden-brown eyes I had fallen for. " Madame, you should be more careful."

" Sorry, Armand. I thought Louis went to talk to you...?"

He set me back onto the balcony and said," He's on his way back. You need to leave right now."

" Why?''

" Just do it. When you come, come to the mural. There is a hidden door behind it. Knock, I will be waiting for you."

" But-"

He left before I could say another word. I heard arguing from the room and walked in. Claudia was screaming. " YOU GIVE HER TO ME! YOU GIVE HER TO ME BEFORE YOU BOTH LEAVE ME!"

Claudia began to weep like a little child. I tried to figure this out, then I got it. The doll maker, Madeline, wanted to be Claudia's mother. She wanted her before we left. " Louis, we should do this..."

He looked at me in disbelief. " She's going to need someone!"

He sat down, clearly frustrated. Madeline came over to me. " Louis, I'll do it...for you..."

" MAdeline, do you promise to always care for Claudia and never let her be? Do you promise to love her forever no matter what and care for her?" I asked.

" Yes!"

I grabbed her neck. Before I bit her, I looked at Claudia. SHe looked happy while Louis looked sad. I bit her neck and dropped her. I bit my wrist and my blood dripped into her mouth. SHe grabbed my arm and sucked my blood. She let go and began screaming. Louis went out to the balcony. I went into my room and grabbed my messenger bag. I put all my favorite pieces of jewelry in it, including my charm bracelet and necklace from Lestat. I also put a few books into it, then I heard someone break in as I dropped my pink diamond necklace.

Several vampires came into my room and grabbed me and lifted me up. I screamed as they carried me out the door along with Claudia , Madeline and Louis.

Louis kept screaming Claudia's name, and not once did I hear mine. I felt my eyes go red with hatred. He lied to me. He said he would never hurt me, but he just did. He said he loved me and cared about me. I felt a blood tear escape me eye as we went down the steps of the ballroom. You know, they say trust is like a mirror, once it's broken once, it can be fixed again. But you know what I say? You can still see the crack in that mother fucking reflection.

I screamed and scanned the room for Armand. I only saw a lone figure in a chair. He wore old tattered clothing and had grey skin. Was that Lestat? I didn't know. We turned down separate halls , and I screamed even more. I saw the vampires laughing at me, and finally, we reached a door. The vampires flung it open and threw me in along with Madeline and Claudia. They locked the door and I looked up. We were stuck in a well. I went into panic mode.

Madeline and Claudia held eachother as I searched for a way out. I didn't notice my locket fall off and onto the ground. I pounded on the door, but I only left dents in it. I searched the walls near Claudia. Nothing. The sun was coming out. I went to the wall across from us. I felt the cracks and found a loose one. I opened it and saw it was wallowed out. Big enough for 2. I crawled in just as the sun shone on my side of the wall. Luckily, it couldn't reach me. I reached out my hand." CLAUDIA! COME HERE!"

" NO! I WON"T LEAVE MADELINE!"
" CLAUDIA!"

She screamed as the sun hit her. Blood tears streamed down my face as she turned to ash, along with Madeline. I shut the door slightly, and cried myself to sleep.

I awoke to the door slamming open. I peeked out of the crack and saw Louis covered in dirt. I felt my eyes go red. I loathed him. He cried when he saw the ashes, but didn't even give a single thought about me. I got pissed and punched the stones. Louis looked around, but didn't notice where I was.

He looked at the ground and picked something up. It was my locket! He stared at it and walked out. I crawled out of the crawlspace and to the door. Louis looked at Armand and placed my locket into his palm. " SHE was in there?"

Louie was too distraught to talk. He left and so did all the vampires watching him. Armand stayed and stared at the locket. A tear left from his eye and hit the ground. He swept out of the corridor, and I followed. I entered the ballroom and saw a flash of auburn hair storm up the stairs to the roof. I followed quietly and hid behind a gargoyle as he confronted a man on the roof. He turned to look who joined him. I held in my gasp. It WAS Lestat! " YOU KILLED HER!"

" Claudia, I know," Lestat said, staring at the Paris scenery.

" NOT HER! PENELOPE! YOU KILLED HER!"

Lestat turned. " Now why would I kill my own daughter?"

Armand held up my locket." I gave this to her. It was found in the well. There were claw marks and dents on the door. Try telling me she's not dead."

Lestat paled. " I gave Santiago strict orders to leave Penny alone."

" YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED HER!"

" WHY IS SHE OF SUCH VALUE TO YOU?"

" BECAUSE I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER!" He did love me...

Armand reached his temper and pushed Lestat over the edge. I covered my hands over my mouth. It was the 3rd time Lestat had been killed. Armand kissed the locket and put it into his robes. I came out of hiding as he went down the stairs. I sat over the ledge of the building, thinking about Claudia. After an hour or so, I got an idea. And it would definitely avenge Claudia's death.

Only thing? It had to be done tonight...