The End of The Begining

Amarante's neclace glowed brightly on the wood table, reflecting the bright fire with a strange briliance. Adrian struggled against his ropes, looking to his mother for guidance. Strangely, she sat calmly, her face unreadable. Taking her lead, he looked at his captors. One was a man with brown hair, not ugly, but his face seemed naturally grim, though his eyes stood bright and green off his face. He was like stone, unmoving, but alert. The other seemed just his opposite, a man with golden hair that shined with a briliance all its own. His face was animated, though still, and his eyes seemed to absorb the colors around him, in a strange and graceful way. Suddenly, he looked toward Adrian as if he had felt his stare, and as Adrian suddenly felt embarressed he saw the man's lips turn up slightly. 1

"Father, what is this madness?" Adrian screamed aloud, not sure where his father was. SMACK! A blow to his blind side caught him off gaurd and he felt his dizziness overcome his anger.2

"DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME WITH  SUCH INSOLENCE?" His father's voice peirced his thoughts. When Adrian could see, he looked up to see a crazed man, not worth even being called father, rambling on and on, pacing.3

"Will she come... yes, she will... she has no choice but to." Adrian couldn't understand what his father was saying. Would who come? The only other person not there was... Amarante, he thought as  a tear fell from his eye. Surely she is dead, how could she have lived through the cold? Adrian felt the hair on the back of his neck prick, and he looked up to see the dark haired one staring intently at him, and for some strange reason, Adrian felt as if he was picking through his mind.4

'You are different, boy, I'll tell you that.' Adrian suddenly felt alarmed at the soft voice in his head. 5

'Do not fear, allow the madness to play through.'6

~7

Armand hurried to the faint smell of Amarate, knowing that where she was, he would find Marius, but suddenly it changed. He stopped in mid jump, aware of the suddeness of her smell, how it had seemed to just morph into a stronger smell of death. The initial panic was over after he realized that this smell was not only of mortal death, but immortal life. Feeling he was needed elsewhere, Armand left the new vampire to her Maker's plan.8

~9

Adrian struggled slowly, trying not to divert attention to himself as he tried to untie the bonds. His father paced with anxiety, mumbling and cursing, unaware of anything around him. Adrian looked at the catch and saw Ame sleeping, and then another tear fell down his eye. He only looked asleep, Acacius had given him Sake. Suddenly, Adrian felt his bonds suddenly brake.10

"You would do good to not allow your father to know you are free." Adrian jumped to see the golden haired man at his side. There was a strange smile playing on the man's lips as he watched Acacius. He looked at Adrian.11

"Wait for the exact moment to when you are to strike. A moment to soon, and the fragile string that holds you will break." Adrian shivered at the man's chilling words.12

"What do you mean? How will I know?" Adrian's words came tumbling out in a pleading whisper, but the man was already standing and walking toward the dark haired one.13

You'll know, came a silet voice in his head.14

~15

Armand paced in front of the house, faster then any mortal could see, and he cursed Marius for taking his time. He felt the two lovers coming closer and closer, slow because Amarante was a fledgling, but Armand could barely find the patients to wait. 16

Worry not, Armand, we are here, came Marius's paternal voice. It is time we show ourselves, and may our introductions be the end to this horror.17

~ 18

Adrian sat low, dull and sore, wondering what was going on, and just about to jump to his feet and attack his father when the fair haired man glanced at him, a short but meaningful look, and then walked to the piano.19

"What do you say to a little Music?" He said, though Acacius took no notice. Then the man began to play, a minor chord, one he could recognize from an opera, an actual opera his sister had been in. A tear fell from his eye, thinking of Amarante caused a sharp pain to shoot through his heart. Acacius, on the other hand, shot to attentian, and eyed the man with suspicion.20

"Why are you playing that? He asked in a sharp tone. The man continued to play, but a strange smile distorted his face.21

"Play, what?" He seemed to say without moving his lips. He spead up and a dark chord filled the room.22

"You have come here, in pursuit of you deepest urge. In pursuit of that wish which to now has been silet, silent. I have brought you, so our passions may fuse and merge, in your mind you've already succumb to me, dropped all defenses, completely succumb to me. Now you are here with me, no second thoughts, you've decided, decided." A tenor voice sang out, loud and dark, filled with a strange hatred. Adrian whipped aroung to see the green eyed man in a mask, his suit a black material, and he was singing in the intrance to the hall, it's darkness around him like a blanket. How did he get over there? Adrian thought. And then a familiar voice answered in a high pitch.23

"I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why, in my mind I've already imagined our bodies intwining, defensless and silet. Now you are here with me, no second thoughts, I've decided, decided:" 24

and from around the corner Amarante stepped out, and Adrian could hardly believe his eyes. She was ravishing, her pearly skin shined and her hair flowed generously around her rolling curves. She had on a black brazier, just like she had worn in the opera she was singing, her voice magnified as if she was somehow not singing only in his ears, but his mind.25

"Past the point of no return, The final threshold, The Bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn, we've past the point of no return." 26

They sang the last part together, and as they inbraced, they disapeared. Adrian was bewildered, and confused at what he had just seen. Acacius stood in shock.27

"Did you see that?" Acacius said finally. A voice came into Adrian's head so suddenly, he could not think properly.28

"See what?" He replied in a voice quite different then his own, but his father didn't seem to hear. Acacius walked out into the entrace, and turned around wildly.29

"WHERE ARE YOU AMARANTE, I HEARD YOU, I SAW YOU!" HE screamed to the sky. The piano had stopped playing and yet, Adrian heard a voice singing, all around him it seemed to be.30

"And he'll always be there singing songs in my head: he'll alwyas be there singing songs in my head." The voice was now centralized at the fireplace. Almost afraid to look, Adrian turned his head, and saw his sister facing away from everyone, her hair long anf flowing down her back. Acacius just stood still, a sudden calmness overtaking his contorted features, as he looked at his middle child.31

"You are dead, I saw you dying." He said as if commenting on the weather. Adrian couldn't move, enraptured by the stillnss of his sister. He wanted to scream to her, to run to her, to confesses every dirty and disgraceful thought he had ever had toward her, but the dark haired man caught his gaze.32

Hush, he seemed to be saying, so Adrian just sat with all his feelings inside.33

"Death means so many things, father, why not be a little more specific." Came his sister's voice, icy as the blizzard blowing outside.34

"You are dead then?"35

"Yes, father, of course. And that is what you wanted, isn't it? For me to die?"36

"I wanted you to meet the Grim Reaper, I wanted you to leave this earth." 37

Amarante turned, and Adrian saw an unearlthy glow thaqt seemed to take her, as she seemed to walk, but with no legs, and she seemed to speak, but she hadn't said a word.38

"Oh, don't worry father, you shall meet the Grim Rreaper soon enough. He didn't seem to want to take me, unfortunantly we can't say the same about you." For the first time, Adrian saw fear in his father's eyes.39

"Oh yes, papa, you see I have my  resources too. I knew what you were doing, I have always known what you were doing. You remember the neclace, Well take a look at the dark haired man, and imagine him with a darker complextion and a hump." Acacius looked to the dark haired man that held him in place. He suddenly moaned in recognition, and he struggled against his unmoving captor. "You notice the resemblance? I knew you would. and Agustus, he died tonight, from being bled, as I believe you heard. Well, who do you think drained him?" She laughed heartily, and Adrian felt a shiver travel down his spine. He had never seen his sister like this.40

"Father, You brought this up on yourself by bringing it to your family, and for that you will pay dearly." Adrian saw Acacius bow his head as if he understood.41

"Then you are going to kill me."42

"No." Amarante answered curtly, and Adrian saw a look of pity and love. There is the Anmarante that I know, Adrian thought to himself as he watched his sister in awe. Suddenly a shadow stood over him, a tall man wearing a red velvet cape. His long hair was blond, but it glowed with a celestial light. His eyes were icy blue, and he walked past Adrian withought seeing him. He gathered the limp Acacius in his arms, seemingly smothering him.43

"Marius," Amarante said softly as she turned from Adrian's line of sight. "Please, away from here, far, far away." Marius nodded, though Adrian didn't know the meaning of these soft words.44

"Yes, My love, I know." The man called Marius replied, and he was gone. The room was filled with a stony silence. Then, The Blond-headed aristicrat clapped his hands together.45

"Well, there is no reason to wait any longer, Armand," As he said this name, a figure appeared in the entrance a hall, a boy no more than 17, with an angelic face and long Auburn hair. "It is time." He finished, a smile growing on his lips as he walked toward Adrian.46

"Hello, Adrian. I am Lestat I will be your Maker..." Adrian started to back away from the approaching man, suddenly scared.47

"Lestat, wait!" Amarante said, suddenly in front of Adrian. The smile slightly fell from Lestat's lip, but he bowed his head.48

"Yes Amarante, I will wait, but not for long, I am so hungry with desire, your brother is so beautiful..." He gazed with a hungering desire that confused Adrian, but Lestat backed away and Amarante turned around and knelt to her knees. Tears fell down his eyes with the joy of seeing her, and he could hold back no longer.49

"Amarante, I thought you had died, there is no way you could be alive." Amarante smiled, a small sad smile. Adrian grabbed her hand and jumped. "You're so cold, Amarante, but you have been here so long, how can this be?" Adrian looked into his sister's eyes and nearly cried out as they were covered by a bloody film.50

"Listen to me, Adrian. All your questions will be answered by Lestat, at a later time when you will be able to understand them. But first you must know that I love you with all my soul, and you will always be my mortal brother, even when it no longer applies." Amarante put her hands on Adrian's tear stained face and brought him to her mouth. Adrian wanted to cry out as he felt their lips touch, and suddenly he felt complete. He didn't care that the others were watching, and he wrapped his arms around his sister, melting into her touch. He was so engulfed in her goodness, he did not see Marius return. When Amarante broke off the kiss, she gave her brother one last cheek touch and walked over to her mother, who was standing beside the one called Armand.51

"Mother, I wish you the best, and I know we shall see each other sooner than you think." Adrian watched in wonder as Amarante and Adelaide embraced each other. The Other men in the room stood still and patient. When the hug broke off, Adrian saw a tear fall from his mother's eye, but it wasn't like a tear, it was red. Adrian felt his own tears falling and he made no attempt to wipe them off. Amarate nadded to Armand and then she looked down to little Ame, who was still on the couch unmoving.52

"Ame, poor little Ame. He is dead, then." She said, as tears fell from her eyes and she bent to kiss his little head. Adrian felt a searing pain in his heart for his little brother. "I am sorry Louis, it seems we didn't need you after all." Adrian heard Amarante say.53

"It is all right," The green eyed man replied in a melodically beautiful voice. "It is better for him to die young then to live in an eternally young body. Meet the Angels that await you little one." Louis said. Then he was gone. Then Marius reached out for Amarante, and she went into his arms.54

"Goodbye, and may we meet again sooner than later." Amarante said as they were also gone, as the others had, disappearing into thin air. As Adrian looked apon his mother and Armand, he finally understood, and he gave her farewell smile. 55

"Mother, I love you." He said as he stood and walked to Lestat. "I am ready." He said. Lestat smiled sweetly to him, and hugged him close.56

"Now, don't be afraid. Close your eyes and trust me." And they were gone.57

~ 58

Adelaide sighed as they were now left alone. Armand touched her arm.59

"Are you sad to leave?" He asked, genuinly curious. She laughed and turned to him. 60

"No, its just that, though it feels that this is the beginning, it is the end to something special." Armand didn't understand but he held her close.61

"We should hurry if we plan to get away tonight." He said softly, and Adelaide nodded.62

"All right, grab that candle, and throw it upstairs, and I'll start down here."63

~64

Adrian felt the new blood coursing within him, and he loved it with all of his being. He felt a renewed love for his maker, and he felt a growing attachment to him.65

"Lestat," He managed to say through his grinding teeth, the pleasure he was feeling was above any he had ever felt before. Lestat was laying beside him naked, as he had Adrian, and he stopped sucking his blood only long enough to listen to him. "This is amazing, but is the pleasure better than sex?" Lestat laughed at the question as he leaned down to bite Adrian's chest.66

"You tell me." He said as his teeth sunk into Adrian's knewly immortal skin and sent him into a raving ecstasy.67

~68

Marius walked out onto the balcony on which Amarante was standing and sat leaned against the wall.69

"My child, why do you worry so? Your brother is fine, Lestat would not harm him." Amarante smiled and turned back to look at him.70

"Yes Marius, I know that if you trust him, I do to. It is only a womanly thing to do, worry, I mean." Marius smiled at her little joke and walked to her.71

"Tonight, I wish to share blood with you, under this full moon." He said as she turned to him, and fell into his arms. He floated slowly back into the empty bedroom.72

"And I with you." Came her reply as she sunk her teeth into his willing neck.73

~74

Fin75