I got out of the taxi, opting to walk the rest of the way. Have you ever had a serious nic fit, even after you quit? Mm-hmm, I was having a nic fit the way people feel pain in body parts that have been lopped off. Not a pleasant feeling. Give me a break. I was gonna die shortly, Daniel -kabob style.

New Orleans is a peachy place. Great night life. But only if you have someone to share it with. Otherwise it's just obnoxious and makes you feel like shit. And I flopped along in such a state and almost shit a brick when I saw this, like, line of vampires outside this church. I mean, what were they doing, giving mortals away? I almost shit a whole building when I saw Louis quietly sneaking out a side door and mosying on down the street. What I wouldn't have given for a trench coat! Subtly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme, I set off after him. It's not that I wasn't in a hurry to die...

He actually started whistling, honest to God. It went real good with my humming. We should have taken it to Vegas. Anyhow, he was real easy to follow, and he led me right to this big, fancy house. My cool, vampy ears could pick up somebody playing the piano inside. Nasty, classical stuff. And whoever it was was playing so damn slowly, I could feel the icicles forming on my nose. Well, I was busy mentally insulting the "artiste" and I walked into Louis' back as he rang the doorbell. Snazzy entrance, huh?

He spun around and whacked me in the face. He's a strong dude, weak nothing! His happy smile when he recognized me was kind of annoying considering the fact that he had just knocked me on my keister in whatever the hell kind of flowers were there. I was never good with that nature stuff.

"Oh, Daniel, it is so good you're here." I rolled my eyes and stood up.

"Yeah, nice to see you too." He looked like a puppy that was so happy he'd wet himself. Not every day you see Louis wagging his tail. His smile and Kermit the Frog-green eyes were really screwing up my bad mood. I couldn't smile; what kind of suicide grins like a moron? Without the drugs, I mean. "Why are you so cheery, Louis? Charles Dickens write a new book?" He gave me this fatherly look; I gagged.

"Non, Daniel. It is...Lestat is alright. He returned to us." Glad they had a soft lawn. Otherwise I would've had a real bruised chin. "Isn't that good, Daniel?" I tried to talk, choked on what I was going to say, and tried again. Damn those words, like peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth.

"Louis, it's great...for you, I mean." He looked at me weird. Figuring I had not grown another head, I decided to clarify. "OK, I mean, like, you got Lestat. I got..." I shrugged. Pointless to bitch at him. Wasn't his fault. He blinked a few times, like he was still confused. Thick skull.

The door opened then, that freaking music getting louder. God, I swear not one vampire likes a little Iron Butterfly in the evening. Marius, now he's smart vamp when it comes to crying. He's got a red wardrobe. He smiled now; everyone was so happy I felt like I was going to puke.

"Daniel, what an unexpected surprise. Come in. Louis, Lestat was only just asking after you." Louis smiled back. Shiny, happy people. I plodded in, my miserable entrance ruined. How the hell could they feel bad for me when they were all just glad to have the Brat back?

After Louis came in I slammed the door behind me. I was ignored. It was like that time I had a tantrum in kindergarten. I screamed and kicked and chewed on the gross-tasting rug. But everyone just went about their petty business. My freaking plastic dinosaur had had his head ripped off by the class bully, and they just took it all calm. Same deal.

"So, what gave Lestat the wake up call?" Marius looked back at me with raised eyebrows. Shit, did I say something rude?

"Sybelle." Oh, that explains everything.

"Who's Sybelle?"

"Armand's child." I flipped out.

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm Armand's child. He doesn't ...he didn't have any other fledglings!" I glanced around at the other vampires who had come in to see the freak show. Oh, yippee, Santino and Gabrielle. Great party life. "Did he?" Confused stares all around. I sighed and counted to ten in Swahili. Well, I made it up, because I don't really know Swahili.

Louis touched my arm and I jumped.

"Daniel, don't you know?"

"What? That he lied, that I now have an instant family?" I could see the smoke coming out of my ears in the hallway mirror.

"No." A new voice, from the stairs. Quiet, accent. I offered up a quick prayer to the gods of brat containment that it wasn't Lestat. Then I turned around. The last vampire I expected to see was my imp, one white hand on the banister. His hair was all wacky; he must have been laying down. I wondered why he had come down looking like that. He never did that... Then it hit me. And almost as if he could read my thoughts, (Duh, he really can't.) he said them out loud.

"That I am not dead, love." No kidding. And he had a lot of explaining to do. Mr. Molloy, the principal.

"Silence now the sound

My breath the only motion around.

Demons cluttering around

My face showing no emotion.

Shackled by my sentence, expecting no return,

Here there is no penance, my skin begins to burn."

-Creed, "My Own Prison"

It was pretty amazing how quickly my suicidal tendencies and mushy things I thought about my imp just were zapped out of existence. I mean, he was like Caspar the Friendly Ghost, all perfect little vampire boy, with the big eyes and all that hair. All I could do was stare back at him, but my mind was going a mile a minute. I wasn't the only one for him. There were others. Hell, he wasn't dead! That was a big one. I'm surprised my brain didn't explode.

Marius kind of pushed me forward a little, and Armand's brown eyes had a little hint of red, if I'm not mistaken. His little hand made a fist, not a punching fist, a nervous fist. Then he held his open hand out to me and all the other thoughts were squished by the big one. He's alive. Secondary thought, I'm gonna kill Lestat for writing that. So, I ran toward the stairs, aching to touch him. I mean, hell, if he was a ghost...I wanted, needed to prove to myself that he was real. He didn't move, except to turn to face me as I came crashing up the stairs. Both his hands were out now, and I grabbed them, taking the last steps all at once. Lucky I didn't break my neck. I pulled him off his feet, crushing him to me. I could feel his sobbing breath on my cheek, and the tell-tale wetness of tears. I opened my eyes then, and saw a little kid standing there in the hallway, looking at us with round eyes. He called out, "Sybelle!" and a tall, blonde skinny girl came to join him. At least the freaking music had shut up.

The kid came right up to us as I was trying to kiss my imp. He stood right behind Armand, actually tugging on his sleeve. God, what a brat! I rolled my eyes, and said,

"Jesus, get a life, twerp." He glared at me and stood back with his arms folded. He looked like he was going to throw a huge temper tantrum. I smiled evilly. Cool, maybe he'd get yelled at then. Instead the little twit pulled out a freaking cigarette and stuck it in his mouth. He didn't light it, just chewed on it. Probably pretending it was my head. The skinny girl came forward to stand next to him. It was like facing the firing squad.

Armand pulled out of my arms and went to them. My mouth kind of fell open. They immediately accepted him, petting him while my stomach churned. They both tried to hold him, but he's such a little thing; he's only meant for one. Me.

"These are my children, Daniel. Benjamin." He indicated the Arabian Nights kid. "And Sybelle." That one was real far out there. Kind of starry- eyed, definately a real winner. Not. Armand tilted his head to the one side and smiled. "This is Daniel. My fledgling." They just stared.

"Armand, how are they your children and I'm just your flegdling?" He smiled; that fake smile was going to make me violently ill.

"You are still my only Child of my Blood, Daniel. These are my companions, fledglings to Marius. My...joys." My only consolation was that he didn't sound like he was about to sing the Ode to Joy while he said that. I concentrated real hard (my face probably turned red) and sent some nice little greetings to Sybelle and Benjamin. Something like, "My joy would be to rip you apart, limb from limb." You know, niceties.

Sybelle let a momentary fear bug her eyes out. Then she drifted away. Dropped a little too much acid, in my humble opinion. That little jerk responded by playing dirty; he wrapped his arms around Armand's waist. That's my job, I almost screamed. And that gross music started up again. God, they were sure wearing out that CD.

"Our Sybelle plays well, doesn't she, fledgling Daniel?" Benjamin was almost popping out of his shirt he was so stuck up. I just smirked. Armand pulled away from his pet and came forward to me again. Yippee.

"You've come back, caro. Will you stay?" He looked around, nervous like in a gangster movie. Then he pressed his face to my chest. I didn't know what to say. I mean, with his little pretending to be dead act and then these annoying morons, I should have said go to hell. But he was all snuggled against me, his hair all soft and messed up under my hand. What a decision!

"Just when everything was making sense

You took away my self-confidence

Now all that I've been hearing must be true

Guess I'm not the only boy for you

That's what I get

How could you turn me into this?

After you just taught me how to kiss you

I told you I'd never say good bye

Now I'm slipping on the tears you made me cry."

-NIN "That's What I Get"

So there I was. And that's about it. I mean, you didn't actually think I'd be melodramatic enough to stomp out or something, did you? Please. I mean, it's not that I wasn't looking forward to charbroiling myself or anything. But, Armand felt so...so right. And besides, there was no way in hell I was letting that little twerp Benji or spaced out Sybelle get their nasty paws on him. I mean, I'd rather he'd gotten a new obsession with crocodiles than with them. So I muttered blah, blah, mushy crap, "No, I'll never leave you again." He seemed content. He was kind of melting in my arms, like a big M&M. OK, bad analogy, but you get my drift?

But, I mean, he was kind of droopy. Either that or he was batting his eyelashes at me. I thought he might just konk out on me when I noticed him nipping at the button at the neck of my shirt. Definitely a good sign of recovery. But when I tried to join in, lifting his chin to get a little nip myself, he pushed away and stood back, just holding my hands. Now, what made him go all prude on me, you might ask? Well, Miss LSD had abandoned her other lover (the freaking piano) and come to spy. Um, can we say NOT FAIR!!

Not meeting her eyes, like any good criminal, he pulled me down the stairs and into this sitting room. The carpets were, of course, white. I considered taking my shoes off, remembering Great Grandma Molloy's pristine rugs. "You get a spot on them, Danny, and you'll scrub it off...with your toothbrush!" But Armand didn't really seem to care, a little real happy smile on his mouth. He sat me down on the couch, then sat down on the chair next to it. He tucked his legs underneath him, like a little kid who wants to hear a story. I couldn't help grinning back at him like an idiot, then leaning forward to kiss the corner of his smile.

"Oh, Daniel, love, where have you been?" I sat back, wishing he'd join me on the couch. I mean, I'm not so fat that I take up the whole thing.

"Oh, around. You know. Heard about your...um...incident. Decided to see for myself." He frowned a little. That made me plug on. "Why'd you do that, Armand? For a piece of cloth? Hell, were you lonely, feeling bad? I would have been there for you, you know that. Why'd you try to leave me...alone?" My words were getting mighty weepy; not good at all.

My imp bit his lip, real hard. He took a couple of deep breaths, like he had something to say, but didn't. He just bit his lip harder and harder, until a Kool Aid red drop of blood dripped from his pouty lip to his white cotton-covered leg. See what I mean about the inherent hazards of light colored clothing? But I was really pissed off. No excuses, no good ones anyway, and I was yesterday's news. Brand spankin' new fledgling for him. Danny Molloy was...nothing. I stood up fast, watching his big eyes get bigger.

"Nothing?" I screamed, my temper not holding out. "You just sit there, looking pretty, with nothing to tell me. Jesus, what's the matter with you, Daniel? Armand's got fresh blood now, pardon the pun. Doesn't need you." He stood up, coming to face me. He held his ground pretty well, considering the fact that he's about a head shorter than me.

"I owe you nothing, Daniel. Why should I make my excuses to you, who mock and will not understand? As if you ever understood! Remember the vow, Daniel? My broken vow."

I shook my head, denying it all. I was not seeing this, not hearing this. This wasn't exactly what I'd had in mind for a reunion. Then I noticed my imp's trembling bottom lip, and knew he was ready to sob. So, I abandoned the angry martyr routine and opened my arms to his shaking form. Just as he was breaking down, that little brat came in and whispered something in Armand's ear. Armand nodded quickly, then ran out of the room.

Well, let me tell you, my years of yoga did not help me keep my cool. I grabbed Benjamin's arm and steered him toward the door. He was so damn lucky Marius intercepted us. I was going to tear his freaking head off.

"Benjamin, why don't you see if Sybelle is wanting for company." He silenced the twit's unspoken words with one look, using that evil Roman glare. "And you, Daniel, will sit and reconsider your course of action." I crossed my arms and sulked like the three year old I still was on the inside. I marched out, feeling him giving me that annoying fatherly look. I plopped down on my former couch, and something pinched my butt. No, I wasn't lucky enough that someone had pinched my butt; I had sat on something hard.

I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the garnet ring I had, um, borrowed from Armand's room on the Night Island. It belonged on his hand, from me. Kind of like a wedding ring. Oo, cool. I mean, everyone else had made their peace but us. So here's the plan. Make up with Armand, take care of his two puny cronies, and buy a new car. Not necessarily in that order. It would be nice to take my imp for a ride in the new car first.

"Tired clothes and vintage eyes

Search for the stars

The world you know lies inside

Velvet dreams and a candy prize."

-Second Coming "Vintage Eyes"

I got up, ready to brave the storm. I knew that Marius would whip my hiney if he found out I left. So I behaved exactly like any other juvenile delinquent-I made sure he didn't find out. Old, long-forgotten skills from high school came back to me as I slipped out the back door. And I was extra careful; this wasn't just another Led Zeppelin concert we were talking about here. Roman discipline probably sucked compared to being grounded.

When I made it past the yard, with all my body parts intact, I figured I was safe. Thank God I wasn't in some teeny bopper movie otherwise I would have turned around to (gasp) see Marius following me. But, since I have grown up at least a little, I was pretty chipper and headed over to where I figured I should be going. It was so easy to find Armand I almost had to laugh. Man, that Benjamin was a real twit, and his mind was real easy to read too. And that's saying a lot, 'cause my own guru powers are virtually nonexistent. Anywho, I tiptoed into the little chapel. It was real different from the big cathedral in the Big Apple. Something here was more quiet, and it made me think of when I made my First Communion. I mean, it was hard to remember sometimes that I had been a little kid once upon a time. A little kid wearing a white suit, hands folded, trying not to think about the presents he knew he was going to get and concentrate on what the priest had said to think about. Uh-huh, that's happening. Didn't work then, sure as hell ain't working now. But I remembered the one thing that had always caught my eye at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel; to the right side of the altar, where the incense-swinging altar boy got to stand, was this statue of a kneeling angel. It used to tick me off that you could never tell whether the angel was a guy or a girl.

Well, in this church, I knew the answer because my demon angel was kneeling at the altar rail, to the right side. His hair curled like the statue's did; it was too perfect and curly and messy at the same time. He wore some baggy white flowy shirt and red velvet pants. Um, excuse the unholy thoughts. He looked cute enough to eat, and he was so still. It has always creeped me out how he just can stay in one position so long. His hands were folded in front of his chest and his head was down. I kind of walked up the center aisle to sit in the front pew behind him. I even genuflected. He was whispering to himself, but I heard him. Thank God he was talking in English for once.

"I sat down beneath the shadow of him whom I desired; and his fruit was sweet to my palate. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and faints for the courts of the Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall me, world without end. Amen."

"Amen," I said, then wished I hadn't. My imp's head turned around like he'd been slapped. Jesus, all I'd done was play along and Armand looked like he wanted to bite my head off. To avoid a screaming confrontation in the church, I went and kneeled next to him.

"What were you saying, Armand?"

He gave a defeated little sigh. Sounded kind of like my mother when he did that.

"Two things actually, caro. Canticle Two and Psalm Eighty-three." He smiled a little. "Well, parts anyway."

"I liked it a lot. Armand, before you yell at me, I wanted to say something. And I'll say it real fast so that I get the whole thing out before you explode." I took a deep breath and pulled the little ring out of my pocket. "OK, this is tough. Armand, I love you more than anyone, and it really hurt me that you tried to kill yourself. I mean, it's a federal crime, for God's sake!" I grabbed his small hand and kind of shoved the ring onto his finger. His brown eyes were like this tiger's-eye ring I had in high school. "Well, say something, damn it!"

He stood up real fast. I still stayed kneeling, just watching him. Then, deliberately, he yanked the ring off his finger and threw it at the rail. It bounced off the wood, leaving a great dent. Some priest was going to have a coronary when he saw that! My mouth dropped open and then I found my dumb old feet walking me right out the door. Damn it, that wasn't what I wanted to do! But, out I went. And I didn't even turn around. Hell, maybe it was better that way. At least I didn't end up a pillar of salt. More-->