Part 2: Lesser of Two Evils

 

 

The vampire lunged for them, but Nate briefly phased then acted with superhuman reflexes. He grabbed a meat knife and slashed at the vampire’s throat, effectively slitting it. The vampire collapsed on the floor, holding a hand over the wound, blood leaking through his fingers. Nate dropped the knife and grabbed Jean-Paul. They ran into the living room and stopped in shock. There were a group of pale people standing there, waiting.

Two of them were redheads, with fire hair. An auburn teenager was sprawled on the easy chair. Two blondes, one old and one young, were arguing in the corner. They all stopped when the kids skidded to a stop in the room.

“Oh my God! It’s really him!” The young blond exclaimed with a French accent. “He looks exactly the same!”

The older guy glared at him. “I think he’s a bit young for that.”
            “When did that stop you?” He retorted, but sat back down angrily.

“Shit,” Nate whispered and glanced behind him. He hated when he had no idea what they were talking about, and this time he didn’t want to know.

A groan came from behind them. A very angry looking vampire had stumbled to his feet and was glaring at them. Five vampires or one wounded vampire, where to go? The decision was not hard to make.

“I’m going to kill you both painfully, then I’ll torture you, then make you a vampire and start over again!!” The vampire yelled. Then he noticed the other visitors in the room. His tone became more conciliatory.  “Maharet! That little bastard tried to kill me!”

“Whose fault is that non?” Nate snapped at the wounded vampire. He started backing himself and his brother into the hall. He figured that if the vampires fought it out, he and Jean-Paul could slip out of there through the window in the back bedroom.

“Serves you right, Santino.” The auburn-haired one said. “I saw what you were doing to Louis, some things never change.” He shook his head in exasperation. “What else did you do?”

“Shut up Armand!” Santino snapped.

Then the vampires actually took notice of the two mortals in the room. Nate had been slowly sneaking into the hall but stopped. Nate felt extremely uncomfortable with five stares aimed at them.

“Are you all right?” The younger redhead asked quietly and soothingly.

Jean-Paul tugged at Nate’s jacket sleeve. “Where’s mommy?”

Nate was hesitant to tell his little brother the truth so he decided to be diplomatic about it. “Mom went to heaven, with Jonathan and Dad to be an angel.”

Santino snorted, “Hah.”

Nate glared at him. “Shut the fuck up.” The other vampires looked well, doubtful to say the least.  They also looked familiar but he couldn’t quite place them.

Armand sighed, “Santino, do you know how much more difficult you made this. We were supposed to convince the boy and his mother about what he was, now he wants to kill you. And judging by his glances, I doubt he will listen now. And you had to kill the mother.” He sighed in exasperation. “Idiot.”

“Who the hell are you people!?” Nate yelled. “First he kills my mother, tries to kill my brother. Then you people show up acting like nothing is wrong! So what the hell are you doing here!?”

The vampires seemed slightly amused by his outburst.

“Definitely Louis.” The older redhead said with a smile. Then she jerked her head up. “Damn it, the police are on their way. Marius, Armand, get the kitchen cleaned up and hide those marks on the body. Santino, I don’t want to see your stinking face until tomorrow night.” Then she said more gently, “Louis..”

“My name is Nate, not Louis.” The boy coolly informed her.

“Fine,” She said calmly, “Nate, now don’t panic but I don’t have time to explain everything yet. Now sleep.” She whispered, and at the same time, manipulated the sleep center in both the children’s brains. Jean-Paul immediately collapsed on the floor and dropped off into a deep sleep. Nate, no, he would always be Louis to her, struggled for a second. But his young mind was no match for a five thousand year old vampire. He joined his brother on the floor.

Jesse sighed and looked up at Maharet. “Are you sure that this is necessary. Even if we do return his memory to him, then what? He’s too young to accept everything yet. And what about the brother?”

“I don’t know, my child. Lestat said that he had a plan to get Louis back. I wonder who killed Louis in the first place anyway?” Maharet stopped talking when the rest of the vampires came back into the room.

“The police are nearly here. We must go.” Marius emphasized the word. “I’ll take…”

“I got Louis!” Lestat snapped. “You can carry the other one.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Armand shook his head in amazement. Nearly twenty years and Lestat was still overprotective of his fledgling. Well, his former fledgling. It was hard to imagine that defiant teenager as that sensitive, human-like vampire who made a world of darkness a little brighter.