The Mother Of New Orleans: Part 1
by Anja K
DISCLAIMER: The Buffy characters belong to God, aka Joss Weedon. The Interview With The Vampire Characters belong to Anne Rice.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is the first fanfic I've written in a long while, and I'm really self-concious about it. I realize it's not as good as it could be, but I did the best I could under the present circumstances.
WARNING: This fanfic contains material which might be objectionable or disturbing to some readers. Hell, it's probably disturbing to most readers!
For violence, profanity, a little bit of sex and other adult topics, this story (albeit reluctantly) is rated R.
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Archivist's note: Having reviewed the content, I would rate the material at PG-13, as a caution to any younger readers.
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Thanks to all the people who helped me finish the fic: From beta-reading to giving me quotes. Couldn't have done it without ya!
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Part One
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The Mother Of New Orleans by: Anja K.
* * *
''Paris, September 1870. The city I'd always dreamed of. I was Creole, after all, and Paris was the mother of New Orleans. A universe whole and entire unto itself.''
Louis, Interview With The Vampire
* * *
Her soft steps on the cobbled street were the only sound; the ambiance was quiet and strangely eerie, for the only players in the scene were an innocent looking woman and a child who was the picture of uncorrupted girlishness.
The street lamp lighted the girl's angelic, blonde curls and porceinlike face. Her expensive, adult dress was in the highest fashion. Soft cries could be heard.
'' Momma '' She whispered. The woman's black hair tumbled over her shoulders and onto her white dress.
'' It's alright, dear. Momma's here.'' Her eyes seemed strangely vacant and childish; the girl's, however, seemed to possess a certain wiseness and maturity that only comes with age and experience which most people will never see.
'' Momma '' Claudia repeated, and Drusilla sat down beside her, softly stroking her hair.
'' My mummy used to drink tea with lemons. Then she fell, and little Anne laughed and the jam was all over the floor. So red '' Claudia thought. < I might as well have my supper now; there is no use toying with her. Someone has already had their fill. > She stopped listening, and slowly rested her head on Drusilla's shoulder, her neck right on level with the woman's fangs.
They stayed like that for a couple of silent moments, and to a passerby they might have looked like a mother and child hugging.
Drusilla sank her fangs into Claudia's neck just as she felt the girl's dig into hers. She drew back in shock.
'' You wicked girl '' She said, game face on. Claudia made a grimace. The ridges, the wrinkles, the ugly yellow eyes and teeth- they were nothing like the beautiful vampires she knew.
'' Your face but Lestat did say it was different for each one. You are a vampire, then?'' Drusilla stared at her.
'' You didn't go arg and get all scary! How come you didn't?'' Claudia looked at her for a second, then realized what she was talking about.
'' My name is Claudia,'' she started speaking as she would to a child of three, fully realizing the irony. The woman was at least twice her age.
'' And you don't go arg.'' Drusilla pouted, and Claudia sighed impatiently.
'' Are there others? Vampires, I mean. I'd like to meet some sane ones, please.'' Drusilla stood up, took her hand and led her home; happily chattering all the way. Even Claudia's annoyance couldn't mask her excitement at finding other creatures of the night. She just hoped the others spoke coherently.
* * *
William the Bloody stood in front of the full length, mahogany mirror and looked at the smooth, empty reflection. Angelus came up behind him and put his hand on the younger vampire's shoulder in a buddy-like manner, grinning broadly. William glared at him; Angelus knew he hated the mere sight of him, and only stayed because of Drusilla. They didn't say it but it was known; an unspoken, golden rule. William would stay and both love it and hate it; he would get to see and talk to his beloved, but during the lonely daylight hours, sounds of ecstasy from Angelus's bedroom would drive him insane.
Sometimes they were cries of pain; and it took every once of self-control in William's body not to go and tear Angelus's head off. He knew that he would get killed by the guards and that would be justifiable if Dru would only be free and happy. But she needed someone to take care of her. She was broken doll and it was all Angelus's fault, yet William could not condemn him for it. If she weren't insane, she wouldn't be his Drusilla.
She wasn't his, though; even though he had killed everyone she had ever loved, driven her to insanity and broken her physically and mentally, she still clutched to Angelus like she was stranded at sea and he was that last floating piece of wood. He had driven her to the edge of madness and she regarded him as the last shred of sanity in her life. He was her devil and her god; but to him, she was an old obsession who still held some interest.
He treated her like a doll; to be thrown away on a moment's whim. To Spike, she was to be worshipped and protected.
He heard her approach; he would recognize her footsteps anywhere.
'' Daddy!'' She called out to Angelus. He stepped back from the mirror and walked up to her; kissed her long and hard and bloodthirsty. He pulled away when she whimpered and a drop of blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth, while William tightened his fists. '' I 'ave a surprise for you '' She said is a singsong voice.
He twirled his fingers into her hair as he asked with a grin on his face,
'' What surprise, Dru?'' She stepped away, smiling broadly. In a grand gesture, she bid the girl to come in. Claudia stepped in the room, looking around with an expression that was part anxiousness, part anticipation and part excitement. Her eyes glittered as she took in the sight of the three vampires.
'' Finally '' She whispered, and turned to Angelus. It was as if she could sense that he was the leader, however much unwanted. '' I've searched for other vampires for so long. I have found you at last. How many are there?'' She asked in awe.
'' Hundreds. Here, have a drink.'' Angelus gestured to a lackey guarding the door, who disappeared for a few moments, then returned with a young girl. She was screaming and crying, and Claudia looked at her with contempt and a hint of jealousy. Stepping forward in her silk shoes, she grabbed her, then sank her teeth into her neck. Drinking hungrily, she released her, and the girl fell to the floor, still conscious and making a row about it. In an annoyed motion, Angelus broke her neck, and the lackey took her away.
'' She didn't go arg.'' Drusilla complained to Angelus. William watched it all from the corner of the room quietly.
'' I have someone you have to meet. I will be back.'' Claudia ran out of the room.
**** Louis stared out the window into the warm spring air and watched the cab arrive in a tremendous hurry, stop suddenly and Claudia run out and into the rented mansion. She seemed very excited about something, and Louis went to the front door to meet her.
'' Guess what, Louis?'' She yelled as she ran in the foyer. '' I have found them!''
He blinked in shock. There was no question about what she was talking about. After months of searching, after so many disappointments, she had succeeded!
'' Autres '' He said quietly, lapsing into French, as they were wont to do. ''What do they look like? Are they like Lestat?'' At the last word he made a slight grimace that fit his face. It was peaceful yet tortured; quiet yet passionate. The question contained a hint of worry.
'' I do not know, but... they are having a dinner party tonight. They have invited us.''
'' What are they like?'' Louis asked again, following her down the hall. She turned and looked at him, and said cautiously.
'' That are different, mon cher. In some ways, nothing like us, yet there is something. Something that connects us and binds us. Be it be our thirst for blood, or superiority over humans, I do not know.''
* * *
'' I began to believe we were the only ones. There was a strange comfort in that thought, for what could the damned really have to say to the damned?''
Louis, IWTV
* * *
The champagne glasses clicked and Louis noted that there were at least as many humans in the room as vampires. Angelus was pointing out the vampires in the crowd and Claudia and him were watching them.
'' Claudia... you are so pretty. Do you want to see my dolls? You would make a pretty doll.'' Drusilla addressed her and with a slow smile, led her away.
Claudia didn't struggle, partly because the insane vampiress was fascinating to her, and partly because Louis was so preoccupied with the other vampires that he was not really paying attention to her.
They came to a pretty, girlish room that had a sinister air about it. There was a doll collection at least as big as Claudia's. She touched one of the more expensive ones and looked at Drusilla.
'' They are beautiful. Did Angelus give them to you?'' The older vampire shivered.
'' Yes. He always does. That's miss. Edith. Sometimes,'' here Drusilla leaned towards her in a trusting gesture, '' she is a bad girl and I must punish her. She says things that aren't true. Wicked things... and she gets what's coming to her, yes she does. Naughty girls always do, Angelus says. I know...'' she trailed of, and Claudia frowned. What was she talking about? What did Angelus do?
'' What does Angelus do?''
Drusilla looked at her in a panic. '' Nothing... he saved me. He is my dark Angel.'' The girl felt a rush of pity for Drusilla.
'' It is all right, Drusilla. You are not a bad girl.''
* * *
'' What is the point of it all?'' Louis asked, his musical voice blending in with Mozart from the background. Angelus looked at him.
'' What do you mean? We are vampires. We are superior to humans; we are predators. We take what we will, do what we do. It is a blessed existence.''
'' So we just kill? That is it? '' Louis asked. '' There is nothing beyond that?'' Angelus smirked.
'' What do you wish? Heaven? Hell? *We* are the hell on this earth.'' Angelus said. Louis walked away, explaining that he wanted to get a glass of vine, when in fact, he wanted nothing more then to go to the mansion and talk to Claudia about his disappointment.
All of a sudden, a lean, handsome vampire that seemed to be in the background of the whole party came up to him.
'' Angelus is a bastard. He does not speak for us all.'' He said, then left.
Musing over the statement, Louis spied Claudia out of the corner of his eye. Quickly, the two left.
* * *
''Though the fire seemed to spread through the quarter, I stood on that deck, fearful he would come out again, from the very river, like some monster, to destroy us both. And all the while I thought; Lestat, you deserve your vengeance. You gave me the dark gift and I delivered you into the hands of death for the second time.''
Louis, IWTV
* * * '' So what is your opinion?'' Claudia asked as she sank down onto the plush velvet couch in the parlor. It was a room worthy of royalty; humongous, elegant windows covered by heavy, rich curtains, the walls covered with shelved books and art in gold frames and comfortable chairs that were works of art themselves . There was a grand piano, perfectly conditioned in the corner, though Claudia hadn't played since Lestat's death. It always brought on too many memories.
'' Angelus is.... possibly the biggest disappointment in my life.'' Answered Louis. She looked at him.
'' I pity Drusilla. He made her what she is.''
Louis spun around, a glass of red vine in his hands. '' What are you talking about?''
'' He did not brag? Why, he makes Lestat look like a nun!''
Louis frowned. '' Certainly there is no creature on this earth that could make Lestat look like a nun.''
She smiled. '' It is all his fault, you know. Why she is the way she is? He disgusts me.''
'' Oui?''
She gave him a strange look. '' There is no-one else that slanders him in Paris, but I hate him.''
'' Do not be so sure of that.'' Louis started telling her about the strange vampire that he had spoken to.
*** "For a little child she was, but also fierce killer; now capable of the ruthless pursuit of blood with all a child's demanding ."
Louis talking about Claudia, IWTV
* * *
The next night, they were at a party with Angelus and Drusilla again. Aside from them, there were only a few vampires there; the ball was being thrown by a big society widow. Claudia was the darling of the night; though everyone questioned why such a young girl was there, they gushed over her none the less. It was taking extreme self control not to kill every one of them, and she succeeded, thinking of how Lestat would be so proud. As soon as the thought entered her head, though, she forced herself to think of other things.
Looking around for the vampire Louis had described, her eye caught Drusilla. Vacantly running after Angelus, who in turn was pursuing a blonde, blushing young girl who could not have been more then sixteen. It looked like some sort of French farce, yet it was strangely painful to watch. Claudia wondered about her sudden fondness for the insane vampire. It could not be that she was anything resembling a mother to her; Drusilla was more of a child then her own self. Eerily, she reminded Claudia of herself, though her predicament was the exact opposite of Claudia's. Perhaps it was that she felt there was no-one on earth who could quite sympathize with the two of them. Louis tried, of course, being the loving vampire that he was, but he could not get it. Not that she didn't treasure their bond above all else, but this was something different.
'' That bastard '' She whispered as Angelus turned Drusilla away with an impatient gesture. Then, there was a voice behind her; full of anger, passion and hidden lust.
'' Someone else who feels that way, I see.'' Turning around, she saw him. There was not a doubt in her mind as to who the tall man standing behind her was. He had dark hair, much like Angelus', but he was lankier. Still strong looking, she could not determine the exact color of his eyes; brown, black, gray? He had strong cheekbones and a proud nose.
'' Claudia.'' She introduced herself, and he sat down in a chair beside her.
'' I'm William the Bloody.''
She regarded him with a smile on her face. ''And I take it you have a fancy for Drusilla?''
He looked at her with an ironic expression.
'' Then why not just take her?''
Angrily, the vampire explained. ''Do you think she would want to go? You've seen what he did to her. She wants to stay with her 'dark angel'.''
'' But once the sire is gone, they have no choice. You have to stick together.''
He frowned slightly. '' I've heard rumors about you and that... Louis of yours.'' Claudia laughed a bemused laugh at Louis being referred to as hers. Usually it was the other way around.
'' What do you wish to know?''
'' What happened. The whole story.''
'' Then you better sit down. It is a long story.'' She took a drink in her hand. '' Albeit an interesting one... it begins with a ten year old girl. A mother that had been dead for some time. But still, the little girl clutches to her mother's arm in the last desperate, childish hope that mamma will wake and all will be right again. The room is filthy and is filled with the stench of death, until a handsome man walks in. And she turns to him for help; she hugs him and cries. Until she feels fangs in her neck... and that, my dear William, is the end of the little girl. The next thing she knows she feels weaker then ever before, even when she had gone without food for three days because there hadn't been any.
Everything is rich when she wakes; the sheets, the bed, and there's even a maid. She is vaguely aware of some transformation that had taken place- all she knows is hunger. And the other good looking man, the one with the curls so much like her own, gives her the maid to feed on. At that moment, he becomes her mentor, her teacher. At that moment, the little girl is transformed into the thing you see in front of you.''
'' I never asked for it. But it happened, and I was cursed and blessed at the same time. My new fathers were different and similar. Lestat was aside from teaching me everything from piano to how to drink from the major arteries without spilling anything, not really caring. We played piano together and hunted together, sometimes even both at the same time. He wanted Louis to stay, and that was why I was made. Louis was just as he is now; my everything. He was my father and my friend and my closest companion. And so I grew up on the inside, but outside I remained a child. I lost interest in dolls and started wondering why I was so different. I wanted to change, to be a woman. But I could not . And then I found out what had happened. I asked Louis and he told me. He brought me back to that place where the corpse of my mother had been, where I'd died . And told me that they'd both did it.
'' Lestat was cold and cruel to me afterwards. He would not let us go and I would not stay. I was tired of him and I hated him; he had made me to make Louis stay and now, because of it, he would lose us both. So I killed him, and as he was dying I slashed his throat. The blood poured out . It was a lot of blood, and I am a vampire, yet it still frightened me. Me and Louis were free, however free to go. We decided to go back to the old world and look for others of our kind. The night we were supposed to leave, he came back. And he attacked us, but Louis saved us. He burned, along with at least half of New Orleans .and that is the end of the story. Lestat will not bother us again.''
William looked pensive. '' So what you are suggesting is that I kill Angelus.''
* * *
'' Though the fire seemed to spread through the quarter, I stood on that deck, fearful he would come out again, from the very river, like some monster, to destroy us both. And all the while I thought; Lestat, you deserve your vengeance. You gave me the dark gift and I delivered you into the hands of death for the second time.''
Louis, IWTV * * *
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