Hair Part Seven-Michel- Running away from the house on Royal St., Michel was afraid that David or Lestat might have followed him. Running around the city in circles, Michel made sure that his tracks were covered. Stopping near his hide out, Michel listened with his preternatural ears to everything in the area. No One. No one had followed him, no one probably cared that he was hiding in some little shack in the rough skirts of the city. Fuck them for not caring. Michel thought as he punched the wall. Walking inside, he wondered as to why he was even bothering with this...For love. He thought angrily. No that’s wrong, he was doing this for revenge. He said aloud to himself. Revenge for all the pain and humiliation that that man had put him through. He loved Lestat. Always had and he knows that Lestat had also loved him. However, he was not important. He was just a tool, an instrument to use against Louis. To be used against that little bitch. Crying Michel curled into a little ball and lay there remembering his past with Lestat and all the promises that the brat prince had said. “If I was even a bit important you would have put me in your book.” Getting up, Michel wiped his face and walked into the makeshift living room, where there were pictures of Lestat in all his glory. However the ones that Michel were looking at were the ones of Lestat smiling happily at Louis inside their home on Royal St. ……….. Michel had recently arrived to New Orleans and was eagerly looking at all the things that had changed since the late 1970’s. As he was passing Jackson Square, he felt two strong heartbeats that were of vampires. Looking around he felt their presence coming from the church. Walking up the steps he heard whispers and felt another presence, which was mortal, talking to the two figures at front of the altar. “You are aware that the church does not agree with this type of matrimony. Should anyone find out about this I will be stripped of my robes and the Church can face detrimental backlash.” The Father was explaining to the two men holding hands. “We understand Father. And we are more than happy that you have agreed to do this.” The black haired vampire replied to the priest. “Well, with the donations that the two of you have given this church and all of the New Orleans parishes, I feel that we are more than bound to offer something back. And if getting married is what you want, than I will grant it.” “Thank you father. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” The blond responded enthusiastically. “This truly does mean so much to us.” Looking at the black haired the blond lowered his head and sobbed silently at the event that was about to occur. “Well, no need to cry as of yet.” The priest comforted the blond gentle man. “Lets get started.” The blond dried his tears quickly and looked around the church. For a second Michel was afraid that that the blond might have seen him hiding at the entrance of the church, but that was not the case. The priest picked up the bible and began the mass of matrimony. Though, it was an abbreviated version, Michel quickly realized what these two blasphemers were doing. He was about to object to this unholy union when the priest asked them the most important question of the mass. “Do you Lestat Charles Antoine de Lioncourt take Louis here present to be your lawful husband, according to the rite of our holy Mother, the Church?” “I do!” Lestat responded with a grin on his face and a blood tear running down his cheek as Louis gently rubbed it out. “And do you Louis Gabriel Jullien de Pointe du Lac take Lestat here present to be your lawful husband, according to the rite of our holy Mother, the Church?” “I do!” Louis could no longer contain his tears and cried as he responded to the priest. The priest then looked at Lestat and asked him to repeat the words. “I, Lestat Charles Antoine de Lioncourt take thee Louis, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” “I, Louis Gabriel Jullien de Point du Lac take thee Lestat, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” The priest then took out the rings that were in his pocket and blessed them for the marriage. “With this ring I thee wed, and promise unto thee my faithfulness.” Lestat muttered the sentence as he slipped the ring into Louis’ finger. “With this ring I thee wed, and promise unto thee my faithfulness.” Louis did the same with trembling hands as he slipped the ring into Lestat’s finger. “Then with the power invested in me by God and the Louisiana government. I pronounce you to be husband and husband. You may now kiss each...” The priest did not even have time to finish as Lestat grabbed hold of Louis and kissed him passionately. “I love you Louis.” “I love you too, Lestat.” Hugging each other, the two walked up to the priest and signed the necessary papers that made their marriage legal. Hugging the priest the two thanked him once more and walked down the aisle together. It was at this time that Michel had a close view of the newly-weds. Louis, the vampire with black hair, was dressed in an all black suit with a white shirt that was contrasted with a dark green sash and tie that beautifully matched his eyes. If it were not for the blood red roses that were randomly tied in his hair, he would have been the obvious groom in the wedding. Lestat in all his extravagant self, was wearing a deep navy suit, also with a white shirt and a soft violet coloured tie. These made his eyes seem to have a mosaic look of blue, violet, and gray. His hair was simply done with nothing special but upon a closer look he had jewels in his hair that reflected with the low lights as he unknowingly passed by Michel. So we meet again my maker and you do not even notice me. He thought to himself as the couple hailed a taxi and got in. Michel looked onward and felt an old anger surface up inside of him. An anger that could not be quenched with out the loss of those that had hurt him the most. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to face the priest. “Are you a friend of the couple?” “Yes, very old friend.” He replied coldly and backed the priest into the confessional box where he drained him completely. Walking out of the church, Michel knew that the couple would be away for a while, which would give him a chance to develop a plan for his revenge. “Like the priest said...’till death do you part.” Michel smiled and walked down the street. “And with death I will keep you both apart.” Michel began developing the best way to kill the two lovebirds with one stone. Part Eight-Louis- I awoke the next night feeling Lestat crying softly beside me. He always went into these mood swings of crying towards himself, that I did not wish to disturb his ‘me-time.’ When he finally quieted down, I reached down and touched his hair. I had always loved it. When I was mortal that had been the first thing that I noticed about him. Well, that and his eyes. However, the eyes are another story. The hair, though, was always soft and shinning with brilliance that mirrored the sun itself. My beautiful Phoebus. Why do clouds always try to cover your light. I thought as I soothed the hair away from his face. “Louis I didn’t know that you were awake.” Lestat turned around and wiped the tears from his face. The knowledge that his fledglings were fighting a deadly battle to conquer his attention was not resting easy with Lestat. I could see it in his eyes. He touched my hair and face looking into my eyes to assure that I was truly getting better. “You had me worried love.” He said at last. “Do you actually think that I would ever leave you?” “No…For whom would I have to constantly nag me about cleaning my room.” “There are many that would trade with me. To have what I have.” I reached out to touch Lestat’s face and caress it gently. “Louis, he will pay for what he has done.” “What does he have to pay for, which he has not already suffered for?” I sat up and steadied my self. Since I had lain in bed for the past few nights recovering, my body was still weak. “Are you saying that it is my fault.” Lestat raised his voice, which at the same time caused great pain inside my head. Seeing the pain on my face he leaned towards me and apologized for raising his voice. Leaning against his body I explained, “Yes and no Lestat. You gave him the Dark Gift promising that you would be together always, yet you left him as soon as you could to go after us in Paris. You promised that you would always be there for him, yet you let him down. Leaving him alone to take care of himself. I also would not be surprised if you said that you would always love him. Only to turn to others for that love.” Looking at Lestat’s pained expression I knew that I was right. “What person, be it vampire or mortal, would not want to hurt that person back the same way that they were hurt.” Looking down and letting me go, Lestat walked to the window. “Did he communicate with you?” “No I just know these things.” “How?” “For I too have been in that position and know how it feels to be left for another.” “Don’t bring David into this.” “Who ever said I was talking about David.” “So now it’s about Claudia…Really Louis it was she and I that were constantly fighting over you.” “That was not the case in the beginning.” “What in the devil do you mean.” “You may have got her to keep me by your side, but you soon fell in love with her and did anything and everything you could to keep her happy and if that meant belittling me or putting me off as some commodity for yourself you did it.” With the final words I felt a sharp hand hit the side of my face. Hitting the nearest wall, the world turned into black space. Part Nine*---* Means telepathic communication -Lestat- “Lestat how dare you!” David yelled as he picked Louis up. “He’s still recovering and you hit him like that.” “Lestat, what happened?” “Nothing Marius. Absolutely nothing.” I replied and calmed my voice. I had lost control again and my poor Louis was once more the recipient of that out burst. “Then why is he unconscious Lestat?” Armand entered the room furious at what I had done. *How much regard do you have for the people you love?* Armand silently asked me. “Seems like none.” I shoved Armand hard so that he fell onto the floor. “I’m going out.” I said without looking back. Picking up my jacket I stepped outside to feel the cool air hit my face. It was still early and there were numerous tourists walking this way and that, looking for places to eat and talk. I really had no direction to go to. I just let my feet go where they pleased and thought of what Louis had said. He was right. I had said those things to Michel and the poor fellow had believed everything that I had said. Everything that should have been said to Louis, I said it to him. Everything that I should have done with Louis, I did it with him. God, what kind of monster am I? To hit Louis in this fragile state is abdominal. Why can’t anything just be perfect and happy for once in my life. Why do I always have to suffer? Tripping over a large stone I fall on my face and onto the grass. Murmuring a few obscene words I get up and look around and realize that I am in the middle of Louis Armstrong’s park. I prepare to leave but sense another vampire close by. Looking around I try to read it’s mind but am unable to penetrate it, which could only mean one thing. It is one of my own. Louis and David it could not be, and my mother was still in the wilds with Pandora. Which left Michel as the only possible suspect. If I shouted or moved in his direction, he will probably run away from me. However, if I let him follow then I might be able to trap this little upstart. Walking towards the river, I continue to sense him following me. Slowing down my steps I make sure that he is within ten feet before I turn back and come up behind him. Pinning him against the wall, the poor fellow did not even know what hit him. Screaming in pain he closed his eyes and prepared for my punishment. However, I didn’t want to get to that as of yet.