Friday, January 12, 2007

Chapter 42: Jewel shopping

To commemorate an excursion to a sideshop on campus once. Sadly I found that our friendship has become history more to her neglect


The carnival had many kinds of stalls selling almost every ware available, from fishball snacks, corn to insect lollipops. Games and accessories were the common setup. Louis was disgusted at the poor critters in their frozen state! But he changed his mind when he tasted them! I chose one with a Madagascar striped butt cockroach.

Lestat was ahead of us scrutinizing each and every exhibit. He thought------- don’t want to buy anything though. We all stopped at this small shopcart selling exotic plastic necklaces, bracelets, hairclips adorned with corals, ribbons and precous fake stones, butterfly earrings. Yay! The owner was a plain looking woman no older than me.

“I want these! So cutie!” I selected a pair of fruity eardrops. Only three bucks!

“Sweetie your ears are allergic to copper,” the blond one disagreed. He smiled at her. “I’ll buy you the golden ones at Streetcorner 82 ok?”
No don’t leave please. I’m making losses. Her thoughts rang out in distress. This matched her large doe eyes like brown pools.
The poor lady. Hmm.--------- Lestat picked up on her internal story.
Yea. Let’s help! -------- I replied. She smiled back shyly. But at least she responded!

“Sir, I have nice fake rings for you. Each pattern has multiple sizes. You are welcome to try them. What about this emerald? Matches your eyes,” she warmly introduced her goods.

Lestat laughed. “Thank you.” He fitted the recommended ring and studied the reflection. “Wow. Louis is it nice?”
Louis did not want to stay too long, he disliked shopping. But no one gets away with non answers. “Oui.” I liked a pair of peacocks for danglies and golden bracelets.

“Are they all fake here? How about these?” I pointed to some shiny yellow anklets and chains. One had stars, the other diamond and heart shapes jingling in harmony with the wind. She told me a designer made them. Most jewels were imported. Yes, all fake. But sparkly!

“You are French? Pardon me but you sound foreign.”
“Haha that obvious? Yes from Paris. I like plain designs. What else?” he said, casting around for other rings. There were large ones and smaller ones but all fit our fingers. I asked Lestat if my white pearls choice was okay. He shook his head. I tested another red shiny and big bracelet.
“Nope not right. Try this one cherie. It’ll look positively radiant on ya.” The woman goggled at me while I let him place a blue gemstone choker and orange little pearls on my throat. Let me add the centerpiece was a phoenix!

I want swan ones. Very cheap. I begged.

Ack! My gal, your ears will swell. No no. he said disagreeing.

For my friend k?

Why didn’t you tell me earlier? --- he sighed. He placed the elaborate choker back. “The swans please. And this green stone, how much, how many percent of it is pure?”
The girl provided, “Made in Germany. It is 50 percent precious stone and the rest is mixed marble. But the material has calming effects on its owner. As I said before, this color matches your jacket and eyes, monsieur.” She clinched it! Lestat raves on compliments! He refrained from shouting YOOOHOO.

“Really? You have such… insight. (at this point he was about to call her my child), Miss, I shall trust your judgment. How much for all these?” he gestured to the phoenix choker, swan earrings for my friend, two medium designs of rings (one emerald snake and the other was a lion) and a black pearl bracelet for myself.

“40. I’m just grateful you guys stopped by. I’ll be leaving for Kurast or Jakes-ville next week. Here is the change.” She returned a receipt and 3 dollars. Bratprince was sailing inside but warned me not to speak of it. He wanted to be macho.

“ Thank you. Um, who is your friend?” She meant Our Louis. Said man, vamp I mean, did his seductive drop-dead- before- me grin. He got her discussing her liking for Shakespeare and some movies.
Lestat pouted. She didn’t get attracted to me. I strained to move this statue and asked him about my looks coupled with the jewellery. Then he said he needed to feed.




Louis was surprised that he would leave me on my own waiting at the deserted park. I assured him I could take care of myself.
Louis asked, “Krys what happened? Is he very angry? I just…”
His shiny black tresses were undone, coat unbuttoned. The night was so hot! His skin was prickled by blood sweat. Being handsome, that is a minor factor. Mortal vision cannot take that detail in, so these beings get away with it.

“The lady didn’t engage him. You know how he feels about such things, poet.”
We walked on in silence. I was trying to probe Armand and Lestat at the same time which kept me preoccupied.


Armand relaxed and let me in, Huh? Why are you in my head?

Want to connect you with Brat p. -------- I gleefully replied------ we need your help to appease his temper.


Hang on. I can try to reach him. What happened?Ar said. Then Lestat cut in with his strong masculine voice, acknowledging both of us--- hi gal. I’m trying to cool off. So pissing. Which stupid mortal resists me? My charisma is unprecedented ok? I got your coordinates.


The blond landed in front of us and brushed off some leaves. He glared balefully at Louis. “Yes, my Maker? I am sorry. I should have tried to fix you up.”

Stat listened intently to the telepathic voice. His face blanked. He turned to us and smiled fiercely. I don’t remember, but I think he launched into a lecture related to the maker being superior to the fledgling. No fledgling should usurp his position. Louis nodded and expressed his consent.


“That’s you! Always submitting. Could you not Fight back!” Stat shouted. I cringed.
“Sorry, cherie. Are you alright? How are your ears?” affectionately, he pushed back my hair. “I forgot myself.”

I shook my head, ears ringing. “They should clear afterwards. Let’s go to the seaside.” The guys had to make up now! Standing shoulder to shoulder, both Ls gazed onto the tranquil black waters. The moon shivered in the moving water. I spread out my hands. A breeze came and blew at my hair. I looked at my guardians. Lestat’s golden mane gleamed as a sun ray would from a peak. Louis tried to tame his damp hair but a few strands stuck to his brow. He closed his ethereal eyes and breathed in the wind. I went between both of them and held their hands.

“Forgive.” I said firmly. Lestat hesitated, thinking about something. Then he gestured, directing his gaze. An owl had landed near us. I chuckled.

“What species is it? Can you tell if it’s male or female?” Louis wondered. I closed my eyes and prodded the animal if it was okay to reveal its identity to thm. The owl looked upon me with liquid golden and wise eyes.
“It’s a female horned owl. Her name is Melissa. She sends her greetings,” I told them.
The vampires held up their hands in prayerful gesture.



*********

As per normal, the Bratprince wanted me to write reviews for my homework. “Mozart’s music. Yes what’s the problem?”
I made a sad face. “Noooo. Can I do Boa? I don’t want classical.” Usually he conceded without much argument. He really wants to get modernized. I waited for his reply. His thoughts flickered from one end to the other.
Then “Why not? Who is this person?”
“Stat, she sings hiphop and Rand b. She entered this talentime at 15! And Avex signed her up!” I piped up, committing these from memory. The blond pressed his forehead dramatically. I almost thought he would faint! He crossed the room in three quick strides and looked out the window. Once more, the preter was back at my chair and asked, “Don’t you like the composers? After all the lessons I’ve prepared. At least try for me.”

I smiled weakly. “Yea Mozart is… not that interesting. I know he performed at a young age too, and then, he died? At 33. So did many pianists. It is all so sad. I can barely feel anything else.”

My companion pretended to moan and weep with his silk handkerchief. How do I know it was fake? Because he was giggling uncontrollably into his hands. Nevertheless we like impromptu so I pressed his shoulders. “Hey don’t cry. I will be good I promise.”

Lestat glanced at me with genuine surprise, coupled with some hurt. Preternatural emotions make it all mixed up, for example it’s like despondence corrupted with anger in a human being. They can feel two or three unexplainable emotions at once. “How could you? You’re bad! ( I tried not to jump in joy at the comic) Okay, how many pages?”
“Two.”
“Three is good. You decided the singer, so I decide the number of pages. Next time you Have to do a concerto on a live performance, Bianca.” He was steadfast.

“All right.” I planned what I would say on Boa, maybe he would read my review and listen to r and b next time! Lestat made a small sound. I spun around, afraid he was in pain or coughing. Thankfully, no. the Bratp was rubbing off the whiteboard.

Bianca, I know their lives are dull as compared to the people now. But the point isn’t to show you that they are hopeless. Mozart was unhappy with his family so he went on to compose several pieces. Don’t you agree that these classical time people have so much in them to contribute? Pieces of art are very colorful and Mozart described seeing his notes in vibrant color. I can too.

I glanced at him. Yes man. I see all that. I just want more variety. I like classical a bit better now, then last time. But next time I will follow your will. Sent a ray of light.

Lestat shook his head and made a dove through the rainbow. ‘Cherie, am I forcing you? Tell me I’m better than other people.’

You are, I replied. You are wonderful and cute. Verbally, I asked,“So far there’s no more pain in your chest when you cough?” Lestat sniffed and cleared his throat. It sounded phlegmatic.

“And so are you, brilliant avian-girl. You’ve much tolerance for me. There’s only a little pain in my chest.” He put his arm about me and let me cuddle close. Playfully he let one fang out and nicked my ear.

I jumped. “Er… why do you do that, Stat?”

“Don’t worry, not going to bite you. It was an accident. What is it? Fire away.”
I was thinking- do all vampire kinds mark their would be victims? I had been real taken aback by the expressiveness of their symbolism. Lestat Read me and tried not to be mad. He got his tempest under control.

“Um, I was wondering if you mark your…. people with teeth marks on their throats. Just a little bloodletting.”
He cleared his throat. “Sorry, sounds so rude eh? It feels itchy. No we don’t mark our people. At least not me or my fledglings. I admit I used to do it, a really long time ago. Not to be taken as a general example. Other vampires would kill my mortal little friends otherwise. I marked them only to protect them.”
I said I would get him some blood. Lestat declined my offer. He said he was much better. “Please allow me to.”

“Don’t. You are not my servant. Ok, back to the topic at hand--- when can you finish the review? There is no hurry.”

“Next Wednesday would be great. I’m relieved you’re not marking us.”


An eyebrow went up. I still don’t know what that means. He took out a fashion magazine and we discussed about the effects of anorexia. I love the way that they take care of us mortals.

********


Quinn was free to come one weekday in July. We were in the middle of a heated conversation. “Lestat! What have you been telling her?” he was aghast. It is comical coz when aghast, blooddrinkers become very animated and their expressions become clownish. In my birdshape, I kept laughing. It’s a high pitched chitter.
All of them used connections to hide secrets from the other- Stat to Quinn, Quinn to Louis, Louis to me, me connected to one or two at a time.

My bro was only half listening. Stat wormed his way into the centre of attention talking about homoerotica.
“You WHAT?” Quinn spat out the awful wine anyway. Louis moaned and got a cloth to wipe up the spill on his shirt and the wall. Quinn told him never mind. But he wanted to.
Bratp. lounged over the sofa and told me he would send him the picture I often had, of both of them romping naked in the Garden of Eden. "I am the vampire Lestat! I can do whatever I want!" he captioned with inverted commas.

Quinn sulked. Master. Don’t side with him, ok? I got him in my sight. How could you educate an innocent like that?

“Oh why can’t I? Cherie loves me. She should be educated and not restrained.”

I squealed. No way!
“Hey man, teachers influence and mold young minds,” Bro piped up. He was bored of the Daytona racing game already.
Lestat beamed at him. “That is the bright child who can play Beethoven. At least he likes piano!” Marcus blushed deep red and looked around for a free seat. Some wine had spilt over the sofa, the wall and the vamps were everywhere. Louis gestured for him to sit in his place.
Stat bounced on top of the table and gave us cookies. Louis glared at him. “I agree Q.”
Quinn smiled at him. They haven’t met before today. I glanced at my bro. playfully he stroked my head feathers. “Hello. Back to the new world I see. I am aware of the poison in shapers’blood, as well as the other laws governing this island.” He took out a bunch of papers listing our law codes, vampiric laws as compared to shapers’ laws.

I was really impressed. Louis contributed a few opinions occasionally, censored ones. Lestat tried to let the quieter people say a few words. He refused to admit he was a pervert. In our custom he is! Talking about naked people all the time. But none of us minded, because a quiet vampire means trouble. I was glad he did not cough anymore.
Posted by Ireth Seregon :: 8:22 PM :: 0 Comments:

Post / Read Comments

---------------------------------------