February 2000
Title: Roses for the Marquise - Part 1/2
Author: DaMoyre damoyre@aol.com
Characters: Gabrielle and David
Rating: PGSpoilers: All books in the Vampire Chronicles up to and including The Vampire Armand
Disclaimer: This is a work of amateur fiction, not intended to infringe upon the copyrights of Anne Rice, Random House, Knopf or any other involved party.Authors Note: Special thanks to Stephanie, Lis and Mic.
Roses for the Marquise by DaMoyre
Part One
There were freshly lit candles flickering on the altar; the soft crisp of the wicks whispered throughout the chapel. The place was unchanged. All the saints were still standing there, of course. Saint Therese de Lisieux, with her soft expression. St. Joseph, peaceful and wise. There was St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Louis of France, the Regina Maria and the big Crucifix. Their shadows reflected on the white plaster walls, distorted by the little dance of the flames, the technicolor reflection of the street lights as it passed through the high windows of stained glass. It was a beautiful vision within the stillness and darkness of the building.
The mixed scent of burning wax and incense, of old wood and moisture, filled her lungs. And the soft essence of musk and death, the fragrance of the vampire who had been in the chapel last.
She walked carelessly, letting the heel of her old leather boots pummel the ground. It reminded her of home, in the long ago. How many a time had she entered the chapel in the LionCourt Castle, the tiny room of stone that had been designed for the Marquis and his family to offer their prayers? It had been plain and simple. Gray stone walls, a few candles lit by the altar. Nothing compared to St. Elizabeth’s majestic chapel, but a chapel in its own right. She was surprised to remember the old chapel to such great detail.
“Gabrielle?” a soft-spoken, British-accented voice interrupted her thoughts. The musk was stronger now.
“David Talbot,” she turned around to face him. Only a few feet away, immensely tall, broad shouldered, David Talbot. The Talamascan scholar. He took a few steps forward, and the streetlights transformed the silhouette into vision. Dark pants, cream-colored turtle neck, black hair, golden brown skin.
“I thought it might be you," David smiled. “but I wasn’t certain. The braid is not there tonight.”
“I thought I might do something different.” She took off the brown cap to reveal a short boyish style.
“It’ll be back tomorrow.”
“I know,” she replied softly. Her icy blue eyes met David’s. She held the cap in her hands, fiddling with the frayed ends.
“When did you arrive?” She wore the usual outfit. Ragged khaki and belt. Safari coat. Leather boots, mud all over them. She had spent the day somewhere underground.
“Night before last,” she walked over to a pew and sat down. “I’m only passing by.”
“How long will you stay?” David asked politely, wondering how long the conversation would last. Gabrielle had never before spoken more than a few monosyllables to him.
“How is Lestat?” She ignored his question and posed her own.
“He is well, Gabrielle. As well as can be expected,” he paused. She was no longer looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on the altar.
“Louis comes around often. As do Marius and Pandora. He’s really never alone. I stay with him.”
“You light the candles every night. What do you pray for, David?” She asked coldly.
“I don’t pray, Gabrielle. I simply keep the chapel.”
“You keep the entire place.” A hint of mockery in her voice.
“Well, no. We do have some cleaning help. They come once a week. They dust the statues, clean the glass--”
“I must go now,” she cut off his sentence and placed the cap back on her head.
“So soon?”
“I only wanted to know of Lestat.”
“Why don’t you stay? Your room is still empty.”
“No,” she stood up and waved her hand to decline. “As I said, I was only passing by. I’m leaving tomorrow.” She looked at David. “That answers your question.”
“If you’re leaving tomorrow, perhaps you should rest here during the day. No one will bother you,” David offered.
“Not even you, David Talbot? You are not going to ask me to tell you my tale?” She drew close to him. He could feel her cold breath on his face and her pointy fangs showed between her lips.
“I won’t if you don’t want me to,” he took a step back and raised his hand, “I Promise.”
“Thank you for the offer, David.” She backed away, realizing she had made David uncomfortable, but not really caring. “I have already made arrangements.”
“Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, Gabrielle.”
Her eyes met his once again, a blank expression on her face. “What?”
“Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.”
She couldn’t disguise her confusion this time. “Yes. I know. But I don’t understand. Why mention this?”
“I thought, that perhaps, we could celebrate... for a change.”
“Are you asking me on a date?” She looked at him in disbelief.
“No. Not a date, “ he quickly replied. “I’m asking you to stay in town for Valentine’s day and to come with me to the city. It would be interesting.”
“Interesting?” She shook her head.
“To celebrate a holiday, the way mortals of this era do. To mingle with the people on the street. To have fun.” his accent thickened.
Gabrielle sighed. “I don’t think so, David.” She slowly began walking towards the exit.
He followed.
“Why? When was the last time you had company? When was the last time you celebrated a holiday? When was the last time you had fun?” he said, catching up to her.
She stopped on her tracks and faced him. “Too many questions.”
“Ah, but you have not given a single answer, “ David continued. “Solitude is good for us all, Gabrielle. But sometimes, we do need the company. We all do.”
“That’s enough!” She hissed. “I really don’t need any lectures on companionship from you, David Talbot.”
“Who am I to lecture you or anyone?” He asked in his usual gentle, calm manner.
“Exactly!” She snapped, taking the cap off her head once more, tossing it to the ground.
“I wasn’t lecturing,” he paused to pick up the hat and held it out to her. “Amusing,” he chuckled.
“What is?” She snatched the cap from his hands, fixing her cold stare on him.
David threw his hands in the air, releasing the hat. “The way your emotions speak for you,” he continued. “The way your anger and pride take over you.” He looked at her keenly to see her reaction. She remained silent. “The way I can almost see Lestat when you speak. The arrogance, the passion, the fire that almost melts the icicle that surrounds you. You’re not made of stone, Gabrielle.” He motioned for one of the benches. “Shall we?” Much to his surprise, she assented. They sat down close to the exit.
“Arrogance? Passion? Fire? Ice? Is that what you see in me, David Talbot?“ A little laugh escaped her lips. She brought her feet up and rested them on the back of a pew. “Contradictory,” she uttered.
David stared at the filthy boots, resting on the recently polished wood.
“What?” she asked, innocently, knowing exactly what David was looking at.
“No, nothing,” he said, politely turning his eyes to the altar.
She sat back on the pew and gestured for David to continue. “Go on. I’m listening.”
He looked at her blankly.
“Contradiction,” she reminded him. “That’s what we were talking about.”
“Oh, yes,” David passed a hand through his ebony dark hair. “Contradiction. Isn’t that what life is all about, Gabrielle? Isn’t contradiction a part of every mortal being, every immortal, everything that surround us? Good. Bad. Darkness. Light. Heaven. Hell.”
“I believe you’re talking about balance now, David.” She covered her mouth with her hand to disguise a yawn. “And I don’t see the point of this conversation.” She added, and then stood up.
“I believe the point is to make you accept my offer for tomorrow night.” He rose to make eye contact and took her hand in his, hoping she wouldn’t retract. A delicate hand. Long, thin fingers. Soft, white skin, still warm from the kill. It was like holding the hand of a mortal woman. Only her fingernails revealed her true nature. Sharp, crystal-like, the claws of a predator. Remnants of dirt confirmed his suspicions; she had dug the ground to make her lair.
“And if I accept?” She removed her hand from his rather abruptly.
“It would be marvelous.”
“And what do you expect to get out of this rendez-vous, David?”
“A good time. A little bit of company. An interlude to the monotony of life as we know it.”
“Is that all?” She arched her eyebrows. “What else could I expect?”
“If you’re expecting me to tell you the story of my life, then this is but a waste of time.”
“I wouldn’t dare ask. I’m only asking you to accompany me to town, to celebrate this holiday of love and of friendship.” he cocked his head to the side and grinned.
“Perhaps you have picked the wrong companion for this,” her voice reflected a tinge bitterness.
“I think you are perfect,” he offered reassuringly.
“You haven’t been paying attention, David. Valentine’s day isn’t my kind of holiday. I’m not much of a romantic and never have been. I’m sure you know.”
“Gabrielle, we all have a romantic side to us. Deep within, we all do. You have just forgotten about yours for too long. Let us rediscover it.”
“I don’t think you will find what you’re looking for, David. You know nothing about me.” She said, a little defensively.
“We’ll find it. If you co-operate.”
She looked at him for a moment, “If I co-operate?” she repeated slowly.
“It would be hard otherwise.” David smiled.
She nodded.
“So you will come with me, then?”
“Perhaps.” she waved her hand.
“I won’t get you to commit, will I?” David gave her a hopeful look.
“Where are you planning to take me?”
“That would be a surprise,” he grinned.
“A surprise,” Gabrielle couldn’t restrain a smile. “Hmmm,” she rose her hand to touch her chin in wonder. “Now, out of curiosity I might accept.”
“So I will see you tomorrow?” his lips curved in victory.
“You will.” Gabrielle had given in at last. It was the curiosity that had made up her mind. But it was also the desire to break away from monotony as David had suggested. Perhaps she could even humor herself thinking that there was romanticism buried deep within her soul.
After all the years she had spent in the jungle, alone and in complete silence, now for the first time, she wondered if she needed the company. She wondered if there was something trapped inside of her. If indeed there was passion and fire, as David had said. But she had never needed anyone, in her mortal life or in the life after. Why all these questions now?
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here?” David’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“No,” she said. “I have already reserved a most beautiful room at the Bourbon Orleans.”
“Good choice! Rather classy. Fit for a Marquise.” he teased.
“It was supposed to be my last day here.”
“What time should I pick you up?” David was enjoying his success. A wide smile adorned his face.
“No,” she shook her head. “I will meet you here. Seven of the clock.”
David couldn’t object. Gabrielle walked out of the building with preternatural speed, so fast a human would have thought it was only the wind rushing by. So he had done it. He had a date with the Marquise.
He walked towards the altar and blew out the candles, the way he did night after night just before sunrise.
He was alone in the chapel again.
~Fin~
Please send comments to: DaMoyre@aol.com