Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Vampirism fit Daniel like a leather glove.

Two years after Dubai, Daniel had reached his peak. He published Interview with the Vampire, he gave interviews, podcasts, bibliographies and anything else the attention he received could buy. Including eternal life, of course. This, being given to him as a bloody and vengeful "parting gift" by the vampire Armand. No hard feelings, but fuck that asshole. Daniel has never seen his maker again since, having learned to deal with his new life after death thanks to the lessons in the book itself and of course, Louis' help.

So yeah, the nights of shaking hands and tiredness are over, and the nights of alcoholic blood and eternal life are here to stay.

Except the weather has been heavy lately.

Every day, he received more threats from other vampires, against him, against Louis, and against the rising rock star: the vampire Lestat. Man, he had to interview this vampire and make a sequel soon! But then, this heavy, mysterious cloud hung over him as well. Yes, the vampires were more agitated, even Louis cut off communication with Daniel altogether. For him, it doesn't matter, the dark-haired guy must be out there fucking the blond guy or something, but again, the bad feeling came. And there was a name, a whisper coming from the other side of the world: Akasha.

What was she? Who was she? He didn't know, he knew as much as the voices buzzing in the communication network that is the vampire mind, and only two things seemed certain: she was a potential threat and even the elders were worried.

But Daniel went on with his life, strolling through the empty streets of New York at three in the morning. Hand in pocket, cigarette against lips. He liked that breeze that announced an approaching autumn. The vampire walked the streets like a nomad, perhaps to release his own anxiety or, with luck, find a drug addict to satisfy his desire for another taste of ignorance. He hunted alone, of course, which made each night last even longer.

But then Daniel stopped, as he felt two presences following him. He was being watched, of course, by many immortals, mostly curious fledglings. But not this time, he could feel that ancient power nearby, enough to make the hairs on his arms stand up against the leather jacket he wore. There was no point in running away anymore, but he tried to ignore the presences. He walked faster, bumping shoulders with the few young adults and vagrants who wandered around Times Square. He heard whispers, footsteps, he was used to being watched from afar, but not like this.

Frustrated, he walked down an alley, turning toward the street, waiting in growing tension for the feeling to go away. But it didn't, and two vampires materialized in front of him. Young faces, old blood. They wore old-fashioned cloaks, as if they had come from the eighteenth century or something, they growled.

"Hey folks, if you wanted an autograph you could have just asked, I don't really like being followed" Daniel said, the cigarette fell from his fingers. He tried to appear calm, even though he had a feeling of foreboding - he had never seen another vampire other than Louis and Armand.

The two vampires exchanged glances. The one who seemed to be in charge spoke. "Daniel Molloy. Your recklessness will doom us all," his voice said gruffly, "We've been watching you for a while"

"Wait, you guys work for the Talamasca?" Daniel frowned, taking a step back as the vampires seemed to be cornering him.

The elder laughed out loud, "That bunch of inferior beings think they know anything. They don't. We work for the great mother of the damned" Another step forward, his dark gaze was mesmerizing, as if every word and step he took, made waves vibrate against Daniel's bones. "We will kill the agents of chaos one by one. Starting with you."

The two vampires hissed together, baring their massive fangs as they advanced on Daniel. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. He could fight, maybe he wasn't as strong as the old ones, and this the idea made his chest tighten with fear.

Daniel then quickly lost his breath as his lungs felt the impact he had against the wall. He was pushed, not by the hideous vampires, but by something else. His eyes widened as he watched three shadows move in the alley. This new figure came from above, probably jumping from the roof and, with one blow, decapitated one of the vampires. Blood ran down Daniel's face as within seconds he saw a head on the ground and a body without it standing, and then, before the body hit the ground, the figure was already on top of the other vampire, who was shaken and pinned against the wall.

Armand. It was Armand who Daniel saw pressing down on the vampire who was choking on his own blood, throat slit. Vibrant orange eyes stared into black ones, followed by sharp fangs that snarled at the pursuer's face. "Keep sending your friends and I'll kill them one by one."

Armand's voice was cold, menacing, drawling as their faces came closer, the cornered one gasped, and Armand looked at him in disgust, pressing his claws against his neck, making him scream in pain, forcing him to pay attention to the following words. Armand's bloodstained hand pointed at Daniel as he fought the vampire. "You're not to harm him. Daniel is under my care, the next one who comes to him will have to go through me, do you understand?"

The vampire groaned in pain, shaking his head rapidly. He had seemed so strong before, but now he seemed like a mere fly on a enormous web. The eldest of them growled and let the other go. The vampire looked at his decapitated companion beside him, muttered a curse, and crawled out of the alley, probably to warn the others. Daniel was almost shaking as he watched the scene. The world seemed to freeze, fuck these vampires, because his maker was standing in front of him.

Armand was fine, though the lines under his eyes made him look insane. His black curls fell perfectly over his face—just like in San Francisco, He was wearing a long black patterned coat and had an unreadable look on his face. Fuck, the last time his fledgling saw that look was when he was slammed into a wall in Dubai.

"Hello Daniel"

Daniel had a lot to say: where have you been all this time? Who are these? Who is this great mother? Were you following me? Why didn't you come before? You're a shitty maker. "I could handle them myself" the journalist replied angrily.

Armand smiled. Like he had never smiled in Dubai, even though it was shy and discreet. "I guess we'll never know now" the voice took on a sweet echo, each gesture making Daniel wonder more and more what the hell was going on.

There was an awkward silence, as Daniel watched his maker intently, seeing him through the vampire lens for the first time. Armand sounded so otherworldly. "Ask me, Daniel. I know you want to."

"Who were they?" Daniel asked, thinking that these would be the most basic question.

Armand tilted his head to the side. "Ask me what you really want to know"

Daniel frowned, fear returning to his body. He didn't say anything. The journalist without limits, risking his own life for a good story... didn't want to know the answer to the question 'are you here to stay?'. And maybe Armand doesn't deserve to be asked that question.

The older man stared at the fledgling for a few seconds, then reached into the hidden pocket of his own coat and took out a pack of cigarettes. Daniel watched suspiciously, his mind working quickly to try to understand what the hell was happening to the world and to him, the presence of his maker made him feel helpless. Fuck the vampire bond. The orange-eyed vampire smoked, lighting the cigarette with the power of his mind, generating a spark at the tip, just enough for the cigarette to be lit. Then he walked over to Daniel, who was still suspicious.

"Here, you'll need it, as long as you pay attention to what I'm about to tell you." Armand warned, taking the cigarette from his own lips and placing it on Daniel's. The fledgling has no idea why he accepted, pressing the wad between his own lips and drawing in air. That was new, whatever  the fledgling-maker thing was.

"Come" Armand said, turning to walk out of the alley and into the streets without thinkig twice before leaving the body behind. And he didn't even need to ask, because Daniel was pretty much on his maker's radar. He walked beside the other, smoking actually calming his nerves. Armand rested his hands in his pockets. A warm feeling filled him. For the first time in his life, the journalist said nothing, he just absorbed the strange sensation.

"I don't have the answers you seek, Daniel," Armand sighed between the brief silence.

"Then what the fuck are you doing here?" Daniel retorted, as it was easier to act defensive than emotional.

Armand shrugged, seeming to think about it, not to care. But he did care, and he knew exactly why he was there. "I know people who have answers, and who can offer us protection and even, perhaps, solve the imminent threat" He concluded, his voice not betraying his tension.

Daniel rolled his eyes, making a sound of disdain. "You mean Akasha? Who is she and why is she a threat? My Talamasca informants really messed with you"

"They're not from Talamasca, Daniel," Armand snapped. "They're vampires, powerful and potentially to blame for what's happening, whatever is going to happen. And yes, it has to do with her."

"Do these vampires have names?" Daniel continued with the mockery.

A smirk appeared on the older man's face. "Some have not yet crossed your path, Santino, Pandora, Khayman.." Armand sighed, face sad as if all the breath in the world wasn't enough. "Marius de Romanus."

"The name is not unfamiliar to me. Marius the painter?" Daniel frowned, flicking his cigarette so that the ashes fell to the ground. He kept walking, but noticed that his maker had remained standing where he was.

"Marius, my maker" He replied calmly.

That's when things started to get weirder, not that Daniel wasn't used to it. Another lie? Of course, he couldn't expect anything less from Armand. "Oh really? Didn't you say he was dead or something?" The journalist replied mockingly as he crossed his arms, and indeed, it was hilarious.

This seemed to hurt the vampire behind the orange eyes, that confused look of victim spreading across his face. "He was." Gaze drifted to Daniel's feet "Dead or something" Another sigh that wasn't very well received, but that didn't matter now, and feeling the other's distrust he had to be a little more insistent.

Armand took a step closer to Daniel, pupils dilating in despair. "I know I didn't give you any reasons, but I need you to trust me." He had barely finished the sentence and Daniel rolled his eyes, but he insisted. "They'll keep coming after you until they stop, because something much worse is coming. I need you to come with me, I need you with me before someone less desirable makes you this offer"

"And why should I?" Daniel retorted angrily, trying to ignore the slight sensation of Armand's fingers falling on his arms, uncrossing them.

"Because Daniel, you and I are vampires, powerful and potentially to blame for what's happening, whatever is going to happen" He spoke clearly. His hand was hot as hell, firm, and Daniel once again found himself unarmed.

"Who else is involved? Where would we go?" More questions, as it seemed like a comfortable mask.

"I fear that your friends Louis and Lestat are the epicenter of this chaos. We must find them and the rest of the Council in the Night Island, Florida"

Daniel raised his eyebrows, giving a wry chuckle. "You want to go to an imaginary island with your ex-lovers who happen to be together now, what the hell?"

"I don't want to, Daniel, I need to," Armand replied, patient with his fledgling's doubts, and that was fine, he always knew Daniel would be difficult to deal with. "And Night Island is my property, it's not imaginary. You've been there, but you don't remember it," he replied promptly, once again showing an offended face. No, not offended, maybe hurt? The journalist couldn't say.

Daniel's lips dropped open, trying to understand that sentence and what it meant, but before he could protest and curse that lying maker, he was interrupted. "We don't have much time, Daniel. I'll answer your questions when I can, and you'll have your answers when we meet them. For now, we need to go," he warned.

The vampires exchanged glances, the older one looked tired, having burned all the tape and good impressions he could have already made on the other. But this was too important to be ruined. "You have beautiful eyes," he murmured, sincere, miraculously sincere and embarrassed.

"The only thing I inherited from my maker I hope" Daniel retorted.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Armand's lips. "Let's go on my jet. That way you can.. rest. Beloved."

The last two words came blurred in Daniel's hearing, and he felt his soul momentarily unfold to a neutral place. A well-dressed Armand was looking at him saying the words, he heard glasses toasting? A fancy place?, but the vision was quickly gone, as fast as the fragments in Dubai once did. The vampire blinked hard, what the fuck was this again? Stunned, he felt the older vampire grab his wrist and pull him away through the streets. Disarmed again, he found himself following his maker, squinting to see if that fragment would come back to him.