"Are you ready?"
“Who is she?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Lestat’s voice didn’t waver at all, however, as he replied. “Akasha, the Vampire Queen. Or rather, it’s a statue dedicated to her. Looks like some sort of shrine.”
Tiana glanced back at the statue. “She looks Egyptian.”
“She was,” Lestat replied, calmly. “Which makes one wonder why someone’s made a shrine dedicated to her here in New Orleans.”
“And underneath the Blue Moon...” Tiana frowned. “Facilier and Smee can’t know about this, surely?”
“Does Smee come down here that often?” Lestat asked, finally looking at her.
“Not that I know of.” Tiana frowned. In his eyes, though his expression was neutral, she could see suspicion and puzzlement, but amid all that there was something else, and it looked like guilt. “L-Lestat?”
Lestat let go of her and bent over the candles. “The wax is freshly melted. Someone’s been down here and lit these recently.”
“Lestat, why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me something?” Tiana persisted.
Lestat sighed and straightened up. “Just a ghost from the past, that’s all.”
“You mean..?” Tiana glanced at the statue for a third time. “You knew her?” Lestat simply nodded and the implication was clear. “You...knew her?” Suddenly her stomach churned and she felt sick. “Was she the Ancient one you fed off, so you can survive in sunlight?”
“Yes,” Lestat answered and Tiana backed away from him. He realised what must be going through her mind. “Tiana, it was a long time ago...”
“I know...I just...” Tiana shook her head. “You...and her...”
Hesitantly, Lestat reached forwards and touched her arm, keeping the distance between them. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“Stop reading my mind,” Tiana sighed.
“I don’t have to,” Lestat replied. “I can tell what you’re thinking just by the way you’re reacting.”
“Well, how do you expect me to react?” Tiana almost snapped. “I mean, how’s anyone supposed to react when they get reminded of their boyfriend’s past romances?”
“Past romance nothing!” Lestat said, his voice firm but even. “I didn’t love her. I didn’t feel about her the way I feel about you.”
Tiana swallowed. “But you went with her, didn’t you?”
Lestat sighed. “A handful of times. Tiana, vampires have a higher sex drive than humans; that’s an explanation, not an excuse,” he added as she took a deep breath. “It was passionate but not romantic. It was like an itch that had to be scratched.”
Tiana looked at her feet. “But you’ve slept with me before too.”
Lestat gave her a pitying look. “Oh, Tiana.” He sighed again and glanced at the statue. “Akasha had nothing on you. You might not believe me, but I would never use you for personal gain. I’d never betray you like I did her. I didn’t love her. Back then I didn’t even think that I could love, but that was before I met you.” Tiana finally looked up at him. His eyes were sincere now, and gentle. “It’s not only about the physical stuff with you, Tiana; it’s about being with you, and being there for you, protecting you.”
Tiana believed him. “You really didn’t love her?”
Lestat offered her a small smile. “I didn’t love anyone until I met you.” She nodded and allowed him to pull her close. Lestat could feel her heart beating against his empty chest. Before he had met Tiana, the sensation would have probably driven the uncontrollable blood lust through him and he would have started feeding off her. But now all it did was remind him that he wasn’t human and make him wish that he could be, for her. “Come on,” he murmured, “let’s get out of here.”
Before Tiana could move out of his arms, however, she felt them flying through the air. It surprised and alarmed her, since it was without warning, and she clung tighter to him until she felt solid ground beneath their feet. Suddenly the wind was whipping around them and she realised that they must be outside. She looked around, startled by the change of scenery.
They were standing on a beach.
Tiana frowned in the darkness as she heard the waves crash around them and then looked up at Lestat. “Where are we?”
“Key West,” Lestat replied. “In Florida.”
She was still confused. “Well...what are we doing here?”
Lestat leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear “Nager avec les dauphins, mon amour.”
Tiana picked up on the easiest word and understood what he had said. “Swimming with dolphins? Really?”
“Oui,” Lestat answered, turning his head towards the sea. “One more off your list. When it’s light, that is.”
Before Tiana could say anything, he had spun her around and wrapped her in a hug from behind. Tiana blinked and realised that now the sun was beginning to rise in front of them, slowly, turning the sea from deep blue and silver to sparkling gold that would probably have blinded her if she had stared at it for too long. “Oh, Lestat,” she whispered, feeling that nothing could be more romantic than this.
“I know, ma douce,” Lestat murmured, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I remember the first time I saw one after being turned. I honestly thought I’d never see one again when I became a vampire. It was breathtaking. Like...being human again.”
Tiana hesitated. “Lestat, you might not have a heartbeat, but you seem more human in nature than all the other vampires I’ve met so far.”
Lestat smiled at her. “I’m a vampire in love; it’s different.”
She frowned, suddenly. “What about the others? They’ll be worried.”
Lestat laughed, softly. “They’ll probably just think we’re lost in the tunnels. Don’t worry, amour, we’ll be back before they can miss us. Je promets.”
They watched the rest of the sunset in silence, and then as Lestat finally let go of her, Tiana realised something. “Lestat...I don’t have a bathing suit.”
He gave her a mischievous look. “Neither do I. I suppose we’ll just have to go in naked.”
Tiana blushed at that. “But what if someone sees?”
“There won’t be anyone around for ages, Tiana.” Lestat took her hand and squeezed it. “Trust me. I know this area.” He looked over her head towards the sea before pulling off his shirt. “The dolphins will be leaping soon; it’s the best time to go in.” Tiana watched him pull off the rest of his clothes. Lestat turned to her. “Are you ready?”
Tiana looked around as if to confirm that they really were alone and then nodded. “Yes,” she agreed, pulling her own clothes off and standing bare before him. “I’m ready.”
Lestat grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the sea. It was warmer than she had been expecting, which was nice, and soon they were both swimming. Tiana forgot everything as they splashed further out to sea, forgetting that they were supposed to be hiding from vampires and finding a way to stop her sister from wanting to kill them; because suddenly everything was bright and relaxing. Something brushed past her leg and she jumped, but a second later, a dolphin leapt up from the water and she laughed in relief. Lestat grinned at her as more dolphins came up, leaping and swimming up to say “Hello.”
“Lestat, vous etes merveilleux!” she called amid the happy squeaking and splashing.
“Merci, ma cherie!” Lestat answered.
Tiana giggled as one of the dolphins nudged up to her and she stroked the smooth wet skin. Then, to her surprise, as she touched its fin, the dolphin began to swim forwards with her clinging to it. She laughed as more dolphins joined them, almost like they were saying “Hey, wait for us!” Eventually, however, a little worried that they might dive and take her with them, she let go and swam back to where Lestat was waiting for her.
“Ce est incroyable!” she gasped.
“Heureux?” Lestat asked, pulling her close.
“Tres heureux!” Tiana smiled, reaching up to kiss him. “Cela a ete parfait,” she murmured between kisses as she pressed closer to him.
Lestat pulled away from her suddenly, turning his head away from her. She thought she heard him give a soft growl.
“What is it?” she asked, suddenly worried. Had he sensed something nearby? Were they in danger?
“Faim,” Lestat murmured, and when she looked confused, he reverted back to English. “I need to feed.”
For the first time in ages, Tiana felt afraid of him. “Do...do you need to...?”
She tilted her head back, baring her neck for him to see. Lestat stared at her. “Hell, no! No, I just need...something...”
One second he was beside her in the water and the next he was gone. The startling speed frightened her as she realised that now she was alone with a pod of dolphins in unknown waters whilst her vampire boyfriend was probably running around naked somewhere on land. She quickly swam for the shore and shook herself dry before pulling her clothes back on. Lestat’s clothes were gone, she noticed, so he must have taken them with him.
“Lestat?” she called, nervously.
Something rustled in the trees ahead and she took a few steps forwards, praying it was Lestat. Get it together, Tiana, she told herself, you’re safe here. He wouldn’t leave you alone if he thought you weren’t.
Bravely, she moved forwards and pulled back a branch that obscured her view. Lestat was crouching over something with his back to her, but she could tell he was feeding. Her heart began to race. Please don’t let it be a human, she thought, and then she noticed the long, thin legs, clawed feet and feathers scattered around the sand. A bird. She felt relieved.
Presently, Lestat straightened and got to his feet, the bird falling lifeless to the sand, but he didn’t turn around. “Heron,” he said, flatly. “Not a human.”
Tiana flushed. “I’m sorry...I don’t...I mean, I thought you might...lose control or something...”
Lestat glanced at her, a small trickle of blood running down from the corner of his mouth, but otherwise he didn’t give the appearance of someone who had just drained blood from a bird. “Should sustain me for a while,” was all he said. His tone was flat and Tiana was worried that she might have offended him. She quickly ran forwards and threw her arms around him, relieved when he hugged her back. They stood in silence a while and then she pulled back to look at him.
“Um...you’ve got...” She gestured awkwardly.
Lestat wiped the blood from his face and then smiled at her. “Well, at least it wasn’t yours, amoureux.”
