Thursday, August 16, 2007

48: Chirac of the snow leopards

Choices of Nature Chapter 48

Chirac of the Snow Leopards

The day of Quinn’s phonecall about the snow leopards’ cure was one of the greatest in my life! My bro called me, I was in the shower then. I picked up the receiver.

“ Hello! Quinn here. How are you?”

“ I’m fine,” I replied, using my shoulder to clam the receiver, as I dried my hair.
“ My Leopard friends had kept some of it in a jar. They’re on the way with it. I’ve told Louis. Want to surprise Boss?”

I leapt into the air, exclaiming, “ Is it real? Am I hearing things?” Quinn reassured me I was not. “ FANTASTIC! Woohoo!” I squealed. I wanted to keep it a secret first.

When I hung up, I Sent Hi to Lestat. No response.

Three nights later, Louis said he had not seen Lestat since he went out two hours ago. I reached home late, about 8pm. Worrying and tantalizingly so… Lestat always left a note, this time he did not. Neither did he call me, or use mindspeak.

Quinn, can you find Stat? He’s uncontactable.------- I reached among the million signals and sought out the Blackwood vampire.

Yes I will. Got it, he’s coming back. Myself gonna touch down soon. Can I confirm your address again?

I confirmed it. I had barely spoken to the scholar to stay calm and collected, before Bratprince himself swept in. he smelled of the evening breeze, simply clad in a lace short sleeved top, a ribbon around his collar and dark pants. I kept my face straight, pounding excitement repressed, and held out my arms. The blond preter laughed, responding to my hug.

“ But you never initiate a hug, cherie.”

Louis stepped forward. “ We were worried about you. Couldn’t you at least call us when you’ll be late?” He clasped his master by the shoulder. Lestat said he would, sorry. He was in high spirits, the play was a huge resounding success! It had made him forget about his fatigue these weeks.

A group of signatures approached. Both of them sniffed the air. Louis smiled conspiratorially at me. I was not surprised, Quinn and Neferin, as well as four of the leopard people( her guards). Everyone had got here on a speed train. Acknowledging his little Bro was ok, but Stat switched to them, “ To whom do I owe this surprise visit? You saw me acting? That’s the only one ”
Everyone laughed. Lestat’s smile was mild and reserved.

Neferin, the leader of the group, and expert on Healing arts, came forward to greet him. Her skin was a light mocha, warm turquoise eyes. She was dressed in white priestess garb, gilded in golden ribbons. She shook Lestat’s hand. “ Good news awaits you.” Her voice was melodious and faintly Egyptian. Feet bare. Dark colored nails doubled as claws when their kind Changed.
Lestat colored and he gasped when the words hit him. “ Really? Mon dieu, I will recover! At last, I can get well!” We all got his purple colored messages of happiness. “ Thank you! Thank you!” this was repeated several times.

The exquisite white Chirac was like a small lily, the white very bright and pure. Some of it was to be boiled and drunk straight, some petals to be chewed. Stat ate some of the petals, which were awful, and drank a big mug of the concoction.

“Bianca, will you be my angel please?” he bade me, gradually sinking into sleep. I agreed to him yes. I did not realize when he had fallen asleep. His chest lifted up and down, cheeks suffused more. The hand in my grasp went cold. Quinn and Louis pried me away from him. My friend slept for a continuous succession throughout, day and night. I did not expect his recovery to be swift, for his condition had been serious. I put fresh flowers at the table when they wilted. To ensure my safety, the table was placed near the door.

Neferin said she was not sure when full recovery would commence. She only knew the patient would be lethargic after the dosage, but the length of time was unknown. The Chirac was very little-studied and the first time it had been tried in a vampire. If it worked, poison can be completely purged. So I did not expect any fast miracles.

While I replaced some flowers on the third, or fourth evening, Stat pretended to be still. I screamed when he moved. “ Artemis! What are you trying to do?” He looked disarmingly sly. His face had thinned, but other symptoms were gone.
I knelt on the bed and kissed his cheek. He chuckled. “See how I’ve healed. I don’t feel tired anymore!” Yep no more wounds and cuts on his chest.
Then I remembered the cautions of being so near a thirsting creature. His grey pupils reflected an animalistic desire for blood. I backed off quickly and shut the door. But not before I noticed that he was focused on the beautiful flowers.

Fifteen minutes later, Bratprince signaled with his vibrant purple that he was ready to bounce about. He looked warm and fully sated.
“ Old Boss is back,” the Blackwood witch greeted him. Full set of healthy white teeth.

Brat beamed back and hugged Quinn. I noted his thoughts on his shortness as compared to him. “ Son of a gun! Didn’t host ya proper that time, forgive me.”
“ It’s alright, come sit down. You shouldn’t overexert.”
Stat breezed he was okay, pushing away an errant strand. They talked a little while, catching up on other thigns. Neferin and her companion were a bit shy to talk to him, now that the cause was over. I told them to relax. They were opposite me.
The blond had come up behind me and bade them to sit down. “ How much? For the medicine?”
“ It’s already good that you’re well, Monsieur. We don’t need payment,” Neferin said.

Lestat overrode his annoyance at being declined and replied,” I’ll feel very bad if you don’t accept. I will always be grateful to your people. I won’t forget.” Sincerity rang in his rich voice, lowering the tone. Since they didn’t name a price, the vamp signed the cheque first.

“ Keep this. You’ll need the money for your people. It’s hard to forage in the mountains. You’ve many children, don’t you?” Stat said, holding it out. Neferin purred. Our bratprince wouldn’t allow them to leave without the fifteen million American dollars. Lestat reiterated that if the money could not be retrieved, they could just call him. The SnowLeopards still felt reticent in his charisma.

*******

Some more of these mysterious people. They seldom leave the mountains, except for important festivals. They have Apollo’s gift, speed and the famous knowledge on which herbs for sickness or injuries. Apollo also grants them power of the sun, should they feel cold, they can request for sun. “ Quinn contacted them. He was resourceful,” Louis informed him.

“ It was cool. I made a few friends.”
His master nodded, siphoning these facts and storing them quickly in longterm memory. I was so happy for him. Now Lestat could perform and do whatever he wanted, hey, go shopping with us again! The horizon seemed bright once more. Around eleven, near my bedtime, I said I wanted to see the view from his balcony. “ Sure, why not?”

I swung myself up easily, back to the space. Lestat leaned so that his arm supported me from falling off.

“ Careful.”
“ Yea ok. Aren’t you tired? The Chirac makes the people feel drowsy.”
Touched by my concern.
“ Later, I will,” Lestat said, “So how are you? Gimme an update.” I showed a quick runthrough of my life, befriending two not very pretty girls who had become my good friends, I got second in volleyball and how I looked forward to my birthday.

“ Oh when is it? I keep forgetting your birthday.” He searched for a pen and notebook. Another one, haha. Must have lost the previous one.
“ Dec 12.”
He apologized for not remembering. “ I won’t this year. Let’s have a great time. You’re mon ange. Deserve better.” I had often been forgotten, so I did not mind much.
Posted by Ireth Seregon :: 3:05 PM :: 1 Comments:

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