Tiana was woken by the sound of someone knocking on the door. She blinked, unable to remember for a second what had happened, and then the events of the night before came flooding back to her and she smiled and sat up. Lestat still had his arms around her and as she moved he stirred with her and opened his eyes. Then, with a mischievous smile, he leaned forwards and kissed her. “Morning.”
“Good morning,” Tiana replied, and then it occurred to her that the knocking on the door meant that there was someone outside the house who wanted to come in, so she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “Someone’s at the door.”
“I can tell,” Lestat replied, out of bed before she had even had a chance to blink. Picking up her dressing gown, Tiana spun it around her and slid her feet her feet into a pair of comfy old slippers that had seen better days. They were novelty ones, green and shaped like webbed frogs feet. Belle had bought them for her for Christmas; Tiana remembered she had gone through a phase of buying novelty slippers for all her friends and family that year. Meg had had a pair shaped like purple dragon feet, and to the best of Tiana’s knowledge, she still wore them even now.
In the short time it took Tiana to make herself look presentable enough to answer the door, Lestat was already fully dressed and grinning at her. “Will I be able to do that?” Tiana asked, curiously. “Once I’m a vampire, or is that just for you?”
Lestat laughed. “No, it’s the same with all vampires.”
“Good,” Tiana sighed. “That’ll save on bus fares!”
Lestat laughed again and pulled her close to him. “I’m glad I met you, Tiana,” he murmured, kissing her hair.
Tiana smiled. “I’m glad I met you too. Now, come on, let me go. I’ve got to answer the door.”
With obvious reluctance, Lestat released her and she hurried downstairs and into the living room. “Alright, alright, I’m coming!” she called, opening the door...and then she stared.
“Tia!” Esmeralda grinned at her. “It’s me, surprise, surprise!”
“Esme, what are you doing here?” Tiana asked, remembering how to talk in the nick of time.
“Oh, nice way to greet your sister!” Esme tossed her raven curls, and then pulled her younger sister into a hug. “After I came all this way to see you!”
“Well, of course I’m pleased,” stammered Tiana. “Just...it’s such a surprise. The last I heard of you, you were in France.”
“Oh, that reminds me, I’ve got a present for you buried somewhere in the baggage.” Esme turned her head and called to the taxi driver who’d just delivered her to Tiana’s door “Thanks!”
“Baggage?” Tiana stared at the pile of bags being piled up by a tall, blonde man. “What baggage? And who’s that?”
“Oh, that’s John Smith, isn’t he dreamy? Are you going to let me in?”
Tiana did glance at her sister to check that there were no holes in her neck before she moved back to let her in. No, her sister definitely wasn’t a vampire. Behind her, John, piled up with bags, nodded at her in silent acknowledgement as he crossed the threshold. “Esme, what is all this?” asked Tiana.
“Oh, I know it’s a lot, but I’m sure we’ll find room in this place somewhere, for it all.”
“Huh?” Tiana stared at her. “Esme, what are you saying?”
“Oh, Tia, wake up! We’ll be staying here until we move on to NYC!” Esme pulled out a tiny compact mirror and reapplied her lipgloss.
Tiana was about to say something, anything, when John, finally free of baggage, spoke up for the first time. “Hi.”
Realising he was talking to someone behind her, Tiana turned to see Lestat leaning against the doorframe behind her.
“Hi,” Lestat replied, casually.
Esme looked up in surprise. “Oh, hey there. I’m Esme, Tiana’s sister; I’m guessing she hasn’t mentioned me?”
Tiana rolled her eyes at her sister’s obvious flirtations, but thankfully Lestat seemed oblivious to them.
“Sadly, no,” he replied, and as he stepped forwards, Tiana felt him slide an arm about her waist.
“Esme, John, this is Lestat,” Tiana said, wondering whether she ought to add the words “My boyfriend” after it or whether this much was obvious.
“Lestat?” John raised his eyebrows. “French?”
“Originally, but I’ve spent too much time abroad to keep the accent I was born with,” Lestat replied. His fingers splayed across Tiana’s side, like he was playing piano keys, and she felt a tremble of excitement quiver through her body.
“Well,” smiled Esme, “I expect we’ll have plenty of time to get to know one another now John and I will be staying here. That is alright, isn’t it, Tia?”
Tiana forced a smile onto her face. “Fine.” Thanks a lot, she thought, bitterly; I don’t see you for years and then you just come and dump yourself on me like this! And what the hell is this going to mean for Lestat turning me into a vampire now? Oh, hell! Turning her head, she looked him in the eyes. You heard that, didn’t you?
Lestat kissed her cheek and whispered “Yes” into her ear, and she blushed.
“Um, do you want to stay for breakfast?” she asked him. This had not been how she had pictured the morning after her first time; with her sister and her new beau in the living room with a whole load of baggage between them. No, she had imagined that she and Lestat would wake up, like they had, dress, spend a little time lovingly teasing each other and then settle down for a romantic breakfast, cooked by herself, naturally.
Lestat gave her a smile. “Thanks, but I should really be going. I’ll see you tonight.”
It gave her a little more courage that he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with a deep passion before taking his leave of them. Tiana smiled as she closed the door and then turned to her sister.
“He’s cute,” grinned Esme. “Where’d you meet him?”
“Just at work,” Tiana replied, vaguely. “Now, do you want help unpacking your stuff?”
She led them up to the spare room, which was supposed to act as the guest room, but it was rarely used, since Tiana rarely had guests, or if Belle and Meg slept over, then they usually all slept in her room; them in the bed and Tiana on a campbed, like a sleepover. And, she reflected, after what had happened last night, she doubted that Lestat would ever sleep in it either. Esme had a lot of luggage, and Tiana swore she hadn’t had half this much stuff with her the last time they had seen each other. All the while she wondered now about becoming a vampire. Her original take on it was that she didn’t really have any family left; her parents were both dead and, well, Esme had been estranged to her for years, and to be perfectly honest, they had never been particularly close, and sometimes Tiana doubted whether Esme would even notice if she died, so wrapped up in herself was she. But now, if Esme was to be living with her, if only temporarily, what if she wanted them to reconnect, and rekindle the old sisterly feeling they must have once had for one another? How would she take learning that Lestat was a vampire, and Tiana’s decision to join him in his vampirism? Would she accept it? Would she reject her? Or, worse, would she decide to try and kill both her and Lestat?
This is so messed up, Tiana thought, wondering if Lestat could read her thoughts even when he wasn’t anywhere near her.
“This is so good of you, Tia,” gushed Esme, already unpacking her matching luggage. Tiana noticed that John had just two bags; one large brown holdall and one long one like a giant bag of archaeological digging tools. She wondered what he kept in there.
“I know,” Tiana muttered back, wondering whether Esme would notice the sarcasm in her voice. She didn’t. “I’m all heart.”
John didn’t smile, but he nodded his appreciation to her again, and Tiana went downstairs to make something for breakfast. As the day wore on, and Esme gushed on about all the places they had seen and how she and John had first met, with John only commenting a few times or putting in the occasional nod or grunt, Tiana found herself counting down the seconds until she would be with Lestat again. This was torture; in fact it made watching her beloved drink blood from still living humans almost bearable.
“So, anyways, how long have you and Lestat been together, then?” asked Esme, abruptly. Here, John looked interested too.
“A few weeks,” Tiana said, and then, “I think. I’ve kind of lost track of the days.”
“Happens when you fall in love,” John commented, with the hint of a smile.
“Well, he certainly seems charming,” said Esme.
“He is,” Tiana replied. “He’s charming, considerate, kind, sensitive and unlike a lot of people, I can actually have an intelligent conversation with him.”
“So, where’s he taking you later?” asked Esme, downing yet another glass of wine, her third. Tiana was just glad there was another bottle in the fridge.
“I have no idea, but knowing him, it’ll be great,” she admitted.
“Mm! That reminds me! Your present!” Esme scooted up the stairs, leaving Tiana and John sitting at the kitchen table.
“So,” said John, presently, to break the silence, “Lestat...what did you say his last name was?”
“I didn’t. It’s de Lioncourt; Lestat de Lioncourt.”
“Here!” Esme was back and she thrust a paper bag from Chanel at Tiana. “I just know you’re going to love it; it’s so you!”
It was a long blue dress, and Tiana felt her jaw drop. “Esme, how could you afford this?”
“I told you; that new job I’ve taken at Moulin Rouge makes a bomb,” smiled Esme, sitting back down at the table and propping her chin on her hand. “Like working at Coyote Ugly.”
John was clearly unaffected by his girlfriend’s job as a sexy dancer, Tiana reflected.
“Well, try it on, I want to see it,” Esme grinned.
Tiana did as she was bid. Her sister had only been here just less than a day and she was getting on her nerves. “This is a nightmare,” she muttered to herself, slipping into the dress. “Someone kill me now.”
Even as she thought this, there was a knock at the front door. Her heart skipped a beat. “It’s open!” she called, hurrying down the stairs, trying not to trip over her dress. To her relief, it was Lestat who walked through the door. “Hey!” Tiana exclaimed, going up to him.
“You look beautiful,” Lestat replied, looking her up and down.
She blushed. “Esme bought me the dress, but personally I think it’s a little-”
“I didn’t mean the dress,” Lestat interrupted, taking her hands.
“Oh,” Tiana faltered, before he kissed her. She smiled, pressing closer to him, wanting it more and more. “So, where are we going tonight?” she asked, softly, as he pulled away from her. “Please be somewhere far away was Esme,” she added, desperately.
Lestat laughed, softly. “I can promise you that.” He looked over the top of her head. “Hey.”
Tiana glanced over her shoulder to see Esme and John standing right behind her. “Hey, there,” smiled Esme, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger, childishly. “So, are you going anywhere nice?”
“Just somewhere I know Tiana really wants to go,” replied Lestat. “You ready?”
This last was to Tiana, and she smiled up at him. “Yeah, I’m ready,” she replied, snatching her bag and coat from the sofa. Even if she had to spend a night in this gaudy designer dress, it wouldn’t kill her, as long as she was with Lestat and away from Esme for a bit. She looked at her sister. “I’ll probably be back late, so don’t wait up for me.”
“You alright?” Lestat asked her the second they were out of the house. “You seem...stressed.”
“It’s just Esme,” sighed Tiana. “Look, the reason I didn’t mention her is because I haven’t seen her for years and I thought she wouldn’t notice if I dropped down dead or turned into a vampire, but now she’s back in my life and she’s driving me crazy!”
Lestat smiled. “Well, I think you’ll probably forget all about her for the rest of the night once we’re away from here.”
“Why?” Tiana looked up at him, seeing mischief in his eyes again. She couldn’t help but smile. “Where are we going?”
“Paris.”
“Good morning,” Tiana replied, and then it occurred to her that the knocking on the door meant that there was someone outside the house who wanted to come in, so she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “Someone’s at the door.”
“I can tell,” Lestat replied, out of bed before she had even had a chance to blink. Picking up her dressing gown, Tiana spun it around her and slid her feet her feet into a pair of comfy old slippers that had seen better days. They were novelty ones, green and shaped like webbed frogs feet. Belle had bought them for her for Christmas; Tiana remembered she had gone through a phase of buying novelty slippers for all her friends and family that year. Meg had had a pair shaped like purple dragon feet, and to the best of Tiana’s knowledge, she still wore them even now.
In the short time it took Tiana to make herself look presentable enough to answer the door, Lestat was already fully dressed and grinning at her. “Will I be able to do that?” Tiana asked, curiously. “Once I’m a vampire, or is that just for you?”
Lestat laughed. “No, it’s the same with all vampires.”
“Good,” Tiana sighed. “That’ll save on bus fares!”
Lestat laughed again and pulled her close to him. “I’m glad I met you, Tiana,” he murmured, kissing her hair.
Tiana smiled. “I’m glad I met you too. Now, come on, let me go. I’ve got to answer the door.”
With obvious reluctance, Lestat released her and she hurried downstairs and into the living room. “Alright, alright, I’m coming!” she called, opening the door...and then she stared.
“Tia!” Esmeralda grinned at her. “It’s me, surprise, surprise!”
“Esme, what are you doing here?” Tiana asked, remembering how to talk in the nick of time.
“Oh, nice way to greet your sister!” Esme tossed her raven curls, and then pulled her younger sister into a hug. “After I came all this way to see you!”
“Well, of course I’m pleased,” stammered Tiana. “Just...it’s such a surprise. The last I heard of you, you were in France.”
“Oh, that reminds me, I’ve got a present for you buried somewhere in the baggage.” Esme turned her head and called to the taxi driver who’d just delivered her to Tiana’s door “Thanks!”
“Baggage?” Tiana stared at the pile of bags being piled up by a tall, blonde man. “What baggage? And who’s that?”
“Oh, that’s John Smith, isn’t he dreamy? Are you going to let me in?”
Tiana did glance at her sister to check that there were no holes in her neck before she moved back to let her in. No, her sister definitely wasn’t a vampire. Behind her, John, piled up with bags, nodded at her in silent acknowledgement as he crossed the threshold. “Esme, what is all this?” asked Tiana.
“Oh, I know it’s a lot, but I’m sure we’ll find room in this place somewhere, for it all.”
“Huh?” Tiana stared at her. “Esme, what are you saying?”
“Oh, Tia, wake up! We’ll be staying here until we move on to NYC!” Esme pulled out a tiny compact mirror and reapplied her lipgloss.
Tiana was about to say something, anything, when John, finally free of baggage, spoke up for the first time. “Hi.”
Realising he was talking to someone behind her, Tiana turned to see Lestat leaning against the doorframe behind her.
“Hi,” Lestat replied, casually.
Esme looked up in surprise. “Oh, hey there. I’m Esme, Tiana’s sister; I’m guessing she hasn’t mentioned me?”
Tiana rolled her eyes at her sister’s obvious flirtations, but thankfully Lestat seemed oblivious to them.
“Sadly, no,” he replied, and as he stepped forwards, Tiana felt him slide an arm about her waist.
“Esme, John, this is Lestat,” Tiana said, wondering whether she ought to add the words “My boyfriend” after it or whether this much was obvious.
“Lestat?” John raised his eyebrows. “French?”
“Originally, but I’ve spent too much time abroad to keep the accent I was born with,” Lestat replied. His fingers splayed across Tiana’s side, like he was playing piano keys, and she felt a tremble of excitement quiver through her body.
“Well,” smiled Esme, “I expect we’ll have plenty of time to get to know one another now John and I will be staying here. That is alright, isn’t it, Tia?”
Tiana forced a smile onto her face. “Fine.” Thanks a lot, she thought, bitterly; I don’t see you for years and then you just come and dump yourself on me like this! And what the hell is this going to mean for Lestat turning me into a vampire now? Oh, hell! Turning her head, she looked him in the eyes. You heard that, didn’t you?
Lestat kissed her cheek and whispered “Yes” into her ear, and she blushed.
“Um, do you want to stay for breakfast?” she asked him. This had not been how she had pictured the morning after her first time; with her sister and her new beau in the living room with a whole load of baggage between them. No, she had imagined that she and Lestat would wake up, like they had, dress, spend a little time lovingly teasing each other and then settle down for a romantic breakfast, cooked by herself, naturally.
Lestat gave her a smile. “Thanks, but I should really be going. I’ll see you tonight.”
It gave her a little more courage that he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with a deep passion before taking his leave of them. Tiana smiled as she closed the door and then turned to her sister.
“He’s cute,” grinned Esme. “Where’d you meet him?”
“Just at work,” Tiana replied, vaguely. “Now, do you want help unpacking your stuff?”
She led them up to the spare room, which was supposed to act as the guest room, but it was rarely used, since Tiana rarely had guests, or if Belle and Meg slept over, then they usually all slept in her room; them in the bed and Tiana on a campbed, like a sleepover. And, she reflected, after what had happened last night, she doubted that Lestat would ever sleep in it either. Esme had a lot of luggage, and Tiana swore she hadn’t had half this much stuff with her the last time they had seen each other. All the while she wondered now about becoming a vampire. Her original take on it was that she didn’t really have any family left; her parents were both dead and, well, Esme had been estranged to her for years, and to be perfectly honest, they had never been particularly close, and sometimes Tiana doubted whether Esme would even notice if she died, so wrapped up in herself was she. But now, if Esme was to be living with her, if only temporarily, what if she wanted them to reconnect, and rekindle the old sisterly feeling they must have once had for one another? How would she take learning that Lestat was a vampire, and Tiana’s decision to join him in his vampirism? Would she accept it? Would she reject her? Or, worse, would she decide to try and kill both her and Lestat?
This is so messed up, Tiana thought, wondering if Lestat could read her thoughts even when he wasn’t anywhere near her.
“This is so good of you, Tia,” gushed Esme, already unpacking her matching luggage. Tiana noticed that John had just two bags; one large brown holdall and one long one like a giant bag of archaeological digging tools. She wondered what he kept in there.
“I know,” Tiana muttered back, wondering whether Esme would notice the sarcasm in her voice. She didn’t. “I’m all heart.”
John didn’t smile, but he nodded his appreciation to her again, and Tiana went downstairs to make something for breakfast. As the day wore on, and Esme gushed on about all the places they had seen and how she and John had first met, with John only commenting a few times or putting in the occasional nod or grunt, Tiana found herself counting down the seconds until she would be with Lestat again. This was torture; in fact it made watching her beloved drink blood from still living humans almost bearable.
“So, anyways, how long have you and Lestat been together, then?” asked Esme, abruptly. Here, John looked interested too.
“A few weeks,” Tiana said, and then, “I think. I’ve kind of lost track of the days.”
“Happens when you fall in love,” John commented, with the hint of a smile.
“Well, he certainly seems charming,” said Esme.
“He is,” Tiana replied. “He’s charming, considerate, kind, sensitive and unlike a lot of people, I can actually have an intelligent conversation with him.”
“So, where’s he taking you later?” asked Esme, downing yet another glass of wine, her third. Tiana was just glad there was another bottle in the fridge.
“I have no idea, but knowing him, it’ll be great,” she admitted.
“Mm! That reminds me! Your present!” Esme scooted up the stairs, leaving Tiana and John sitting at the kitchen table.
“So,” said John, presently, to break the silence, “Lestat...what did you say his last name was?”
“I didn’t. It’s de Lioncourt; Lestat de Lioncourt.”
“Here!” Esme was back and she thrust a paper bag from Chanel at Tiana. “I just know you’re going to love it; it’s so you!”
It was a long blue dress, and Tiana felt her jaw drop. “Esme, how could you afford this?”
“I told you; that new job I’ve taken at Moulin Rouge makes a bomb,” smiled Esme, sitting back down at the table and propping her chin on her hand. “Like working at Coyote Ugly.”
John was clearly unaffected by his girlfriend’s job as a sexy dancer, Tiana reflected.
“Well, try it on, I want to see it,” Esme grinned.
Tiana did as she was bid. Her sister had only been here just less than a day and she was getting on her nerves. “This is a nightmare,” she muttered to herself, slipping into the dress. “Someone kill me now.”
Even as she thought this, there was a knock at the front door. Her heart skipped a beat. “It’s open!” she called, hurrying down the stairs, trying not to trip over her dress. To her relief, it was Lestat who walked through the door. “Hey!” Tiana exclaimed, going up to him.
“You look beautiful,” Lestat replied, looking her up and down.
She blushed. “Esme bought me the dress, but personally I think it’s a little-”
“I didn’t mean the dress,” Lestat interrupted, taking her hands.
“Oh,” Tiana faltered, before he kissed her. She smiled, pressing closer to him, wanting it more and more. “So, where are we going tonight?” she asked, softly, as he pulled away from her. “Please be somewhere far away was Esme,” she added, desperately.
Lestat laughed, softly. “I can promise you that.” He looked over the top of her head. “Hey.”
Tiana glanced over her shoulder to see Esme and John standing right behind her. “Hey, there,” smiled Esme, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger, childishly. “So, are you going anywhere nice?”
“Just somewhere I know Tiana really wants to go,” replied Lestat. “You ready?”
This last was to Tiana, and she smiled up at him. “Yeah, I’m ready,” she replied, snatching her bag and coat from the sofa. Even if she had to spend a night in this gaudy designer dress, it wouldn’t kill her, as long as she was with Lestat and away from Esme for a bit. She looked at her sister. “I’ll probably be back late, so don’t wait up for me.”
“You alright?” Lestat asked her the second they were out of the house. “You seem...stressed.”
“It’s just Esme,” sighed Tiana. “Look, the reason I didn’t mention her is because I haven’t seen her for years and I thought she wouldn’t notice if I dropped down dead or turned into a vampire, but now she’s back in my life and she’s driving me crazy!”
Lestat smiled. “Well, I think you’ll probably forget all about her for the rest of the night once we’re away from here.”
“Why?” Tiana looked up at him, seeing mischief in his eyes again. She couldn’t help but smile. “Where are we going?”
“Paris.”