 |
Tuesday, May 22, 2007The Armand Agenda
“Oh I was showering. I can feel your deep worry. What’s up?” “Are you ok? You were sick, I heard. But I had so many tests.” He was super-understanding and hoped that I could meet him tomorrow.
**** But the atmosphere changed tonight. He was in pajamas, which meant he was not very well. His jealousy pulsed while we talked. I didn’t bother that the bratprince was touchy. I am loyal to all my buds. You already know I don’t like pigheaded people. Suddenly reading my mind without permission, Lestat was asking me why I liked Ar. (I had taken to using his name for short). He again forbade me from defending Armand, the kindest theatre-guy I knew. “I think you see things from only one view. Besides whatever happened between you both, has got nothing to do with me,” I declared. Large smirk. He almost hit the piano and stopped himself in time. “Kind? You say, yes, he did help me when I fainted. But he has scoffed me countless times and when he’s around, Marius finds fault with the rest of us. He is rigid, uptight, a rule-follower. How can he lead a coven of hopeless people?”....Blah blah and so on. I guess it also meant Marius ignored Stat, who hates being the side of attention. “C’mon, you’re now interfering with my friends. Don’t be silly.” Lestat grumbled, “If I could see from everyone’s viewpoint, I would have written that. And never mentioned his damned name!” He was definitely losing it, his volume was rising. I moved some distance away and did not have eye contact. Tight fast breathing. Louis came from behind his maker. Hey don’t agitate him----- the green-eyed man said. He just got better last night. But Lo, I don’t know why Armand pops up in our conversation! I don’t wish to discuss. He is my good friend. Isn’t there any way------ I cried out in my head. “Hey don’t use secret telepathy*. I can’t hear you like that. Didn’t we agree on this?” the recuperating vamp cut in. Louis whispered into his ear. Lestat’s eyes went so large that they almost bulged and you could see the violets glowing. *Appendix 1 These are the house rules which we got Louis to scribe down. He loves to write and is the neatest. My bro is second neatest, but he would be late. No 1: nobody should be interrogated or have to account for who that person was. Blond was irritated, sometimes angry, that we wanted to know about who he had met outside, or saw him back home. “I am the owner of this house. Yea and you too Louis. But I am entitled to some privacy.” “But you ask Me where I go. Even if I leave a note,” Louis shook his head, pausing. “Okay! Fine, let’s see, from Friday, or Sat onwards, this should be in place. For all,” Lestat replied, waving him off. I said, bouncing beside him. “Me too. You need not ask me where I am.” He directed a paternal gaze at me. “I worry for you, is that wrong? I’ll try not to sound too… fierce. Minor asking is ok.” I laughed, how determined he was! “What? I don’t get the joke. You’re having secret thoughts.” His seriousness made my laugh stop. Both Louis and I were laughing too, not due to that, but because in an entire yellow suit, the blond was so amusing, yet wanted to be serious. We shared the mutual connection of the banana talking. Uh oh, Gave rise to no 2: no more secret telepathy between other two people. He could not hear his fledglings, the whole silence impeded the relationship. “It’s annoying to me when I don’t understand. So don’t do this anymore. Talk to me directly. Bianca.” I rubbed his shoulders. The tension left him. 3) Not to open our rooms to curious daytime eyes. Invasion of privacy, with regard to daytime visitors 4) Trash needs to be taken out in turns. David ended up doing that mostly. He volunteered. My teacher was angry we bully him, for the millionth time. Really protective of the ghost-man. “David wanted to….” “Uh huh. But he is our guest. What did I say about guests?” Stat warned. Right. We beat a hasty retreat. Satisfied, the feudal lord grinned with fangs exposed and put an arm about me. “Speaking of which… it seems that you didn’t do it for this week yet. I did it last night,” Louis pointed out. Lestat looked miffed, sad frown, pout of his generous mouth. He jumped up, offering to do that. “I was so tired. I felt terrible, how could you?” Then the four of us signed below, with Lestat signing on no. 2 additional, to make clear the point. Lestat’s widened pupils retracted. He sat back. I noticed how drawn his pallor was and needle marks on his wrist. “Anyway, let’s not talk about that. I think you overreacted,” I spoke peaceably, suppressing my ideas of freedom to like whom I pleased. Louis did not reveal what he said that subdued the outgoing spirited guy. “Um, have you eaten?” Louis enquired. Lestat scratched at the marks. “Yea, not much. Bianca, don’t you like me? I miss it when we spent a lot of time chatting. Now there is this gap again.” The piercing stare gave me the chills. I asked him why the marks were there. “Oh, these. (he looked at them) I told you I fainted. Outside the theatre. When I came to, some vampires had drank from me, and I from them. Otherwise I could not rise.” “I’m so sorry.” I edged closer, but he did not respond. He closed his eyes and looked like a zombie. Louis tried to get his response. I went to the scholar’s balcony. Louis walked in now. His lips were straight. I don’t know what happened there. He just lost it. Armand is civil to us. So that was fine. It was true what Stat said. Claudia, she sinned and did not deserve to live. All of them live like that. they are ruthless and rigid. I acknowledged that. But what do I do now? I wanted to try to talk about other things. But he’s quiet again. Louis pointed out a bench that had previously not been there. “I fixed it, so that when my love is tired, he can still see the view of all the houses.” I showed him how happy Lestat was seeing the sunrise, despite the danger. “Can you keep these images? If you want?” I asked, thinking of a film. “Oui, cherie. it’ll be in there for an eternity.” I smiled and leaned against Louis. Silence, comfy and the breeze, the whisper of my hair. *****
Later, we checked on the sick man. He was not at the living room anymore. Tinkling and banging of glass. The musician was at revelry, drumming spoons and forks on glasses, the stemmed kind. The tune was harmonious. “Well, what is it?” he muttered, unfocused gaze resting briefly on me. Then back to the glasses. “Am I annoying you? Can’t I play by myself?” We did not move. Usually give him time and there will be some coherent answer. “I was so glad. I was not angry, no no no. I can’t entertain you all, except for a talented man. This person, is withered. A spare tyre.”
Something hit him then, when I really left the place. “Krystal, where are you going? You’re here to visit.” “Home. It’s eleven. You’re not yourself. Try to take it easy k? bye.” I opened the door. Crying. Louis patted his shoulder. He broke down and did not stop. It stirred my heart. I’ll come by next time. Hope you’re not so depressed, I added. I promise it won’t happen. Please forgive me, he answered with a shaky voice. I figured that it would be better to stay at my place. Anyway my cousins could take care of me. Louis encouraged me not to give up and his condition improved. Sometimes we emailed, but the most human touch was voice. Lestat made great effort to speak normally. On email, he wrote very short notes. ‘hi, thanks for all your love. I’m lots better. I made color font first time. Hope u like it.’ Bratp was much more cheerful by phone. This would be the strategy, till I was sure he would not go berserk again. “Hello? Lestat the great here,” one of the times he picked up and spoke immediately. “Bianca here. How’s it going?” He laughed softly. “You don’t come by… busy? I got your joke. Thanks.” Cool, he read forwards now! I commended that. He replied, “If not, I’ll still be weeping.” A long pause, I thought he had left quietly. “Is something troubling you? You’re not the same…” “Why?” again the persuasive tone used on victims. My heart fluttered. The blond sighed. “I’ll go put some music ( rustle and then tinkling music, he returned) This is Chopin. How is it? Wanna have lessons when you have the time?” I said sure. “Now you’re really back. I’m so happy. The other time, um..” “Ah don’t worry. I felt changed by the moonlight. Full moon’s not a joke to our kind. I guess I was having hormonal changes.(we laughed together) Not angry anymore. I’m back, yoohoo.” “Next time we’ll go try something, Stat. You could be a famous comedian. Or performer. We’ll be your audience.” I suggested brightly. The vampire made no sound, then he came online. “ I’m outta practice. Haha, you’re kidding me. ” “No I’m serious.” His heartfelt thanks was so nice, and simple. I knew it was safe to visit him already. I dropped by the large house at the end of the street. No more foreboding. Lestat was not in pajamas anymore, but had slicked back his wet hair, blue shirt, green sequins. Pajamas= poor mood, sick. Otherwise good sign. “So happy you came!” he chirruped. I shook his hand. He kissed both cheeks. Then took my hand. “Want to show you something.” The cloth on an easel stand. So lovely. I gaped at a portrait of me, wearing boots and the blue “Oh, 3 months. I tried to do by paint. But everything was ruined. So I did crayons,” bratp told me, but not weakly. He said it with enthusiasm and love. “I wanted to feel your presence. My little angel.” I felt like crying. I wondered if it was ok to keep. Really his ange? Quite disconcerting… Lestat’s expression was soulful. “No I can’t give. But you can always see it here. You mind?” I shook my head. He needed this effort. Lestat kissed my ear and his teeth were out. I was shocked.
Wednesday, May 09, 200745: Bermuda Holidays, my strange dreamThe resort was in a jungle setting, which I love best. Mum and dad were in the midst of negotiating for a branch to be set up nearer our home. My younger cousins from raccoons to bears to dolphins all played with one another. I have two older cousins Ron and Russet. I wonder if I will ever meet my true love. Will he be a raptor, or a human? I don’t mind if he is another race. I don’t know if I want to remain human or choose the avian path for good. A memory of a dream incited state... Will you leave me cherie? As all of my companions have, the blond asked me. He sent a picture image of myself as a hawk soaring the skies. You have Louis, and David, I replied. We were near a river, Lestat watching the currents flow downstream. I was standing with my back to him, deep in thought. ‘Not always. They will go. I have lived in solitude mostly, but I can’t always bide that. You’ll go away one day.I do not know how to cope,’ I watched like a third person, this adult shaking painfully like a little boy. He had no handkerchief and rubbed off the tears with his sleeve. He was not crying blood! ‘You won’t be alone. I promise I will come back and live with you, Stat. don’t worry’ I was saddened by his tormented picture. I took his arm and leaned against him. ‘Promise? Really?’ He repeated dully, face shining. He bent down and bathed his face. ’I’ll find a way. It’ll be cruel to leave you alone after we’ve been so close. You’re very kind to me.’ He wondered if it was selfish to wish I would remain his daughter forever. I Read his mind and agreed I was, too. We are selfish because we’re imperfect and we have lost people dear to us. I had friends who just didn’t wish to contact me anymore. Sometimes for no reason at all. People are unpredictable, they want excitement, thrill, not boring people like me. I had cried when one of my so called best friends said that of me. I had treated her like a sister. When I flew, I felt no pain or weighing down. I relished my strength and solitude. This has honed me and has never let me down. ‘I suppose our kind always suffer from immortality’s curse. You want to make that promise official?’ Lestat remarked, his voice cheered. He unfolded his sleeve. Oh man. No blood! I protested. Or biting, gross! ‘I wasn’t going to, cherie.’ He took out a black pen and a small paper. …. The memory broke off there. Did I ever sign that pact? And now the promise was still broken. Louis wanted us to write down the things we did on contracts and sign them. It was surprising that Lestat would insist, near a river too! He also did not weep blood. They cannot cry transparent tears. That didn’t make a lot of sense. My cousins called me. I went indoors. Mum was chatting with Aunt Helena. She has brown hair, as are those from the canine side. Her skin is tanned golden and in her animal shape, a fox, yup we do wear our tails out on two legs. The unique thing is, we use sign language to communicate because she is deaf. I signed for a phone. Aunt shook her head. Nothing to use to connect to the outside world. If my dream was right, I would worry my guardians again. Russet the genius had the means! He had his connector for old phones. “Thanks! You’re my saviour!” “Welcome. Is it your guy? You grow up!” he said “Sexy.” I smacked him. He wired the phone in fifteen mins. ******** Three times ring , it was six thirty. I hoped they were in. I didn’t know if the connection could hold till longer.
“Hi Louis here. May I take a message?” How wonderful it was to hear his voice! It is reassuring to hear musical quality.
“Me. I’m sorry. I didn’t…” “Krys, how are you? Did you run off?” the tone became more concerned and like a model preacher. I told them how I had tried to contact them but was only successful this week. “Oh I see I see. I will update Stat. and your bro’s there too. Good.” Louis I could imagine had eventually sat down instead of rushing to call security. I chuckled.
“How’s Stat? Is he lonely?” Louis replied, “He just got back yesterday. Luckily he was too preoccupied to notice immediately. Hang on.” Rustle and some whispers. “He’ll talk to you.” Great! I said hi to my teacher with a happy cheer. If he was upset, he would be better knowing I was good. He sounded soft, “Hello, Bianca. Cést que?”
I said we were at
Nope, we ascertained that it could not be done. Lestat is strong, but there is interference in the area here. “I encountered static. Like phone lines being destroyed, never mind, just call us whenever you can. Take care of yourself. With your family, should not be a problem.”
Russet nudged me hard. His beady eyes said tell me or I won’t connect you anymore. I kicked his butt. “Bianca fallen asleep? Haha. Sorry. Is it fun there? All forest?” he said at last. “No I loved listening to you. yep forests all round, cept for a small beach.” “What Gabrielle would love. Could you,” the vamp exclaimed. Simultaneously the thought hit me! “Find her tell her to stay put? Yea, sure!”
“Stat I want Louis now. or Daniel if they are there.” “That hurts me so much! Man I hate ya, ok ok.” Louis came on. “Hi. You finished? So how was it? Sounded good from what I heard.”
I replied that it was up to discretion. Louis sighed. “I think not. It sounds weird to me no offence. Maybe when he’s full and okay. (laughing and chatting in the background) Those are Santino and Daniel.”
I was happy and at ease when I hung up after a few more minutes. Russet teased, “Your bf? Sounded like two, Louis and who again?” “None of your business. Ok ok, I don’t want to tell, but they’re my best buds. They’re about a hundred older than me, so no way.” He made a retching sound. A few of us gathered when I showed them photos. One was of my bro and Lestat together. “Cute!” my dolphin cousin cried, making kissy face. The curiosity was of why these people wanted old clothes, I just told them they acted part time. I gave the blond another name. I spent a month over there refreshed and happy. Bonding had always been hampered by technology. Idyllic places relaxed my mind. Still I missed my handphone and emailing. Ron was smart enough to run an old computer. The tricky thing was connecting to the Internet, old modem, no wires. Marcus and him got their brains together and conjured a plan. All phones were not operational. I had an idea looking at the gulls flying overhead. Call them to help me! I wrote a letter and tied it to a gull’s leg. Thank you. My friends will feed you. As shapers, we can ask our allies, and friends to help us. The stronger few can command animals but most of us prefer to request for assistance. Hello guys, I got an idea so I’m sending this by owl express. Everything is so different, zero tech and stuff. I didn’t see any woman mysterious figures here. Sigh. Better luck on your side! I will come home close to the 31st of the month. See you. Healthy and good, your daughter. I hesitated signing off as that. Should I raise their hopes? But even if Marc and I are not their children, their kind, I think I should leave it as that. *********** That was the first thing they queried when we met again. I came in at 4 and had a good long nap. So sleepy after the boat ride. My stingy dad didn’t want to book a plane! I woke at seven. Noise downstairs. I crept to the top of the stairs. “Bianca! You’re my daughter? Mine and Lestat’s!” Louis said, at the foot. His hair was short. Folded arms, smile that was a bit sly… I grinned. Lestat was outside. He looked as handsome, radiant. Maybe thinner. He glanced at me, blue eyes sparkling. Held up a bluebell flower. Yoohoo. I took it and smelled, watched some ants crawling inside. They carry the sugar bits to and fro. Lestat now examined other yellow and purple flowers. Why didn’t he hug me? “Did you sleep well?” he spoke quietly. Didn’t look at me. “Yes. Monsieur, um, I’m glad you got the note. The gull came here when?” He stroked a sunflower. His hair glowed in the little sunlight, glittery form. “On Monday,” Louis replied. I glanced at him quizzically. Come in. He wants alone time now. You must be starving. Louis touched my shoulder lightly. “Why is Stat so reserved?” I whispered. The other vampire prepared some of my food, fish fillet and noodles. I ate. “Your hair is much redder. And there’re feathers. Wow! I think he is affected by your comment of daughter. He just shoved me the note and disappeared into the piano room. He’s just come out today.” I touched the nape of my neck, some feathers sticking out. Louis’ green stare was full of surprise. “Hmm, this is a sign of my growth. My powers are stronger now, once more. I don’t know why. Gotta go to school to learn.” “All right.” Now Marcus bounced in, smiling. He had made some more wood animals. Louis worried he had cut himself but he said it was no problem. A penguin and a gull. Then Lestat was suddenly here. Marcus hugged him. The guy touched his brown hair and pressed his shoulder. “Hello. You’ve turned browner,” Stat commented. “Stat, hey. Want a taste?” I asked, holding up my spoon. It was potato and mushroom soup. Actually Hannah the cook had made it before she left today. He nodded solemnly and took a bowl. It was good that he drank up one entire bowl. He did not speak. I could not help but recall the strange dream encounter. The river, and the non blood tears. I followed him as he walked out. “What’s wrong? don’t be angry,” I called. Lestat laughed softly and stopped. His golden curls shifted slightly. “I’m not. we went to the river many times. Don’t you recall?” now his voice was low and monotonous. “But I signed on paper? You took it out from your sleeve! I don’t remember that,” I exclaimed. Lestat frowned in a clever way, gazed at me with some kind of mysterious awe. “ Do you want to go out later? I wanna catch an opera. Please come with me,” he addressed all of us. I was puzzled. After that, we dressed up and went. The incident was over. ******** The Armand agenda I could not like this red haired rival of the guys. I had an argument when Stat was low in spirit. He insisted that I liked this demon for no reason. And I worshipped him? Hey that was so uncalled for. Next chapter…
|
