A Before the Dawn Spec

3. Sailing to Byzantium

by Auden 1996

Spoilers: IWTV, TVL, QOTD, TOTBT
Disclaimer: This is a non -profit, amateur spec and is not intended to infringe upon the copyright of Anne Rice or her publisher.
Warning: This spec contains sexual situations between adults of the same sex.

Part One: (Lestat)

Although Louis and I had woken at the same time that evening, wrapped in each other's arms as we had for every night that week, when I was finally ready to face the night he and David were snugly curled up in armchairs in the living room, like a matching pair of bookends. I was still not satisfied with my outfit for the evening, a sleek Armani suit. Attempting to decide what to wear had been the reason for my delay, whereas Louis, who was wearing his usual black rags, had been up and dressed for nearly an hour.

I watched them both from the doorway, revelling in the sight of them, my two fledglings. David was lovely, frowning a little as he attempted to read whatever dusty book was absorbing him, and Louis was entrancing, the firelight casting little shadows over his face and doing wonderful things to his emerald eyes. My heart turned over, as I looked at him, and I had to catch my breath. But as well as the rush of love that overcame me, I was aware of a darker emotion. They looked so comfortable together, so contented. And, watching them, I felt a sudden pang of jealousy.

Just then Louis looked up. He smiled when he saw me, and then a troubled look crept over his face.

"Lestat," he said softly, his voice making David look up to smile a greeting. "What is it?"

"Nothing, beautiful one," I hastened to assure him, crossing to his side and bending to brush my lips across his cheek. "It's nothing."

"Lestat," Louis said again, but this time in a warning tone, he brushed my fingers gently across my mouth, but the look in his eyes was stern. "You promised you'd be honest with me, remember?"

"It's nothing, really," I said again, a little embarrassed, retreating to the sofa and stretching out, trying to hide my discomfort. "It's just that you looked so peaceful together, so content.... And then I turn up and disturb you."

"That's not true," David's measured tones came from across the room. "If anyone's surplus to requirements here, it's me." He smiled gently to reassure me and I felt a little of the tightness in my chest recede. Instinctively I glanced over at Louis, wanting his reassurance too.

He was looking at the fire, an almost impish smile curving those perfect lips. Feeling the weight of my gaze on him, he raised his eyes to meet mine.

"Louis?" I asked, feeling the embers of desire begin to heat up as I watched him.

"Well," he said slowly. "It's certainly true that you're a disturbing influence...." he paused agonisingly and I waited. "But I've decided I like being disturbed," he continued, looking at me in a way that made me want nothing more than to take him into the bedroom and make love to him right there. I forced the desire back down, remembering that we had agreed not to leave David alone so much. Louis' smile grew a little rueful, as I lay back on the sofa with a pretended ease and he continued in a softer voice: "You gave us immortality, Lestat. Both of us. How could we ever fail to love you?"

"For giving you the dark gift?" I raised my eyebrows. "I thought you considered that a curse, a damnation..." I glanced back at David who was looking serious.

"A damnation it may be," he said. "But immortality is what all mortals long for." His eyes went a little out of focus as he said almost wistfully: "That is no country for old men...."

"David?" I looked quizzically at him and his eyes refocused as he explained:

"William Butler Yeats...."

"An Irish poet," Louis added and, with an elegant, cat-like movement, he left his chair and stood in front of the fire. "An aged man is but a paltry thing..." he recited, his voice steadily gaining power.

"A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress,
Nor is there singing school but studying
Monuments of its own munificence:
And therefore I have crossed the seas and come
To the holy city of Byzantium."

He brushed his black hair out of his eyes and met my astonished gaze with and intensity that fascinated and seduced me, as he continued, faster now:

"O sages standing in God's holy fire
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
And be the singing masters of my soul.
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
And fastened to a dying animal
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Into the artifice of eternity."

On the last word he spun round, his hair fanning about his face, turning a full circle before he caught himself, and smiled at me with a strange excitement. There was more of the poem, I knew, but Louis seemed to have forgotten his recitation.

"Lestat," he said, crossing to stand in front of me. "Get up!"

"Why," I asked, as I complied, wondering if he was going to break our agreement already.

"We're going out," he told me, turning quickly to look at David. "All of us!"

"What?" I asked stupidly, bewildered by this new aspect of Louis.

"Out!" he said again, making an expansive gesture. "Into the city!"

"Alright," I agreed, exchanging a puzzled look with David who had put his book down obediently. "Where do you want to go? A concert, the opera perhaps?"

"No," Louis positively grinned at me, showing his fangs. It gave him a feline look, and his eyes were animated and sparkling with excitement. "I want to go dancing."

"Dancing?" David stood up as well now. "Why?"

"It's an impulse," Louis told him. "You have impulses don't you?" He glanced back at me and I frowned, still trying to understand what he was saying.

"You don't dance, Louis," I said finally. "Not even when we were in Rio, remember?"

"Yes I do," he contradicted unexpected. "And I *did* dance in Rio."

"No you *didn't*!" I insisted, certain I would have remembered something like that.

"Lestat..." his grin became a little sly as he told me: "I didn't say I danced with *you*!"

"What?" I couldn't believe this, I was finding myself at a loss for any words except moronic questions. It was really no surprise that Louis lost patience.

"David, I want you both to meet me at the Inferno in one hour," he said. "You know where it is." Then he turned and headed for the door.

"Wait!" I managed to gasp out. "Where are you going?"

"To feed, Lestat," he sighed, giving me a look reserved for congenital idiots. "I'll see you in an hour." And then he was gone, before I could utter another stupid question.

"What was that about?" I finally managed to say, turning to David in bemusement. "What brought that on? And what's this "Inferno"?"

"It's a club," David told me, sticking to the only question he could easily answer. "We passed it together a few night ago." Delicately he neglected to mention what they had been doing, knowing I found it hard to cope with the fact that Louis would hunt with him and not with me.

"A club?" Suddenly I dismissed all my earlier questions as unimportant, focusing on the real issue here. "David we have to get changed!"

"Why?" he asked, somewhat bemused. "Louis didn't seem to consider it necessary."

"David there are some things that are eternal constants, even in immortality," I enlightened him. "And one of those is Louis Point du Lac's obviousness to any changes in fashion. But if we are going to a club, *we* are going to look right." And, with that, I dragged him off in the direction of my closet.

The club Louis had chosen was located in one of the smarter sections of town and there was an impressively long line of people waiting outside. David attempted to join it and I grabbed hold of his jacket firmly.

"The Vampire Lestat does not queue," I told him, passing the doorman with a little mental razzle-dazzle.

"Is there any end to your arrogance?" he sighed as we entered the building, and for once I didn't make an immediate comeback, looking instead at the sight that greeted my eyes.

The Inferno was circular and around the main dancing floor were eight concentric rings of galleries holding more dancing space and several long bars. Above us was a massive black dome with thousands of little lights twinkling like the constellations. Down here, on the edge of the dance floor, red and orange lights flickered on the walls, giving the impression of flames. It was all very impressive and I felt instantly at home. David looked uncomfortable., but at least he was dressed right. I had given him some of my own clothes to wear, black pants, black boots and a tight black cotton sweater. He looked a little dull, but not enough so to attract any unwanted attention.

I glanced down at myself, feeling a certain satisfaction with my choices for the evening. I was wearing tight black leather trousers, with boots covered with studded chains, and a red silk shirt that rode high on my waist and fell loosely over my arms. My golden hair was loose, cut so that it only just brushed my shoulders and I smiled thinking of how Louis would like my outfit.

"You're thinking about yourself again, aren't you?" David said wryly.

"How can you tell?" I asked, grinning.

"You've got *that* smile on your face," he said. "It's your 'God, I'm gorgeous' expression."

"David!" I exclaimed. "That doesn't sound like you."

"I think Armand coined the phrase," he admitted. "Or possibly Daniel."

"I didn't know you knew either of them," I said with some surprise.

"I don't," he shrugged. "But Louis does, and he passed it on to me."

"Did he now?" I said slowly. "I think I'm going to have to have a little talk with Mr Point du Lac...." Looking around I saw a free table across the dance floor. "Come on, David," I ordered, taking his arm in a firm grip. "Let's wait for Louis over there."

We had ordered, and secretly discarded, two rounds of drinks by the time David noticed that Louis was late. I had been twitching with impatience long before then, craning to see the doors of the club and kicking myself for giving David the seat that face the dance floor. Watching the dancers, some of whom were almost as skilled as professionals, gave me a slight distraction from wondering where Louis was. The most impressive of them, a young boy with flame-coloured hair and skin nearly as pale as a vampire's, had caught me looking and grinned invitingly in a way that made me wonder if it was time for a snack when David said casually.

"I wonder where Louis is." I turned back to face him.

"I've been wondering that for the past half hour," I said acerbically. "Seeing as it was his idea to come here, he could at least try to show up on time. Being kept waiting isn't my idea of..." My voice trailed off as I realised David wasn't listening to me, his eyes were fixed somewhere behind my left shoulder and he looked totally pole-axed.

"Oh....my....God," he said slowly and I twisted round in my seat again.

"What is it?" I demanded. "What are you looking at? I can't see...." I stopped abruptly as I saw what David had seen.

Crossing the dance floor slowly, with a feline prowl, long limbs shifting silkily as he swayed out of the way of the dancers, was *my* Louis. He looked as I had never seen him look before, not even in my dreams, and as he moved past the dancers people turned to follow him with their eyes. I couldn't blame them. His worn jeans and ancient sweater were gone, replaced by an outfit that caused delicious shivers to run up and down my spine.

He was wearing black pants which clung so tightly to his long legs that they could have been painted on and knee length laced-boots clasped his lower legs just as tightly, raising his height by several inches and his smooth ivory skin showed through gaping slits in the black lace shirt that hung in shreds around his chest and shoulders. His beautiful black hair, usually as loose as strands of raw silk, was teased into a floating cloud around his head and shoulders. His emerald eyes were outlined in a startling black, making me realise exactly how long his lashes were. The animal sexuality of the creature that appeared before us was unsettling, he was startlingly beautiful and I wasn't the only one to realise it.

Music thudded in the background. A wailing guitar combining with a teasing drum beat. And, as Louis was half-way across the dance floor, the flame-haired dancer stepped to block his way. Slowly he traced a circle around Louis, always in motion, dancing his appraisal of the vision that stood before him. He moved like water, every gesture fluid and easy, watching him was like watching poetry and even at this moment I could appreciate his beauty. He began a second circle, dancing for the crowd, for himself, and specifically for Louis, teasing, seducing, entrancing with every movement. Then Louis began to move, and I realised that I had stopped breathing.

He had held still while the dancer made his first circle, now he turned with him, copying the boy's movements. They circles each other like duellists with a naked sensuality that could not have been choreographed. Hunters, each of them, and showing by every gesture that the other was prey. And then the drum-beat crashed like thunder, the guitar screamed, the flame-haired youth slid his arm round Louis like a snake, pressing a white hand into the small of his back, and pulled him into the dance. They clung to each other, spun away and were linked again, moving together and apart like two halves of one being and I was on fire with jealousy as I worshipped he beauty of it with my eyes. Like everyone else who watched the display with an addict's fascination, I was overcome with desire. I could *feel* the emotions of the other mortals around me and they mirrored my own. My eyes were locked on Louis as he danced, he looked like something conjured of air and fire, no mortal substance could have composed such beauty.

The music pounded in the same rhythm as my heart, blood raced through my veins. I couldn't move. Louis and his companion were dancing for each other like geishas, ignoring everything else, eyes locked, hands exploring each other dangerously and I heard myself growling low in my throat.

"Lestat," David said, but his voice was very small and far away, and I was already on my feet and headed for Louis, determined to make clear to him *exactly* who he was here with. As approached, moving out of the way of the frantically gyrating mortals around me, the red-head suddenly closed in. He reached for Louis, his hands tangling in that raven cloud of silk. Louis lifted the boy up and bent his head to close his mouth on his. They kissed hungrily, before falling apart and resuming the motions of their dance , and I stood frozen watching them. Suddenly the jealousy was replaced by a white hot passion and I changed my tactics. If Louis wanted to dance I would show him how it was done.

Part Three: (Louis)

I saw him coming, allowing myself to watch him through lowered lashes as I danced. When the dancer who had welcomed me reached to kiss me, I gave into the embrace willingly, knowing that Lestat was watching. Then, as I allowed the music to take me again, I glanced to see him still there, standing like a statue on the dance floor, glaring at me. For a moment I wondered if I had gone too far, tempted his anger too much. And then he showed his fangs in a demonic smile, his blue eyes flashing a warning, and stretched slowly, his golden skin rippling over steel muscles. I realised the music had changed and I recognised it. Lestat's grin was widening and I wondered if this was truly a coincidence, for all around me the speakers were blaring out an electrical cauldron of noise:

You can't resist the Lords of Night
They have no mercy on your plight
In your fear they take delight

And then Lestat began to stalk me, and all over the dance floor heads turned. His voice rang in my ears even though he himself was silent and I felt faint, my blood heating at the sight of him. The rhythm of my dance faltered and both my companion and I found our eyes irresistibly drawn to the golden figure making his way towards us, as we circled each other.

"He's your lover," the boy murmured, brushing long locks of red hair out of his face, his mouth forming the words clearly, though I could only just hear their sound.

"Yes..." I breathed the word, watching the blond-haired demon approach, his every step claiming me. People had paused to watch Lestat, and others were looking at me, they all knew who he was aiming for.

"He's beautiful," the boy said softly as his lips brushed my ear, swinging around me and back into my arms.

"Yes..." I couldn't help myself, the word came to my lips instinctively it seemed. This was the one thing I had never been able to lie about.

He came closer, his body attuned to the music, his own creation. It complemented him, completed him. He swirled round other dancers, drawing them into and out of his dance, always moving nearer. He was dancing his beauty, his need to possess me, his passion. And I was reminded of those words he had written long ago 'fatally in love'. If he was fatally in love with me, so I was also with him, for I ached to surrender even as I exulted in the thrill of the chase. Lestat's eyes locked on mine, almost violet with desire. The lyrics pulsed from the walls, burning into my brain.

What secrets have I left to tell
Now I hold you in my spell?
This is the truth that comes from hell!

A knot of dancers moved out of the way and Lestat was only yards away from me. Flame-red hair fell into my face as the dancer reached to kiss me swiftly, the lightest touch of his mouth, a scent of cinnamon, and then he was gone, smiling at me as he melted back into the crowd. He wouldn't stay to contest for me with Lestat. I couldn't say I blamed him. Lestat's voice cried in my ears:

Yet in love we will take you
And in rapture we will break you
And in death we will release you
If at our caprice you....

I waited, no longer dancing, as he came closer, his silk shirt sliding over his skin in a lover's caress, as he allowed the music to carry him across the intervening space between us. Slowly he formed the shape of the next word:

Surrender.

For one long moment I held still, fought with everything I had, determined that he would not conquer me. And then I remembered that I loved him, and there was no shame in submitting when that was what I wanted to do. I reached out blindly, and found myself in his arms, his mouth on mine, his tongue forcing my lips apart., the scrape of his fangs as I returned the kiss passionately. One of his hands caught my hair and pulled just hard enough to separate our hungry mouths. Looking down at me he smiled fiendishly and spoke as his alter-ego screamed the final lyrics:
"No one can say you were not warned."

Part Four: (Louis)

I had wanted to show him a part of myself that he had never seen. He had given me eternity, the most I could give him was myself. He seemed to know that I had not finished her and made no attempt to take me away from the club. Instead he began the motions of a new dance as a scream rang out from the speakers.

Lestat knows more about rock music than I do, but he plays his CDs often enough for me to recognise certain artists and this was one I remembered. I was tempted to raise my voice to join the singer's but instead I just listened as Lestat and I danced together, the connection between us electric.

Tired of the injustice
Tired of the schemes
Kind of disgusted

The words struck within me, hadn't I said it was time for honesty between us? Lestat and I had been enemies so long, refusing to admit to the antagonism that could leap into being as easily as desire. Our coming together in love had changed so much, but there were still questions unresolved. Lestat was dancing with a controlled fury, every movement deliberate, and yet arising from an inner core of ferocity that could claim him completely at any moment. He caught my waist and swung me around in a circle, setting me back on my feet with a wicked grin. As our bodies melted together and wrenched apart in the dance I sang softly to him, enjoying his look of surprise:

"Come out of the shadows. Come into the light." Taking up the line he continued, challengingly:

"You tell me I'm wrong."

And I chimed in quickly:

"Then you better prove you're right."

I wrapped my arms around him, and twined one of my legs round him, letting him support me. Leaning my head on his shoulder I continued:
"You're selling out souls, but I care about mine." The cryptic words held a ring of truth and he was smiling as his hips melded to mine and he pulled by head back to see my face. "I've got to get stronger," I added, knowing what was coming next.

"And I won't give up the fight," he rejoined. I smiled, knowing that I didn't want him to give up, that I wanted him to beat down my resistance, forcing me to admit what we both desired. Teasingly, I tilted my head back further, exposing the column of my throat, wondering if he would dare. In the background the singer continued, accompanied by another now that Lestat and I were silent.

Stop pressuring me
Just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me
Makes me want to scream

Lestat's upper lip drew back to expose his fangs as he stared at me. I leaned back further, his hands supporting my waist as I arched back, my hair falling to almost touch the ground. And then he was bending over me, his mass of golden hair hiding his face as his fangs sunk into my neck. I gasped, feeling him drink from me. But it was only a brief taste. Even Lestat found this a bit too public for such intimacy and in seconds he had pulled me back up and into his arms. I disentangled myself from him and spun away, my hair fanning out around me in a wild cloud. He caught me quickly, holding me close as we danced. He raised his voice slightly, though from the expression on his face I could tell he wasn't wholly serious:
"Tired of you telling the story your way. It's causing confusion. You think it's okay."

I laughed out loud, then looked up to glare at him in mock anger. It was a somewhat out of date complaint, considering that he had written three books to my one. I concentrated on looking furious, and I saw his lips part involuntarily. Lestat loves it when I get angry, likes the way I look when I glare at him. He pulled me hard against him, one hand sliding over my thigh. I could feel the warmth of his hand through the thin fabric and realised that he also had fed well that evening. Abandoning my pretence of anger, I grinned as he had earlier.

"You're changing the rules while you're playing the game..." I had intended to finish, but he beat me to it, his eyes darkening as he continued:
"I can't take it much longer.... I think I might go insane."

The feeling was mutual, a heat was rising through my body and I remembered the pain of our earlier joinings uncomfortably. The flood of desire was always preceded by the pain of our prenatural flesh wakening to desire. I began to feel that this setting was too exposed.

Part Five: (David)

Louis and Lestat were still locked in each other's arms, at the centre of a crowd of dancing people and I tried to keep my eyes on them, craning to see past the dancers who got in the way. They looked perfect together, black hair against blond, ivory skin against pale gold.

Their dance was teasing, tantalising, an echo of their centuries long love-affair. I suppressed my envy.

Not jealousy, because I believe strongly that Lestat and Louis belong together, they complete each other's souls. But I felt an indescribable longing to have a love like that myself. Both dancers were caught up in the beat of the music, eyes wide and wild, when suddenly a spasm of what looked like pain passed over Louis' face and I saw him fall. I hastened to my feet, trying to see what had happened. Lestat was on his knees beside Louis, bending over him, and then I saw him shake, a tremor running through his body. He arched his back, his hands curving into claws, and his fangs showing ominously. Louis had managed to get to one knee and he suddenly wrapped himself around Lestat, letting his mane of hair shelter them both.

I was ready to run to their aid, when suddenly Lestat stood and Louis rose with him. Their eyes were locked on each other, and looking at them I realised that everything that had happened before was merely a prequel to the main event. Lestat was dancing, the raw sexuality of him compelling, and Louis came to meet him in the dance. I had seen them moving in concert before, but now there was an additional aspect to their union. An electricity between them that was almost painful to watch.

The first beats of a new song had started in the background. As if unable to help himself any longer Lestat raised his voice, loud enough for me to hear him on the other side of the dance floor and drowning out the voice of the singer.

Burn out the day

His hands were moving over Louis' body, and Louis was writhing in the compulsion of the joint commands of Lestat's exploration and the music that still claimed him. Throwing his head back, he sang out the next line.

Burn out the night

I hadn't even known that Louis *could* sing, but his voice was as true and clear as Lestat's and I was lost in admiration for the creatures before me. Marvelling at the twist of fate that had made me one of them. And then they were moving like mirror images, singing together now:

I don't see a reason to put up a fight

Lestat, ever the exhibitionist, swung away. I couldn't stop staring at him, a tornado of whirling red silk and golden hair. Could any mortal dance like this? The next line was his again and it seemed to tear out of his soul.

I'm living
For giving
The devil his due

And then Louis was whirling in the same motion, circling Lestat like smoke, vaporous, impossible to catch hold of. His green eyes flashed as he met Lestat's in a challenging stare and completed the verse:

I'm burning
I'm burning
I'm burning for you....

My view of them was abruptly cut off by passing dancers and I stepped past them to see what was happening. They were in each other's arms and kissing frantically. Louis tearing Lestat's silk shirt from his body, Lestat ready to rip Louis' tight black pants from him. And then Louis was out of Lestat's arms and half-way across the dance-floor, heading for the back exit. Lestat shot after him, an arrow loosed from a bow-string and I followed quickly.

I caught up with Lestat just before he reached the swinging steel door of the fire exit.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I don't know!" he said, his eyes strange and alien. He looked caught in the grip of a religious fervour and we stepped outside to see Louis with his back to us. He was shaking, gasping for breath, but he heard our approach and turned suddenly, throwing himself at Lestat with a force that pushed the other vampire up against the wall of the club. They kissed fiercely, and when they drew apart I saw blood on their lips.

"Take me home, Lestat!" Louis hissed and Lestat's eyes widened even more than they had already done.

"Louis...." he began, but I would never know if it was meant to be a protest or an agreement.

"NOW LESTAT!" It was virtually a scream and Louis was tearing at Lestat like a wild thing. There was a blur of motion and then they were gone, Lestat lifting his lover high above into the clouds. I couldn't see them anymore, but a few wisps of red silk floated down to where I stood. I considered for a while, then I headed back into the Inferno. My immortal companions would not be wanting my presence at home for some time and I found myself wondering what had happened to the boy with the flaming hair.

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