The Truce: Part Five, Finale written, directed, and unlived by Santiago and Louis Andrew Andrew veiled his thoughts immediately when he felt Louis approaching, even though he was pretty sure it was not necessary. From what he’d heard, Louis couldn’t read thoughts, but he wasn’t taking any chances. So far everything was going according to plan. Santiago was angry at Louis. They had heard him shouting all over the building, the night the first phase of the plan had begun, if not out in the street as well. Andrew knew that Louis would come to him and ask him what he had said, but he was well prepared for this. He was surprised that four nights had passed before this meeting -- four nights of rehearsals that were attended by neither leading men. And now they were supposed to open in two nights. Santiago had announced that yesterday. But now to deal with Louis. “Are you okay, Mr. Pointe du Lac?” Andrew asked politely. “We heard the noise upstairs. The Master had been enraged all that night. I-- I know he hit you.” Louis "Okay, you ask?" I said, staring at him, the accusation clearly written on my face even though the tone did not yet match it. "No. I am not. And I think you know the reason why." That tone quickly changed. "Actually, let me rephrase that. I know you know the reason why. Are you happy? Did it give you a measure of accomplishment to hear him accuse me of something I didn't do, and then in turn hit me for it? That is what you wanted, isn't it? But...what I do not understand is...why? What have I ever done to you? And don't bother denying that it wasn't you who told him things that I had supposedly done or said, because he told me that it was. Now I want to know what it is you said to him that makes him believe I've betrayed him in some way." “I would never do any such thing, sir,” Andrew protested, sounding blithefully innocent. After all, he had gotten into this mess because he was an excellent actor -- and without the power to read his mind, Louis had no way to tell that he was lying right through his new fanged teeth. Now to go for sympathy. “I am no advocate of violence, even though the Master has taught me to be a killer,” he said in plain, humble tones. “It is very hard for me to adapt to this life. In fact, I always identified with you when I read your book. It’s true that we spoke of you the other night-- and he flew into a rage. I tried to calm him down, but suddenly he decided that you had it in for him. I told him that could not be possible. I-- I think he is quite mad, sir. And frankly, we are all afraid of him.” Confusion seemed to be the name of the game these past few nights. I was just as confused now as I had been when Santiago accused me of a betrayal I knew nothing of. I continued to stare at this young one, trying to read him when there was no way that I could. Instead, I looked for any sign of waivering...but even that...if it was apparent to others...went unnoticed by me. Obviously he was a clever one. But I knew that even with how enraged Santiago had been, an important fact as to who would have told him lies about me, wouldn't be a mistake he'd make. So...I knew Andrew was lying. "And afraid you should be" I said as I stepped closer to him. "You do realize that eventually he will come to know the truth. And then...then it will be too late. You have seen his anger. But...that is nothing compared to the wrath he will have when he finds out someone has lied to him. There must be some small part of him that still has doubts whether or not I am guilty of whatever you said...or I would be dead now. Do you understand that? Dead. And that is what you will be when he realizes you lied to him about something as serious as this. It took a long time for him to trust me. With good reason. I won't have it be all for nothing." Not a hint of fear showed on Andrew’s face -- because he knew that his plan was going to work. Santiago’s personal demons were working on his side! Andrew could see that the Master was in love with Louis, anyone could. They didn’t need the end of the play, where Death offered the hero a loving embrace, to tell them that. And Andrew knew that there was fear in this love, fear that it would be taken from him, as represented by the girl in the story. He was going to win. Santiago and Louis would be parted by the end of the first performance, and finally Santiago would pay some attention to him. They would have the Master to themselves, and Louis would be history....but Santiago would also be paid back for putting the five of them into this situation in the first place. Yes, Santiago might kill him if he discovered the seeds of deception that Andrew was sowing, but that would not come to pass. “Louis-- sir. Why would I want to do such a thing? I do not wish to be wrongly accused either,” he said softly. “Nor do I wish to die.” He had never wished to die. And here he was -- an immortal dead thing. And they were going to pay. "I don't know" I answered back to him simply with a light shake of my head "I don't know. But reasons you must have. Though from what I can see, you will neither admit that you did in fact tell him things about me that were lies...nor will you tell me the reasons for doing it. Maybe if I was in your position I wouldn't either. But the fact remains that I have never said an unkind word to you...or spoken of you poorly to others. And yet, you do this to me. That is why I don't understand." I turned to leave, taking several steps before I stopped, thinking of a different approach that would catch him offguard before he realized what I was doing in the quickness with which I worded it. I faced him again. "Tell me one thing. How did you even know anything about my past to be able to substantiate what you said?" I hoped that would do it. Sometimes the mind realized too late that a trap had been placed. “From the book, of course,” Andrew replied before realizing where he was being led. Dammit. He stopped himself from going further, smoothly backtracking. “That is to say, everything I know about your past, the things which the Master was raving about in his madness, came from your book. We have all read it. None of us just ever believed it was real until that night that he...gave us the Dark Gift.” A change of subject was in order. “I fear he intends to do something to Collette, sir.” The red-haired vampire who was playing the lead opposite Louis had recently taken to calling herself by the name of her character in the play. “He is jealous even of the role he wrote for her -- insanely possessive of you. You must keep her safe from him, sir.” Collette, in fact, was in this as deeply as Andrew. She also wanted Santiago to herself. From the first words few words he had spoken, I had triumphed. But having gained that victory changed nothing yet...all it did was confirm my belief all along. I smiled sadly as I saw the look on his face he tried to conceal when he recognized his error and attempted to shift the course, but I let him finish his resumed deception before I spoke another word. "You don't have to say anything else, Andrew. Not unless you will now tell me why you did it. But what you started with was enough to tell me it was you. It was all I needed to hear to know. Now I ask you again. It is just you and I here. No one else. He will not hear you...so whatever plan you have, has not been foiled yet. But at least allow me to know the reason why I am being sent to the executioner. A dying man always receives a last request. May I not have that privilege also?" Andrew bowed his head, as much in hopes of concealing his fury as continuing his deception. It didn’t matter, really. Santiago was the weak link in this chain. So long as he believed he had been done wrong, it was still going to work. “I know that I am nobody and that you have no reason to believe me,” he said plaintively. “Perhaps the best thing you can do is to flee this place.” "If I did this...then he would believe what you told him...to be the truth. That is what he is waiting for...for me to run so that it proves my guilt." But what he didn't see, was that it gave me a new angle to use. "I will do that though. I will take the risk and run in the hopes that he will not find me. But I will only do this if you look at me and tell me that you were the one who brought me down. If you do that, I will go. And then you will have what you wanted." I waited to see if he would take the bait, even though I had no intention of running away from Santiago -- even if my life truly was in danger. I lied... but it was because I had no choice. Andrew believed that Louis did not have the capability for deception. It was said about him in the books, those books. “Go,” he said. And it was an admission. "Alright" I replied, trying my best to keep the relief from my tone to make it seem as mere resignation. "I am going. I hope that you are satisfied with yourself for what you have done. I tried to do good. No good deed goes unpunished they say." Turning on my heel, I took a few paces again and stopped with my back to him. "But neither does a bad one. Goodbye Andrew." And then I continued on down the hallway, reaching to the inside pocket of my shirt to produce the instrument which would now be my savior in the form of a micro cassette recorder. I had the proof at last. Santiago I could not believe what I saw. Collette stood in the lobby of the theatre, but with her stood the very reflection of her. “Santiago,” she said, taking the other girl’s hand when she saw me, “Permit me to introduce my twin sister, Rose.” Her very mortal twin sister. From a quick brush of her thoughts, I could see that she was very concerned as to why Collette had suddenly moved out to ‘pursue her acting career.’ Her mortal twin, equally lovely, beautiful...and filled with hot, red blood. Delicious. I licked my lips and Collette saw it. She caught my eye and nodded. She was giving me her twin. A plan formed in that very moment. Oh, the girl might be a juicy snack, but I had a much more grander idea for her use. “I think, Collette, she might make you a wonderful understudy,” I said. “But I can’t--” Rose began. Collette cut her off. “I think you can, sister.” “Take her in to meet Andrew,” I said. “Tell him the help he promised me will be needed shortly. But whatever you do...don’t leave her alone with the others. I think you know what I mean.” Collette nodded, smiling wickedly. I liked her more and more each night. She dragged off her sister to the back of the theatre, and seconds after they were gone, I heard someone else approaching. Louis. I had not seen him since our confrontation. Seeing him now was like being doused with a bucket of water. Ohh...I had missed him. I wanted to apologize, to say I had been wrong, but pride stood in the way -- pride and fear. He was going to betray me. He was going to try to kill me again. I waited to see what he had to say, nodding politely by way of greeting. It was with great caution that I approached him. Surprised that he would even acknowledge me at all, my only response was to look down to the floor I walked on as my feet carried me the steps to close the distance. I didn't know exactly what I would say to him before I said it, and when I finally did, what I had planned just a moment before the words came out, was not what I had thought. I had meant to immediately show him the tape...to say "Here...this is the proof...I didn't betray you after all." But I didn't. Instead I looked back up and met his gaze, saying "Have you come to reason yet? As you can see, I didn't run like you probably expected me to do. Because I have no reason to. I didn't do anything wrong to feel guilty for. And if you would just think about it...just take the time and really think it through...why would I place myself in this situation...go to these lengths...spend months with you...building this...using all of my own money...if it was all just to...finish what I started?...as I believe you said." All I wanted was to take him in my arms and ask forgiveness. I’m sure my guilt and anger was written all over my face. I hardened my expression. No, I would not fall into this tender trap. He was only trying to lull me, to lure me, as he had done to Armand when he had stolen him from me all those years ago. “Only you can answer those questions,” I said shortly. “I am glad that you are still here, for the sake of the play. However, I will have my guard up at every moment from now on. Do not think that I am easily decieved, sir!” Frustration was already building. Why did he have to be so stubborn?! I wasn't lying and yet he would rather believe that I was. And what was this, "for the sake of the play"? He must be having doubts or he would have destroyed me the minute he was told these lies. "I am not the one deceiving you!" I said with exasperation, taking a step back in case he decided to hit me as he had before. Oh but this time, I would strike back. I wasn't going to let that happen again and not defend myself."I went to Andrew, you know. I confronted him. And of course he denied ever saying anything of the like to you about me...which I knew he would. But that in itself should tell you that he is lying, because it is another lie for him to say he wasn't the one who told you to begin with, when clearly he did because that's what you had told me. I swear to you I did not betray you. I didn't. No matter what he said...or what he thought he heard me say...for sake of argument," Giving the little beast the benefit of the doubt even when I knew his motives had to be to further his own aims in some way "I didn't do it." I stared at him coldly. I did not know what to believe any more. All I knew was that I needed to watch my back -- from everyone! “The play opens tomorrow night. I will see you there,” I said. Then I turned on my heel and left him. I had to speak to Andrew and Collette. . . . . . . . . Opening night at Le Petit Theatre des Vampires... Ah, there’s no business like show business, I thought as I watched the seats filling with our eager audience from behind our red velvet curtain. Oh, this is a wonderful time to be a vampire. We are pop icons. We are emulated and imitated. And yet, we are not believed in. As I had a hundred and fifty years ago, I knew that I could get away with anything on stage, and the audience would think it all make believe. So many “goths” as they call them, out there. Young people dressed somberly in black, lacking in elegance but still somehow pretty in their despair, their eyes and lips painted to look like ours, some sporting false plastic fangs. They helped hide the true vampires among mortals with their pale makeup. And they tasted delicious. I didn’t know where Louis was. I had not seen him yet tonight, but I did know he was here in the theatre. I could feel it...with all of my being. And with the encouragement of Andrew and Collette, I had something rather nasty planned for him. Something that I knew would distract him entirely from his plans of revenge against me. And if I was wrong... if Andrew was the liar, as Louis had insisted... Well, I was not wrong. I refused to think about it. And yet I couldn’t help but thinking about it. I looked down at the floor, debating whether I ought to forget the plan entirely. Collette touched my arm then. She led me off the stage and down to the cellar below it. “All is ready, my beloved Master,” she whispered, sliding her hands over my arms, then down my ribcage. Her touch made me shudder with repulsion, and I had an urge to push her away, but I resisted it. “Good,” I said. Above us, a voice boomed out: Ladies and Gentlemen...Le Petit Theatre des Vampires is proud to present a NEW entertainment written by Santiago, the King of the Vampires! Our company is proud to present, in the historic and comedic style... the tragedy of “Death and Seduction!” My role called for me to appear from below, Death ascending from Hell to seduce his mortal lover, so I went beneath the stage and Collette followed even though she had only a few minutes before she was meant to go on. Beneath the stage, her twin sister was tied to a chair. She was also gagged. She was dressed in a costume identical to Collette. Aside from the pale skin, there was no telling them apart. The pale skin, and the delicious, hot blood pumping through Rose’s veins. Collette knelt beside her sister and looked up at me. She tangled her fingers in her twin’s red hair and yanked her head back roughly. “Let’s toast the show,” she whispered. I could not resist. I slipped over beside them, bent over Rose’s throat, and sank in my fangs. Ahhhhh... A mouthful only, perhaps two. Enough to keep her weak and docile but still leave her ripe and tempting for her grand debut upon our stage. Collette let out a little moan, as if she were the one I had bitten instead of Rose. I lifted my head from the bleeding girl and kissed my fledgling on the mouth. She sucked eagerly at the blood on my lips. I seized Collette’s wrist and scraped it with my fangs, causing a small gash in her flesh. The cry she let out now was of pain. I drew her wrist over Rose’s throat, and the vampiric blood healed her wound. Both sisters healed at the contact. “Go upstairs,” I told Collette. Obediently, she left. I did not spare a glance for Rose. Instead I readied myself to go onstage and seduce Louis. After all, it was the part I had written for myself. The first act started and I stepped onto that stage with my nerves on end, peering out into the audience, not entirely oblivious to the multitude of gasps my presence seemed to evoke, followed by the various comments of the silky hair, the brilliant emerald eyes, the perfect bone structure. Was this how I truly appeared to all? A vision from Heaven I heard and I glanced off to the side, catching my reflection in a mirror that was used as a prop...still failing to see in myself what so many others apparently did. But I had little time to dwell on it as the scene unfolded and I began the first lines, speaking of the love that had blossomed between myself, who was Sebastian, and Collette...the impending nuptials...and the questioning if I was worthy of her love. I drew that audience in almost immediately with the passion of my performance. And I had to admit, I enjoyed it...until the time came for the second half of the first act. I shifted my position towards the back as I stood at stage left, awaiting the moment that Santiago would appear...a moment I was dreading due to what had passed between us so recently...and now I would truly have to perform...to behave as though everything was perfect so that the show would be a success. But I would do this...I would do this for him. I paced beneath the stage waiting for my cue, not looking at the tied-up Rose, and wondering why I had ever made myself appear so late in the show. I could hear the audience oohing and ahhing over Louis. They loved him, as I knew they would. For a moment, this made me smile... but the smile quickly faded. We are forever enemies! Finally the moment came and I rose out of the trap with the usual puff of smoke, but I rose on my own power, hovering above the stage long enough to make the audience murmur with appreciation over the “special effects.” “Death has come for you, Sebastian...” And so it began, our dance of words. Death, the wooing lover, Sebastian, the hero who would protect his bride-to-be...but found himself gently seduced. Then, we moved into the big scene. Sebastian must choose. Life or Death. Mortal love or Immortal love. “Think on it, boy. Will you have me? Will you prove your love?” I pulled every bit of sorrow I had ever felt and brought it to the surface for a character I was playing...a character I, in fact, was with just another name to hide behind. As the script dictated, I sank down to my knees in resignation...our profiles facing the audience as I took his hands and bowed my head...my eyes closing as my lips brushed against his knuckles, ready to betray a woman whom I had once claimed to love more than life itself, to now give myself to the one called Death, to pledge endless devotion and servitude without knowing what the consequence would be. Funny, this was. It almost reflected another time I had made such a choice...almost. "Yes," I whispered, and yet able to carry my voice across the auditorium, bearing the weight of that betrayal instantly after that single word passed through my lips. "I will have you...and I will prove my love...however you wish me to...I am yours now." “If you truly love me, you will sacrifice the old love for the new...” At this point, Collette was supposed to emerge from the trap door, but in her place was the forced Rose, looking terrified. Andrew and Collette had slit both of her wrists. As she tumbled up onto the stage, she fell upon her knees. She was crying, and the blood and tears made her all the more beautiful. “Please save me!” she cried. This, of course, was not part of the script. And there was no saving her as it was. She was bleeding to death already. The question was, would Louis put her out of her misery? Would he kill onstage? “Death offers your eternity, Sebastian.” I went and lifted her to her feet. She didn’t resist, but clearly she was terrified of me. I pulled her arms over her head so the blood ran down them. The scent of it was maddening, overwhelming. If he didn’t take her, I would. “Drink!” I pushed her towards him. I stood once more, waiting for Collette to take the stage...but when she did, my head snapped towards her as I heard the terrified words. Something was very wrong here...very wrong. And this was not Collette. It looked like her...even sounded like her, to some degree...but this was clearly not her...and the blood that seeped from her wrists was undeniably real...the scent of it driving me mad with hunger. Oh God...no...no I protested silently as he pushed her towards me. What was this?! What was he doing?! I looked to him, failing to understand the reason for this. And yet quickly that gave way to horror as I stood there, unable to move for a brief moment. She was no more immortal than the audience before us. My concentration broke...every line I was to say, vanishing away as I stared at him. "What are you doing?!" I whispered frantically "What are you DOING?!" I had to step back from her, knowing if I stood there any longer I would lose control. And still the patrons of the theatre believed this to be part of the act. "No!" Rose fell on her knees in front of Louis. Her blood spattered out in an arc, pattering down on the stage. Now I was aware of the hunger of the other vampires, who hovered near, waiting to take the girl if they were allowed. Their desires were a low chorus of moans. “Take her Sebastian! Do her. Drink her. Taste the blood that will give you eternal life with me. Prove that you love Death!” I stared at him, boring into him with my gaze. I expected him to run, to leave the stage. This would change the ending of the play completely, but the audience would never know. Perhaps I was trying to drive him away. “Did you lie to me when you said that you loved me?” "Stop this!" I whispered harshly, looking from the girl who had fallen down before me, to Santiago "I realize you are doing this because of what you think I have done...But I did nothing!" I glanced over towards the audience, and I could tell that some of them began to wonder why everything about me had suddenly changed. Well I certainly didn't need to add to the chaos that had already started. Forcing myself back in character in sound and movement, I remained behind the words, altering where I saw fit, though not entirely so that it would appear to be still part of the scene. "No, I did not lie" I replied back with conviction. "But I cannot do what you are asking me to carry out! This is a woman whom I have loved since I was a boy. Why must I now destroy her to fulfill the destiny you have made for me? I have never lied to you...about anything" This of course was one of those alterations "Everything I have ever said to you has been the truth...everything..." Emphasizing that final word as I stared right back into those eyes which looked to me with so much contempt and suspicion. "I beg you Death...do not ask this of me...anything...but this." “Everyone dies, Sebastian. But you do not have to,” I said. That was the line from the script. However, the girl bleeding all over the stage was not. Andrew and Collette had added that on their own and that prickled me. It gave creedence to Louis’ protestations of innocence. But it was too late now and I was determined to make him suffer. I lifted Rose to her feet and took one of her wrists into my hand. I couldn’t help myself, I bent and took a mouthful of the hot blood spurting out of her severed veins. She was growing weaker by the second and would surely lose consciousness soon. She was not resisting me at all. I took her other hand and angled it towards Louis, and he was splashed with her blood. I lifted my mouth from her and realized that my face and clothes were also wet and red. “Tonight she dies. Tonight -- you choose. Come with me or leave me forever.” "This is unfair! And not how it should be!" I continued to protest, the words becoming difficult to project out over the audience with the enormous hunger I felt...which kept building every second with that damnable scent of human blood. "How can you ask this of me?! To destroy when it destroys me each time that I take---" I stopped. None of those words had been in the script. But now I had nearly blundered. Sebastian hadn't taken a life all throughout the performance. Thankfully I had stopped myself in time "I don't want to leave you Death...I don't! I choose you!..." Again I altered the script with the next words "But I cannot kill this woman. She does not deserve to die! She is innocent! Now I beg you to let her live!" I stepped towards him, another alteration, whispering "Please Santiago...please..." Then rised it above a whisper again as though continuing a line "Please let me prove it another way..." “Neither life nor Death is fair, Sebastian.” Unceremoniously, I picked up the girl, smearing her blood all over the few bits of my costume that were not already sodden. I was wild with the taste of her, with the smell of blood everywhere. She was almost unconscious and would be dead soon. I held her out, advancing towards him with her. A madness broke free in me. I felt angry. Angry at him for denying me his punishment. It had already gone past whether he deserved it or not. I could not bear to think that I might be wrong, but I had no way of knowing, did I? And I had already taken it this far. “You are making her suffer, and you are making me suffer as well! Is this how you love?” I shouted at him, my voice rising violently in pitch to the level where it would be almost painful to a human’s ears. I was no longer aware of the audience, but if I had been, I’m certain more than one of them would have been cringing. What I said next was to Louis and not to his character, and I meant it with every fibre of my being. “DO IT OR I WILL KILL YOU RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW!” Everything went silent. I stared back at him in complete mortified disbelief. There was no question by his expression alone that he meant to do just that were I to refuse. I tried to tell myself that he was only doing this because of what he believed to be true of me...that if circumstances had been different and Andrew had not told him these lies, he would not be doing this now...I knew he wouldn't. But that is where the situation was. Andrew had lied to him...he believed him...discounted me...and here it was...I would be the one to die if she did not. And then she would just die anyway. The tears came without warning as everything sank in, welling like a pool inside my eyes, though there they remained even as I reached forward and took her from him, continuing to stare at Santiago in that same disbelief. "How can you do this to me?" I questioned him brokenly, the words heavy and filled with despair "...how?" But the thirst had indeed become too much to bear, and not a moment later, I sank my teeth into the softness of her throat, drinking what little life she had left in her, away...letting the still body fall to the stage as I slipped into deep regret. I watched, with a burning satisfaction. I had forced him to commit the act he had sworn he would not. This was his punishment for his betrayal. I took a step backwards as the woman fell to the stage. She was quite, quite dead, even though she looked as beautiful as ever. She was as white as her sister now, but she would not rise again. I knelt beside the girl, lifted her up gently, and turned. The others were hovering there on the edge of the stage and at a nod they came and collected the corpse. Louis and I were left alone with the pool of blood, and still he stood lost in his own despair. And I simply stared, struggling to find some words before the pause grew awkward and the audience realized that we had deviated entirely from the script. Finally, softly, almost, but not quite, too softly for the audience to hear, I said. “This is the payment for what you desire.” It could have been in reference to Sebastian loving Death. But it was not. "Payment for what I desire..." I repeated emptily. "Yes...I see that now. So...you have triumphed. You have always wanted to break me...and now you have. Enjoy your victory, Santiago. I hope it brings you great pleasure to have punished one who has done nothing wrong." Further words ceasing until the realization came to pass of what I truly was. I had, for a time, forgotten it. Every movement stopped. I stood frozen at the center of the stage, then shifted my body towards the audience, eyes staring at, but not really seeing, the crowd before me. The other "actors" who waited for the next scene, also came to a stop, each one looking to the other and then to me in question, still holding onto the body of the girl. There were only two of them who knew the reason for any of this. Ordinarily I would have wished for some distraction to take me away from all of this...but now I did not care where I was...or who was here to hear me. Overcome by the abundance of this dreadful despair, my voice broke through the silence, ringing out in a tormented anguish that I hadn't felt since Claudia's death over one hundred years before. My eyes lifted upward, pleading to gain a response from something I could not see. "What I'd give to know just what I am...A monster or a man...An angel...born of Hell...or something in between...The guise of mortality is what I present...when I am nothing more than a beast. For as I had said once to another...Even the cruelest of monsters can imitate sincerity and kindness...I am such a monster...and Death is what we all are...in all its darkened glory...And what we can never break away from...Condemned to this until the end of time..." When I had finished, I looked to Santiago once more and whispered "It is done..." and then walked down from that stage and up the center aisle, every head turning as I passed and threw the double doors that led out into the main foyer open...intending to keep right on walking and never look back again. I stood there watching him until someone had the good sense to drop the curtain, and I heard the thunderous applause of the audience. They were cheering and screaming for us, and calling for the author, too, which I didn’t think audiences did any more. I flew out of there at vampiric speed, leaving the fledglings to take the bows. Even after what I had done, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the idea that if Louis left, nothing would ever be solved...even though I had tried to drive him off! I was filled with anger, and frustration. I passed him just as he rounded the corner of Chartres, flew straight into him, slamming him up against the wall. “Guilty!” I screamed, and I smashed his head into the brick. “You flee!” I did not see him coming. Oh, perhaps I had expected him to, just as I expected he would see my leaving as an admission of guilt. The pain was more than I could take, throwing me into a blind rage moments after my head had cleared again from the shock of the impact. "Innocent!" I shouted back, every bit of anger that had been safely locked inside came to the forefront. I grabbed onto him and spun around with a roar, doing to him what he had just done to me, only with greater force, the blood splashing out across the bricks like a broken dam as the back of his head came against them. "Innocent!" I repeated in a hiss. With my eyes blazing in unleashed fury, I slammed his head against that wall a second time, my hand grabbing him by the throat to hold him in place. "Did you ever once think to read my mind as you have so many times before?! You would have seen truth then! But no...you wanted to believe the lie so that it could give you the excuse to crush any humanity I had left! I have the proof, Santiago! I have it right here!" Releasing him, I took a step back and reached to the inside pocket of the costume I wore, taking out the tape and hurling it at him. "There! Now you listen to that...and then tell me who is telling the truth!" I stepped closer again and brought my face to his with my teeth clenched together "Or be blinded by your denial and destroy me! But I am guilty of nothing!" Oh, that hurt. I slid down the wall to the ground. If I hadn’t been in such a state I’d have smiled, just because he had fought back. I was in shock. The wound was healing as I lay there, but I was having trouble comprehending what he had said. I looked at what he had thrown at me. My fingers scrabbled over the sidewalk like spiders as I went to pick it up. A cassette tape. He had...recorded a conversation with Andrew to prove his innocence? I started laughing in my hysteria. It took all my strength to force myself to stop. And I looked up at him. “Read your mind...I...” I should have thought of that sooner and saved us both a lot of grief. “Read your mind,” I mumbled, rising slowly to my feet, still clutching the tape, too much in shock to comprehend the magnitude of this. I fought back the desire to offer up to him my choking regret and a mouthful of apologies, which I longed to shower him with because, damn me to Hell, I was still not SURE. I put my empty hand on his shoulder. Touching him flooded me with unnamed emotions. I looked into his emerald eyes, full of hurt and pain and sincerity. I reached out, trying to read his mind, to touch his innermost secrets...to know the truth... “I can’t do it,” I whispered. “I can’t read you.” I paused. “There is a tape recorder back stage. If you will...come with me...” I looked down at the sidewalk and removed my hand from his shoulder gingerly. “I did not want this to happen.” For a moment after he had said he couldn't read my mind, my shoulders slumped, head bowing in defeat, thinking that it was just that he truly did not wish to. But then understanding set in and I realized that perhaps it was due to his own mind being clouded in anger for so long, coupled with my slamming his head not once, but twice against those bricks, which made that difficult right now. "I did not want this to happen either. None of it. I still don't even understand why it has. He offered me no real reason when I went to him. I will come with you, yes...the fool that I am, I will. I didn't leave because I was fleeing from having done wrong. I left because I couldn't take it anymore...and what you made me do tonight was the final straw. It didn't matter that I knew the reason why you did it...only that you had." I threw my arms around him and embraced him. But only briefly, and I was almost embarrassed by the action. Yet this...this was a step towards recovering the shattered trust between us. I ushered him into the back door of the theatre. All that mattered in this moment was that he not leave, not until there was some solution, some truth revealed... Could Collette had conspired with Andrew? And the others, were they just as guilty? All I knew was that this was both the opening and closing night of my disastrous theatre. We found the cassette player and listened in silence. And there it was, that finally damning word that Andrew had uttered, insisting that Louis flee. And I looked at Louis, unable to speak, shaking my head...and suddenly he was open to me again. The truth shone in him like a beacon. He had never lied to me. It was Andrew all along, and me, with my fears and insecurities had fallen like a fool into the web of lies. It took several long minutes for me to say the words to Louis. “Forgive me.” I closed my eyes as he embraced me...hesitating to return the gesture which brought a surge of emotions to the surface...And apparently I had hesitated too long...for as I was about to bring my own arms around him, he pulled back again. Minutes later we were back at the theatre...only this time we had gone in through the back and wound up in what was the Manager's office. I stood with my arms folded beneath my chest, ankles crossed over one another as I leaned against a filing cabinet...saying not one word the entire time, my eyes locked to the floor below. When the time came where Andrew had told me to "go", I looked back up at Santiago to see his reaction, his eyes meeting mine at the same instant. Still I said nothing, but continued to stare at him in silence...not even as he said those two words which brought a long sigh of relief from me..."Forgive me." All I could do was nod my head as I looked to the floor again...the pain that remained, far too new to just brush aside all that had happened. I swallowed heavily as if a boulder was lodged in my throat and turned to go, but then stopped...the words that came were hollow. "What will happen now?" “I do not know,” I replied. “That is for you to decide, I suppose. But please-- do not leave me!” I sighed. “I...the theatre is closed. The troupe will be gone by morning.” By gone, of course, I meant that I would kill them. All of them. I turned my head slowly to him, a sort of questioning must have been in my expression...I was surprised that he had begged me to stay. Those were words I never would have thought to hear from him. It showed a vulnerability that I was certain not many had beared witness to. "Ironic isn't it? That the first time it was by my hand that the theatre was brought to destruction...and now...now it is because of me. I uh..." pausing to clear my throat "...don't think that all of them were in on this. I am almost certain that they weren't. I saw only one other besides Andrew who did not look perplexed by what was going on...and that was Collette. Although I think that...her motives...were very different from his. She loves you...anyone can see that...worships you really. And that can make someone do things they normally would not. But Andrew...he isn't quite so easily overlooked. And I want to know why he did it." “If you wish to question him, I will arrange it,” I said softly. “But dawn will see every last trace of this theatre gone. I will...have your money returned to you... I...” This was so difficult. I wished to throw myself beneath his bootheel. Only my pride kept me still standing up. I would have apologized a thousand times over but I could not. “I have been a fool. I smashed a mirror before I could look into it and see what was really there. And if you wish to avenge yourself upon me for this, I will not stop you. Simply...Louis...do not leave.” "Santiago...all for nothing?...nothing? We have worked months and months to get this theatre going. It was your dream for it to succeed. And now just because of this you want to give all of that up? It isn't about the money...this is about accomplishment. Listen to me..." I went over to him and placed my hand against his shoulder, staring into his eyes. "The way they came into this was not by choice...and so you can't now wonder why they would turn on you...or me. But to get rid of the theatre is ridiculous. And I have no desire to avenge myself...nor am I leaving. I will stay right here with you." “But, why? Why would you do that?” I asked. “I mean, I am pleased, more than I can say, but I do know why-- Oh, but it doesn’t matter!” I took a deep, shuddering breath. “I will not distrust you again, Louis. I give you my word. And if you wish the theatre to remain...it shall.” I paused. “The crowd loved you.” I looked up at him, then at the door. “Shall I fetch Andrew?” I shrugged lightly, looking to the door as if Andrew was already there. "You can...but he won't answer me...I tried several times to get him to tell me...and he wouldn't. You heard...he barely admitted it...and even that I had to trick him into." Glancing back over at him, a small smile found its way to my lips "Thank you for your word...I've always wanted you to trust me more than anything." Again, I was speechless. I held up my hand indicating that he should wait, and went towards the door. Another of the fledglings was passing by, and he stopped and looked at me in shock. “Sir...you left...we were worried. Collette is beside herself. The audience was calling for you both. Is Monsieur Louis--” I cut him off. “Get Andrew NOW!” The tone of my voice scared the hell out of him and he fled. I rejoined Louis in the room, nodding to him. Anger had begun to creep back into my veins. A moment later, Andrew appeared at the door. “You wanted to...” he trailed off when he saw the two of us together. He turned even paler than his vampiric white. I knew he was going to bolt, but I seized him by the collar before he did, lifting him off the floor. “Why did you do it?” I asked in a low, cold voice. “Why?” "You didn't need to shout at him like that...that one has done nothing wr--" I stopped as I saw Andrew enter the room...and then just as he was about to turn and run, Santiago grabbed and lifted him to the air. "Please Master" he began, and the tone he used showed the evidence of his fear. He knew he'd been caught. "Y--you always sho--showed him such fav--favor--tism. I just wanted him to be gone so--so that--that we would have--have your att--atten--tion. A--and when I heard him talk--ing about his past...I--I thought I had found a way to--to do that. We just wanted you to...to notice us too." “I have noticed you now, haven’t I? You very nearly destroyed us both...along with our months of hard work! And Collette, you enticed Collette into this sordid game, didn’t you?” His fear might bring the truth out of him. Collette would be punished for this, but Louis had already bought her life with his words. She would not die like the dog I held in my hand. I couldn't look upon him any longer and I directed my gaze instead to the floor, remaining as silent as I had while Santiago had listened to the tape. I had no intention to interfere, but I didn't wish to see another destroyed either. "Y-y-yes" he answered quickly "I did...because I knew what her feelings were for you" the tears were beginning to form by now "But that is why I too did it, Master...I love you also...we all do. I know you have worked very hard on putting everything together...but you treated us as though we were just puppets or toys...and then when rehearsals would end, you would set us back on the shelf. Is it wrong to want the love of your Master...to have at least a little of his attention?" I looked up for a brief instant as he said that...there was truth in it. Santiago did treat them as though they were nothing. I looked at Louis, for though I could not read my fledgling, his thought rang like a bell in ear. “Do you think that they really are nothing to me, Louis? Perhaps they are. But love and trust are things to be earned, not stolen or to be tricked into...I have learned that lesson harshly myself this very night.” I looked back at Andrew. “I doubt your sincerity,” I growled. “Because you knew that destroying Louis would destroy me with him. I think you have other motives, Andrew! But it does not matter. You will die all the same!” I felt the pull to intervene and still I held back, offering only "I think that you could have shown them a little more affection, yes...and not shouted at them all the time when they made mistakes. You could have gone about it differently than what you...have" But that was all I said and looked to the floor again. "Please Master! Please don't kill me!" he begged, the sobbing he did now almost more than I could handle...but still I remained quiet for now. "I am sincere in what I say! I love you and I only wanted that love returned!" I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the pain the young one carried...the tragedy of it was that it was truth he spoke. “Do want me to let him live, Louis?” I asked. “We have both been wronged, but you have suffered. He must pay for his actions. But if you ask me for his life, I will grant it.” I looked up again, glancing back and forth between the two of them "I know that he must pay for what he has done...but I think you also know me well enough that I would say that I don't wish to see anyone die...so I will ask that you spare his life at least...though answer for it, he should..." Andrew was visibly relieved, though surprised that Louis would be that merciful after he had nearly brought him his own death. He didn't say a word however, thinking that anything he said now would only aggravate his Master further. I dropped the fledgling and he fell to the floor, looking up at me in a daze. Blood tears streaked down his cheeks but he didn’t get up and bolt out the door as I’d half expected he would. Andrew lay there accepting, expectant even. I still wanted deseperately to kill him...but for Louis, I would spare his life. After all, I had been made a fool. I had allowed it to come to this moment. I kicked Andrew. “Get up.” He stood. “Y-yes sir...” “Never again,” I said. “And you will be grateful to Louis for your life. You will treat both of us with the respect we deserve.” “Yes, sir!” “Now...go!” Andrew looked from Santiago to me...the apology that came sounded almost sincere...almost. "I'm sorry, Monsieur Louis. I realize that neither of you deserved any of this. I was just...jealous...of you." I nodded my head lightly as I regarded him. "Yes...jealous...something I have heard before...it does not surprise me to hear it again. Even so, you should have known better than to try and ruin someone's life because of it. As you said, we did not deserve it. And I could have lost my life because of it. Though I'm sure that is what you were counting on." "No...I--" But I waved my hand with a sad smile "Don't bother. You will just make it worse again. Do as he said...and go." He did not say another word to me, only nodded before he stepped out of the room, turning one last time to say to Santiago "Master? Please forgive me" and then left without waiting for the reply. I turned to Santiago once we were alone...now the pain was setting in "How could you believe any of this to begin with? You know how dedicated I have been to this...to you. That you would even question my integrity after everything, is what hurts me the most." I looked away, frankly embarrassed. I looked out the door where Andrew had passed, then back at the wall behind Louis...and then finally, I met his eyes. I held his gaze, and it was not easy for me to do this. But I accepted the responsibility for my actions and being able to look into his eyes and say it, this was what I had to do. “I was made a fool. He played on my weaknesses,” I said. “He knew...they all could see how much I have come to...how fond of you... that is... I need you, Louis. The thought of you betraying me was more than I could bear -- even if it wasn’t the truth.” I laughed bitterly. “I can’t believe I didn’t even think to read your thoughts. And when I wanted to...I couldn’t.” I paused, and now looked down. “I hope you will forgive me. It is more than I should ask.” I felt I owed him more of an explanation. “I have never known a vampire like you. I wanted so badly to believe that someone could be as genuine...as honest... But I fear the part of me who lived so long with ones such as Armand had a hard time believing that you could be all that you seemed. And I was wrong. You are... you are the opposite of all that I have ever been, as a man or as a vampire. You are the beauty I have been seeking since I was a mortal child. You are true goodness... and yet you are part of my world -- a vampire. And finally... finally... I am coming to understand you. I only hope it is not too late, and that you will not leave me forever now that I have finally become aware that a creature such as yourself...really can exist!” I smiled warmly. I couldn't help it. Those few words touched me, and yet I felt the need to protest them. "True goodness, Santiago, I am not...don't give me that much credit. I have the darker sides of me that everyone does. It is true that I make the conscious effort not to let it out and be so apparent...but it still exists. And the threat is always there that it could show itself if I lose the capability to keep it at bay. But too late?....no...it is not that...I will not leave...not now after you have learned the truth and have accepted it as that." I stepped towards him, lifting his chin so that he would look at me, trying to to reassure him that I had forgiven him already...that I knew he too had been a pawn in this. "Like I have said a hundred times before...I came to you seeking forgiveness...I swore that I would do whatever it took to make that happen. Never once did I regret that decision or wish to rescind the offer of helping you rebuild the dream you had...never. And during the time that I've been here, I have come to see a side of you that no one else has...or rarely. I don't even think about the time back then anymore...not the hatred...not the after effects of what happened...nothing. I have been devoted to you from the beginning...and I'm glad you finally realize that now." Impulsively I threw my arms around him, then I let go, still keeping my hands on his forearms, grinning at him. “I want us to be true partners in this enterprise, this theatre,” I said softly. “So greedily I have been keeping all the glory for myself, even when none of it would have been possible without you. I thought you owed it to me -- that I deserved it. But now I know that you have given me a precious gift. And from now on...I want us to be partners.” When I felt those arms go around me, that in itself was a moment in history I never thought would take place. It began so long ago as a game. A game that led to jealousy for another. Which switched to suspicion. Then enemies...revenge...the quest for redemption...to friends. Though that had been tested nearly enough to shatter it all. But now here we were again...the foundation had not crumbled. "Partners" I repeated with a smile "Yes...that is what I want too...I believe that is what we have earned after all of this." I grabbed Louis’ hand and shook it, as if sealing the agreement. I grinned at him, genuinely excited...genuinely happy. “Let’s go out,” I said, but it was an invitation more than a demand this time. “Let’s...let’s spend some time, just you and I. I want to know you, Louis. I want to know more. And...I want you to know me. The real...” I paused... “Santiago.” "I think I already do" I whispered "But yes...let us go out and spend time together...I would like that very much..." “You know,” I said thoughtfully as we slipped out the back door of the the theatre into the night, which awaited us with a silent spectrum of darkness and delight, “Santiago isn’t even really my name...at least not the one I had originally. It’s what Armand called me, when I first met him so many years back. Perhaps I’ll tell you my real one.” I put my hand on his shoulder as we strode unhurriedly down the Rue Chartres, two beautiful monsters with the souls of men. Two lost souls who had found each other... And you know, perhaps I shall tell him...everything. And then again... End...