Disclaimer: I don't own any of the already claimed characters. I do own Bob, Fred, Ned and Neill, plus a few of the mob members.

Ch 12 Lessons

Fred stood still and watched as Lestat crept up to the house where he knew the young children were hiding. This was Fred's first lesson into how to kill someone when inside a house and she was actually looking forward to it. She had quickly picked up the technique of killing people quickly and efficiently. She had really enjoyed draining that woman's blood on her first night as a vampire. Now she was Lestat's wife and he was teaching her everything she would ever need whilst she was a vampire.

She walked slowly forward making not a sound. She followed her husband's every movement. It was so exciting being there and seeing how it was done. She had killed people out in the streets before but never inside their own home, she remembered her first real victim, she had broken his neck and drank every bit of blood out of him and she had loved the thrill it gave her. This was the new thing that she had finally persuaded Lestat she was ready for.

Lestat had to give her credit, she was a fast learner and was always keen to watch him and even participate, something he had never trusted anyone but Neill to do before. He loved being near her all the time and liked it even more that she liked learning what he was teaching.

Lestat walked into the house trying to ignore the strong sent of garlic that the family had put up for protection from the things that haunted the night. Lestat moved stealthily barely seen in the shadows. His long black, billowing cloak made him almost invisible in the darkness. He walked over to the room which he guessed the children were in. He would kill them and maybe even let Fred have a go if he felt she was ready. Then in the morning when the children's parents woke up they would find the bodies of their children dead where they slept.

Fred followed Lestat into the room and watched as he leaned over the two sleeping forms, she had prepared herself for this all night but suddenly the thought of killing children filled her with a deep sense of dread and Lestat quickly picked up on it. He smiled at Fred who smiled back hoping she would not betray her frightened interior. Lestat touched the child's cheek and kissed it lightly. The small boy didn't wake up but moved slightly in his sleep.

Lestat leaned further forward and was about to break the first child's neck when a man ran quickly into the room holding a cross and a pitch fork. Before she knew what was going on the pitch fork was in Fred's stomach and Lestat was trying to find a way of getting past the man. He pushed the parent out of the way so he hit the floor and then grabbed Fred who was a little stunned at what was going on.

When they were outside Lestat said nothing but strode at a very fast pace to where they had left their horses. Fred was finding it hard to keep up so Lestat slowed and told her to stop. He scopped her up into his arms and carried her gently back to their horses. She rode with him and he tried to be as careful as possible with her, he knew the extent of her injuries and wanted to get her back to his castle.

After a while of riding very quickly through the woods and ignoring the angry shouts and cries from the village behind them Lestat and Fred returned to their castle. Lestat carried Fred inside and instantly called for Neill as he laid her down on the sofa next to the fire.

"Yes my Lord." Neill said as he entered the living hall.

"Go, fetch some warm water and blankets. Fred is hurt." Lestat said whilst removing Fred's coat.

Neill quickly did what he was told knowing there was no arguing with Lestat when it concerned Fred. He didn't like her one bit but knew that his master was in love with her and there was nothing he could do to change that. It annoyed him that this woman could change Lestat so much. He never used to be so protective over anything apart from that slave woman he had in France.

Neill soon returned with the water and blankets and handed them to Lestat who instantly set to work cleaning Fred's wounds.

"Make sure the fire is kept going all night." Lestat demanded to Neill who went outside to collect some wood, he knew it was going to be a long night.

Fred finally awoke during the late hours of the day. The sun was sill up but it was only a few hours until dusk. She sat up and saw that Lestat was sleeping in a chair on the other side of the room and Neill was curled up in a ball next to the roaring fire. She didn't really remember anything that happened after she had been stabbed with a pitch fork by the angry father of those two children.

Lestat woke as if he knew that Fred was finally awake.

"Good morning. How do you feel?"

"I'm all right. I don't really remember what happened after that man stabbed me."

"All in good time." He smiled at her and joined her at the sofa. He tenderly stroked her hair and kissed her on the cheek.

"So is that what you meant when you said about a lesson my love? How to get yourself stabbed by a manic man?"

Lestat smiled that she could still make jokes about something that could have been very serious.

"Do not worry Lestat. I am fine. At least it wasn't a wooden stake." She laughed although Lestat found nothing funny. "We didn't even get to finish the lesson." She said trying to lighten the mood that had suddenly descended.

"Maybe some other time. For now you should rest. No doubt you are still weak. Your time will come."

They looked lovingly at each other and eventually Fred fell asleep and Lestat picked her up and carried her to her room.