Chapter 17: The Walls Have Teeth

I awoke on a very comfortable, very large bed in a far too opulent room. I was pretty sure that I could guess where I was, but I really didn't want to think about it. I moved to get up from the bed, but had to stop momentarily. I'd placed my weight down on my injured hand. The bite was red and puffy and painful to the touch; here half my hand was out of commission. It could only get worse from here – I had to find a way out, now.

The room was downright ridiculous. I couldn't help but admire the elegant wall-hangings and furniture as I made my way towards the door. It made no sense to me; how could beings so depraved as these appreciate this kind of beauty? I could feel myself getting scared again (the pain in my hand definitely wasn't helping), so I tried to focus on the intricately woven carpet beneath my feet.

The door was locked. Of course it was locked. They're always locked in these situations. I shook the knob with my uninjured hand, but nothing happened. I considered shouldering my way through, then reminded myself that with my small stature and the thickness of the door it was more likely that I'd knock myself out again than get through. I was still standing there considering what to do when the door opened by itself.

It was the absolute last person I wanted to see. He smiled that wicked smile that froze my veins. I would have taken Phillip or even Brutus at that point. He didn't even bother to speak; he just backed me into the room. The door shut behind him on its own. I heard the lock click and knew I was in serious trouble.

I couldn't stand the way he stared and so I burst out with, "Who are you? What do you want?"

"It's not really any of your business who I am."

"Like hell it isn't, answer me!"

He sneered a little, "You humans have no sense of decorum."

I looked at him wondering what that could possibly mean. "Just tell me what I want to know! It's no skin off your back!"

He laughed. It could have been the devil himself laughing. "I can see why Lestat likes you. You really want to know why you're here?"

I was terrified, but I couldn't help looking at him like he was an idiot.

"You know Lestat has ruined us all with his disgusting music."

"Really? I would have thought he helped you."

He laughed again, "And how is that?"

"He's taken the fear out of the vampire myth. Makes things a little easier for you."

This made him angry. His face grew hard and his eyes bore right into me. "No!" He said, "We have no need for 'easier', we should be feared!" The whole room seemed to shake with his last words.

"Alright," I said complacently, though it sounded more like a squeak than an actual word. "What does any of that have to do with me?"

He perked up again, the unnerving smile returning to his lips. "You, little one, you shall be part of his retribution from us."

My heart started thumping, "Retribution? Simply for taking fear away?"

"It's the icing on the cake, my dear, you are a music journalist, no?"

"It makes no difference what I am, and what do you mean 'the icing on the cake' – what else has he done?"

"What, you get angry when I don't answer your questions and then you refuse to answer mine?"

This was crazy, "I already know that you know what I am, there's nothing to answer."

"Smart girl," he said, stroking his chin. He started to pace around me, circling in like a vulture.

I could hear my own heartbeat now. I couldn't catch my breath. Grasping at straws I asked, "What has Lestat done that was so bad that I have to pay for it?"

He dismissed my question, "You wouldn't understand, you are human."

He was getting closer. I was getting dizzy, turning and turning to keep him in view. I had to keep him talking…the way he was looking at me… Without really thinking I began mentally damning Lestat.

"Yes, I believe that by the time we're through you'll hate him as much as us. If you're still alive, that is."

Not funny. Really not funny. God dammit Lestat, where are you?

"Oh, didn't he tell you? He won't be coming. He wouldn't risk coming here for anything – especially a human."

The look of fear on my face must have grown because he took on a mock sympathetic mask, "What, not going to fight me back with vows of undying love between the two of you?"

I didn't say anything. I couldn't say anything. But I had begun to doubt whether Lestat would save me. We didn't love each other. At least I didn't think we loved each other. We'd only just breached the 'like' stage.

The man's face became cruel again, "This game has become boring." Add vicious smile and prominent fangs. "We should start a new one."