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Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Daniel 

Daniel arrived back at Trinity Gate flushed with blood from the hunt. He was keyed up and restless. He knew the house was empty but the echo of his own footsteps reverberating through the townhome’s cavernous foyer seemed to really rub it in. 

He’d opted to stay here alone, so he had no one to blame but himself. Armand and Marius had both implored him to come to Court when they’d left after a short stint in New York. Even Lestat had sent him a text joking that he needed his Court Stenographer. (Daniel was pretty sure Lestat had no idea what a stenographer was and had simply overheard the term while Louis was watching some crime drama on television.) 

But last time he’d been at Court, he’d felt overwhelmed by all of the immortals. Their presences hummed like light bulbs and their thoughts formed a cacophony he had to work hard to tune out. Doing so took a toll on him, not to mention an expensive pair of noise-canceling headphones and a whole box of ear plugs. After six months of it, he was exhausted and happy to remain behind in Manhattan for a few extra weeks. Get some alone time. Recenter. Good ol’ R&R. 

Now though, on week two of solitude, he was thinking maybe he would head to France after all. He hung up his sweatshirt on the coat rack and ambled over to the living room where the loading screen of the video game he’d been playing still illuminated the big screen television. He thought about diving in and killing more zombies.

But several things pricked at his awareness at once: a cold breeze from outside that shouldn’t have found its way down the hall; the smell of an unfamiliar person, their lemon verbena soap and sweat mingling into a strange odor; and the fact that a light was on somewhere deeper inside the house. 

Daniel stood stock still, reaching out to see if another immortal was, in fact, there. Armand was usually good at giving him a heads up about any guests. As it was technically the New York Coven House, a safe haven, others might occasionally stop by.  Perhaps someone had made their way inside while he’d been out. Except he didn’t get a sense of any immortal presence. 

Nor did he hear a heartbeat or any sounds that would indicate a living person. So maybe someone had been here and then gone. Maybe the housekeeper had changed her soap and left a window open and Daniel simply hadn’t noticed earlier while he’d been embroiled in his game. 

He walked deeper into the house and found one of the French Doors that led out to the garden was open a few inches, as if someone hadn’t closed it all the way. He opened it wider and stepped outside. The air was cool and mildly humid, but nothing in the garden looked amiss. He closed the door, making it sure it latched, and then locked it for good measure. 

Now that the door was closed, the odor of soap and sweat became more potent, and it was mixed with a hint of blood. Daniel frowned, his pulse racing. He followed the smell down the hall, to the little den at the back of the house. 

There, on the floor, lay a body. 

Daniel stared down at it for a long moment. He rubbed his eyes and when he opened them, the corpse stubbornly remained. 

Its bone-white limbs were bent at unnatural angles, as if the body had been dropped in a heap. Daniel bent down and touched one of the arms lightly. Just warm enough that he could tell this person had died in the last couple of hours. He swept hair off the neck and spotted the unmistakable mark of fangs. There was a tiny drop of blood on the white collar of the corpse’s t-shirt, and another, oddly, on the thigh of their khaki shorts. 

If no other immortals were around, where had this dead person come from? Surely he hadn’t… No. He wouldn’t go down that road. He wasn’t mad anymore. There was a time he might have been confronted with the corpses of people he'd killed and have no memory of doing so, but it was long since passed.

Besides, he remembered hunting with total clarity. He could account for all his time tonight. He’d popped into a local night club and indulged in enough Little Drinks that he was buzzing. He could still feel the alcohol-tinged blood rushing hot through his veins.

He turned the body over and stared at its lifeless, slack face. He didn’t recognize them. A tiny rush of relief shot through him. Surely if he’d killed this person he’d remember their face!

But then who had done it? Had someone come back from Court and decided to play a heinous, misguided prank on him? 

He pulled out his phone and swore. It was daytime in France. Everyone who might help talk him down from the spiral he could feel starting was in the throes of death sleep. 

His stomach churned. The cloying smell of the dead person and their lemon verbena soap was making him nauseated.

What would Armand do? He’d hunt down the bastard who’d left a corpse in his house and show them no mercy. So that was what Daniel would do. 

But first, he had to get rid of the body. He couldn’t leave it for the housekeepers to find in the morning. He took several photographs of it on his phone from various angles. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe to prove to himself later that it had been here at all, that it wasn’t some strange delusion. 

He was sane, goddamn it. This wasn’t his doing or his imagination. This was the fucked up act of someone who was going to be sorry. He slid his phone back into his pocket and then went and got some spare sheets from the linen closet. He wrapped the body and carried it out of the house, grateful that none of the neighbors seemed to be awake at this hour. He put the body in the back of Armand’s SUV and drove. 

He blasted The Clash to drown out all of the worry in his mind. But he kept his awareness extended out in an attempt to sense the presence of any other immortal who might be nearby. Nothing pinged his mind. 

Once the body was disposed of, he headed back to the massive townhouse, but it no longer felt like a sanctuary. It had been violated by some unknown attacker, who’d left the body there for inexplicable reasons. Had it been meant to scare him? A bad joke? His own forgotten kill? 

No, not that, he was certain. Wasn’t he? 

Yet he couldn’t begin to guess why anyone else would leave a body there. He paced the halls of the massive mansion, but he didn’t find any clues. 

He went upstairs to the room he shared with Armand but suddenly the security door and locks for the room didn’t feel like enough. He changed into pajamas and then headed downstairs. 

On the landing, he realized he should alert Marius and Armand to the situation. He’d been debating that since he’d found the body. It would worry them. He wanted to deal with it himself. But after what had happened last year with Rhoshamandes and the kidnappings, it seemed prudent to let them know. If something happened…

His hair stood on end. Perish the thought.

He sent a group text to Armand and Marius with a photo of the body and the caption “Someone left us a present at Trinity Gate. Call me after sunset.” 

Then he typed in the code on the keypad that opened the cellar. The cellar was far more secure, with a steel door that even a wily immortal couldn’t break into. And it housed plenty of rooms, including one made specifically for Marius with a door so heavy that even Daniel couldn’t open it manually and would only release with the right code. Daniel went inside it and secured the door. He felt marginally better there, though suddenly he loathed that he was alone. 

He crawled into bed, images of the corpse flashing in this mind. He remembered his fangs in flesh tonight but those people had been a dance club and he’d left them all alive. If he’d come home with someone and killed them, why would he have left again? 

No, him being the killer made no sense. But he’d had blackouts and done inexplicable things in the depths of his madness. And he couldn’t shake the fear that somehow he was responsible, impractical and unlikely though it was. He kept turning the thoughts over in his mind, reaching no conclusions. All he could do was wait for the sun to drag him down into unconsciousness. 

Interlude 1: Armand

Marius was already awake and gone when Armand was finally released from the sun’s grasp. He sat up in the large bed, the red velvet bedding draped over him. 

It had been the first time all week that he’d slept in Marius’ chambers, but they’d had a surprisingly pleasant evening together, sitting by the fire and watching old movies. They shared kisses tinged with blood before falling asleep in each other’s arms and it felt so much like the eternity Armand had pictured once upon a time. 

Marius came into the bedroom and his expression stopped Armand’s heart. He looked worried, his features drawn and hard. His jaw was set in a tight line.

“He cannot answer his phone yet but that doesn’t put my mind at ease.” 

Armand frowned. He didn’t know what Marius was talking about but there was only one person they both cared dearly for who was absent from Court and in a time zone where it was currently afternoon. His heart pounded against his ribs. 

“What’s wrong?” Armand asked.

“You didn’t see?” Marius gestured to the night stand, where Armand’s phone lay silenced. He hadn’t even thought to look.

He snatched it up and saw the message alert. Daniel. If he could send messages, he was okay. He had to be okay. Trinity Gate was a safe place. 

He pulled up the message and saw the photo of the body splayed out on his hand-woven rug in the back den. Confusion washed him over. Why was there a body inside the house? He read the caption to Daniel’s message, which didn’t clarify much. Someone else left the body, it seemed. A threat? Had to be. 

He looked up at Marius, whose expression remained tortured. He was texting, probably Daniel, who had no hope of responding until the sun released him.

Armand threw the covers off and got out of bed. He enlarged the photo Daniel had sent, looking at every detail but the body gave away nothing. 

Armand sent a flurry of text messages: “What time did you find the body? How long were they dead when you found them?” He knew Daniel was incapable of replying but the silence from his end was maddening. 

“Is anyone else from Court in New York?” Armand asked Marius. 

Marius looked up and then shook his head. “Not so far as I’m aware.” 

Armand picked up his pants from the floor and slid them on. He pulled on his shirt. “We should pack.”

“Pack?” Now Marius frowned.

“If someone is threatening Daniel, we cannot leave him there alone. I’m going to retrieve him. And then I’ll hunt down whatever ignorant fool who had the audacity to mess with my house.” 

Marius’ expression shifted. It meant something but Armand wasn’t sure what. Ice squeezed Armand’s heart like a vice.

“I’ll have one of my planes readied. It will take a few hours. We’ll speak to him when he wakes. We may already be in the air by then.” 

“Armand—”

 “Don’t you dare. Daniel might be in danger. And if it is some kind of joke, whoever played it will quickly learn it’s not funny.” 

Marius’ face fell. “We have to consider the possibility that it was Daniel.” 

Armand scoffed. But a cold uneasiness snaked through him. “He’s not stupid enough to do such a thing.” 

Marius was silent. Armand’s throat constricted. He didn’t have to read his mind to know what he was thinking.

“He’s better,” Armand insisted. “You said it yourself, there are no more shadows in his mind.” 

Marius turned away, glancing down at his phone, and sighed heavily. “He remained behind because he’s been getting overwhelmed here, isn’t that so?” 

Armand pressed his lips together. That was true. But becoming little overcome from being surrounded by vampires hardly signaled such a decline in his faculties. 

“Needing some time alone is no indication he’s going to start doing things like this.” Armand gestured to the ghastly image on his phone. 

Marius clenched his jaw. Armand resisted the urge to throw his phone at him. 

“Daniel is fine,” Armand said. 

“Yes, I’m sure he is,” Marius agreed. “And even if…”

Armand glared so hard that Marius trailed off. He walked up to Armand and put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “If he has slipped backward, if he did this and does not remember doing it, it only means he will need time to recover once more. Daniel is resilient.” 

Armand felt the sting of hot tears in the corners of his eyes and took in a shuddering breath. He nodded and glanced at the time on his phone. It was going to be a long night until the sun set in New York. 

Daniel: 

Daniel awoke to several missed calls and over two dozen text messages. Marius and Armand were both frantic in their own way, Marius insisted Daniel call him the second he awoke, while Armand’s texts asked for details, projecting a calm Daniel doubted he felt. 

Daniel got out of bed. He climbed the stairs and paused at the cellar door, reaching out with his mind to see if anyone else was in the house. He didn’t sense anyone, immortal or otherwise. He opened the door cautiously, as if someone might jump at him anyway. No one did. 

And there was no weird smell, no door or window left open to let in a breeze. As far as he could tell, only the housekeepers had been and gone. 

Still, he made a quick round of the first floor while he called Marius, who answered immediately. 

“What happened?” he demanded. 

“Hell if I know,” Daniel said. 

“Daniel.” Armand’s voice. Great, he was on speaker. At least he wouldn’t have to repeat himself. 

Daniel sighed. He opened the door to the kitchen and stepped inside. The Trinity Gate kitchen was large enough to service an entire restaurant, with high-end stainless steel appliances and marble countertops. A giant island filled the center and Daniel walked past it, running his free hand over the cold marble as he spoke. 

“I went out last night to hunt,” he said. “When I got back, there was this smell…” He remembered it perfectly, the cloying scent of the lemon verbena soap. “It was unfamiliar. But no heartbeat, no presence of an immortal. I found the body in the den by the garden. It was drained of blood and must have been put there while I was out.” 

Saying it now felt strange. He’d been wigged out last night but now, it almost felt like a dream. If not for the photos, he might not be sure it had happened at all. 

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Daniel opened the door to the walk-in pantry which was largely empty, save for some cleaning supplies, a few random boxes of crackers, and a stray can of Campbell’s soup. He closed it. 

“Well?” Daniel asked. 

“You went hunting last night?” Marius asked, voice strained. 

Familiar irritation pricked at Daniel’s skin. He knew Marius had to ask, had to cover his bases. It still rankled him. 

“Yeah, I went to that new night club, Green. Armand has been there.” 

More silence. He could practically picture them exchanging worried looks and it made his stomach roil. He left the kitchen and went through the back foyer to the den where he’d found the body. You’d never know it had been there now. The housekeepers had vacuumed, even, so the carpet looked brand new. 

He continued his walk out the living room, which looked just as he’d left it last night. 

“How much did you drink?” Armand asked. Daniel laughed. It was like when he was mortal and Armand wanted to know just how drunk he was. 

“Enough,” Daniel said. “I was good.” 

“And you didn’t sense anyone odd at the club?” Armand asked, thankfully pressing forward past the ‘were you so hungry you killed a person in my house’ portion of the conversation. 

“No. I haven’t sensed a single immortal since you both left.” 

Marius started to ask another question but Armand cut him off. “And you’ve been locking up.” 

Daniel rolled his eyes. “No, Armand, I leave the front door wide open and put up a sign that says, ‘Free Corpse Dumping.’” 

“Don’t be difficult, beloved,” Armand said at the same time Marius said, “This isn’t funny.” 

Daniel smiled despite himself at how they were talking over each other. Things had been better between them lately and he was happy to see them mending their fences. “I know it’s not funny. I’m just not sure what the hell is going on. Unless leaving exsanguinated corpses in someone’s house is some ancient vampire tradition no one told me about.” 

“It’s not,” Marius said, words so tight Daniel could picture his jaw clenching. 

“We’ll be there soon,” Armand said. “We’re heading to the airfield now. I’ve already had the plane prepped.”  

Relief spread through Daniel’s chest. He hadn’t realized just how badly he wanted them to come. He could deal with this himself—hunt down the intruder, teach them a lesson. But he wasn’t going to argue with having help. 

“I’ll see you soon,” Daniel said. 

He did a round of the second and third floors, and even the roof, just to ensure nothing was amiss. Then, satisfied no more bodies had been unceremoniously deposited in the house, he went downstairs and sat down on the sofa to wait for Armand and Marius’ arrival. 

Chapter Text

Daniel: 

Daniel sat on the sofa, the television playing on the big screen. It was on the home improvement channel, so Daniel sat through several episodes of couples bickering about wallpaper and kitchen tile, only vaguely paying attention.

He didn’t go out to hunt, didn’t dare leave. That felt too risky. If someone was watching the house and waiting for another chance to drop another body, he wouldn’t give it to them, not with Armand and Marius on the way.  

So instead he waited, the television droning on about vinyl flooring and knocking out walls to open up the space. Daniel’s mind spun, trying to imagine who might have left the corpse and to what end. 

When the door opened, Daniel jumped up, heart pounding. Armand was beside him a second later, touching his face and his arms, as if checking him for injuries. His auburn hair was its natural length and he wore a sweatshirt and jeans, the kind of clothes Daniel so often wore. Marius was behind him, relief painted all over his face, his blond hair tied up in a messy knot to keep it out of the way, his blue eyes sharp. They looked like a pair of avenging angels come to the rescue. 

Armand pressed his lips to Daniel’s cheek and then he hugged him, squeezing him tight.

“Hey,” Daniel said to him and then he met Armand’s eyes, which were full of worry. 

“You’re cold,” Armand said. “You haven’t fed.” 

Daniel shrugged. “I didn’t want to leave in case…” He trailed off. It was only when he looked back to Marius that he realized his mistake. Not feeding was something he’d done when he was unwell, even as he’d started to come back to himself. He’d refuse or forget and the lack of blood would only exacerbate his symptoms. And Marius would look at him exactly the way he was looking at him now, full of concern.

“I figured I’d wait for you.” He looked at Marius as he spoke. 

“You know what forgoing blood does to you,” Marius said, tone admonishing.  

Daniel swallowed a sigh. “I can go longer now. I’m okay.” 

The fact that Marius didn’t look convinced was a stab to his heart, and worse, Armand looked uncertain, too. Daniel tore out of his grasp.

“So what’s the plan?” he asked.

Armand took his hand in his and squeezed. 

“Let’s go over what happened,” Marius said. 

Daniel nodded. He pictured walking them through the events of last night like a real estate agent on the house hunting shows. And this room off the garden is perfect for dropping your spare corpses. He laughed. Armand and Marius exchanged a look that he didn’t like. 

Daniel swallowed. He walked over to Marius and gestured to the foyer behind him. “ I came in the front door, the alarm was off. I smelled this strange soap and sweat but no one else was here. So I came through the house.” He walked, passing the living room. Marius and Armand followed him down the hall until they cam to the back foyer, with the French Doors that led to the garden. The kitchen was on the right. The den was down the hall on the left. He touched the French Doors. “This door was open a few inches. I think this is how the person got in.” 

He then walked to the den and gestured to the floor. “And this is where I saw the body. The person had only been dead a couple hours at most. They were completely drained of blood.”

Armand bent down to examine the carpet, probably to check for blood stains. Marius stared at him, watching as Armand’s hand smoothed over the rug. He stood. 

“It is possible the culprit came in through the garden. An immortal could scale the wall,” Armand said. “A human robber did once. Louis dispatched him.” There was an unmistakable note of pride in his voice. 

“But why would anyone do such a thing?” Marius asked. 

“That’s what I want to know,” Daniel said. 

Armand stared at the French doors.

“You said you went hunting at a club. How many little drinks did you have last night?” Marius asked. His tone was casual but his blue eyes burned. 

Daniel’s stomach churned. “I told you, it was plenty.”

“And you’ve been hunting regularly?” Marius pressed.

Daniel ran his fingers through his short, ashen hair and tugged at the strands. “Every night. I know what you’re thinking—what you’re both thinking—” He glared from Marius to Armand. “But I didn’t do this. Someone is fucking with us.” 

He was sure of it. Every moment of last night was accounted for in his mind. There was no fuzziness, no missing time in which he might have done such a thing. Blacking out came with strange gaps, like holes in his brain. He didn’t have any of those. 

Armand titled his head and then beckoned him with his hand. “Show me, beloved.” 

Daniel stared at the line of his throat, his russet curls spilling over the pale skin. He walked to Armand and pressed his body against him. Armand put a hand in his hair, urging him down to his neck. Daniel nuzzled him, taking in the scent of him: a floral cologne mixed with the unmistakable smell of Armand: cold and earthy, like old stone. He scraped his fangs against Armand’s skin and then pierced his throat. 

His blood was thick and velvety, heady as it filled his mouth and burned down his throat. After a moment, Armand eased him back. Daniel gasped at the loss of the fount, both still coating his mouth. 

Armand’s fangs plunged into Daniel’s throat. As he drank, he felt the soft but unmistakable pressure of Armand in his mind, a feeling that had been so familiar between them when he’d been mortal and Armand didn’t need the blood connection to read his thoughts. 

Daniel forced himself to remember last night, to help bring the thoughts to the surface and make it easier for Armand to see it all play out: the video game, deciding to go out, the night club, and coming home to the corpse. 

Armand pulled back and kissed him. Daniel’s tongue probed his mouth, licking up the blood, desperate and needy. When Armand pulled away from the kiss, he patted Daniel’s cheeks affectionately with his ring-laden hands and then looked at Marius.

“It’s as he says,” he reported. 

Daniel shoved down his irritation as much as he could. After all, even he himself had doubted it. “So do you believe me now? Because I’d really like to move on to the part where we catch this bastard.”

Armand slid his hand down Daniel’s arm and squeezed just above his elbow. “You and Marius should go back to Court.” 

Daniel blinked at him and then looked to Marius, who folded his arms across his chest. 

“We cannot leave until we learn who’s responsible,” Marius said. “If there’s a threat here, it’s a threat to all of us.” 

“I’ll take care of it,” Armand said sharply. 

“No way,” Daniel said. “I’m not leaving you here with some unhinged prowler on the loose.” 

Armand gave him a level gaze. “Daniel, I am perfectly capable—”

“I know you are,” Daniel said. “But I can help. We both can. Besides, we don’t know what their goal is or how many of them there are… There are too many variables. It’s better if we stick together.” 

“Daniel is right,” Marius said. “Until we know what we’re dealing with, we cannot make assumptions. And it’s fool-hardy to leave one of us alone in the path of danger.” 

Armand and Marius stared daggers at each other for a long moment. Marius’ face softened slightly and he spoke so softly, his words were barely audible: “I will not lose you. Either of you.” 

Armand’s expression remained hard but he turned away. Daniel figured he was thinking the exact same thing.

“No one is losing anyone,” Daniel said. “That’s why we’re all going to work this out together. Got it?” He directed this at Armand, who finally nodded, though he didn’t look happy about it. 

Armand opened the French doors and went out into the Garden. Marius and Daniel followed as Armand walked the perimeter. A potted plant was knocked over near the back wall and Armand righted it. 

They went back inside and into the living room. Daniel flopped onto the sofa. Armand sat next to him, practically in his lap, petting his hair and staring off into the distance. Marius stood like a statue at the edge of the room. 

“I wish the body were still here to examine,” Marius said.

Daniel opened his mouth to protest but Marius held up a hand. 

“I understand the need to dispose of it. That was smart.” 

Warmth spread over him. He’d been feeling on edge since finding the corpse and it was nice to be told he hadn’t entirely fucked things up. 

“I took more photos,” Daniel said. He pulled them up and then held out his phone for Marius. Armand snatched it from him first. He leaned back on the sofa and scrolled through Daniel’s photos, enlarging them and examining them carefully. Marius came over behind the sofa and studied them over Armand’s shoulder. 

“Well?” Daniel finally asked.

“On those wretched procedurals Louis is always watching, they would find out who the dead person is first,” Armand said. 

Daniel snorted. “Great, so we’re going to take our lead from Columbo?” 

“It’s unlikely they were anything but a random victim,” Marius said gravely. “And if I recall, you seem to enjoy Columbo.” 

“Yeah, well, at 3 am, dubbed in Portuguese, it makes for solid entertainment,” Daniel said. Marius ruffled Daniel’s hair and he laughed, pulling out of his grasp and swatting his hand away. Armand stared at them, annoyed, or at least, he was trying hard to look annoyed. Daniel reached over and ruffled his hair and Armand glared. 

“If you’re not going to take this seriously, then perhaps you should go back to the Chateau,” Armand said stiffly. 

“Spoilsport,” Daniel muttered. 

Armand sighed. He handed Daniel’s phone back and stood, heading for the front door. 

“Where are you going?” Daniel asked.

“To see if the neighbors saw anything,” Armand said.

“Now? It’s the middle of the night.” 

Armand grinned at him. “Yes. And their minds are far easier to rifle through while they sleep.” 

Armand:

It was only when the door shut behind him that Armand allowed himself to fall apart. Not much. Only a little. A moment of weakness where he exhaled deeply and let the terror wash over him, icy and frigid. 

Daniel was safe. 

Daniel was not mad. 

Daniel was alive and well. 

Daniel did not loathe him. 

And Armand would destroy whomever had made him doubt any of those things—even if only for a second.

He slunk into the shadows and began reaching out to the minds of the people who occupied the neighboring houses. 

Daniel: 

Armand returned just as the pull of sunrise was starting to tug at Daniel’s awareness and the grogginess was setting in. Marius was sitting next to him on the sofa, studying the photos of the corpse as if they might reveal some secret while Daniel played Solitaire on Marius’ phone, his head resting on Marius’ shoulder. 

Armand told them that one neighbor had heard something in their yard last night, probably around the time the culprit was climbing the wall to dump the body, but unfortunately no one saw anything and the mortal didn’t even know what he’d heard. He’d assumed it was the raccoon who’d been skulking around the neighborhood. 

“Either this person was undetected, or they were able to use the Mind Gift to ensure no one remembered them,” Armand said darkly. 

Daniel yawned. Marius traded their phones back and then stood, pulling Daniel to his feet.

“This one needs to get to bed,” Marius said. 

Armand did not quite roll his eyes but he gave Marius a wry look. “He’s perfectly capable of getting himself to bed.” 

“Gentlemen, please, there’s enough of me to go around,” Daniel deadpanned. 

Armand did roll his eyes then. He stepped forward and reached for Daniel, leading him toward the stairs.

“We should sleep in the cellar,” Daniel said, suddenly more awake. 

Armand frowned. But then nodded. He gave Daniel a soft kiss on his cheek. “You two go. I’ll secure the house and meet you down there.”

Marius led Daniel down to the room where’d slept last night. He hadn’t bothered to make the bed and Marius didn’t bother to comment on it. He simply helped Daniel out of his shoes and jeans, though Daniel didn’t really need the help. He was a little groggy but not incapable of undressing. 

Armand appeared with a pile of clothes. He handed Daniel a pair of pajamas and Daniel smiled. They could all sleep naked, of course, and did sometimes, but Daniel liked the feeling of the soft, hand-made Italian pajamas Armand had bought for all of them. 

He crawled into the big bed and watched as Armand and Marius also traded their clothes for pajamas. 

“We can go to the vampire bar in New Jersey tomorrow,” Armand said. 

It was the nearest one that was part of the vampire connection, and perhaps there, someone might have information about a rogue corpse-dropping immortal. Daniel nodded, his eyelids heavy. Armand gave him an affectionate look.

“Sleep, Daniel. We’ll solve this soon enough.” 

Daniel lay back on the pillow. He was dead to the world in minutes. 

Marius 

Marius came to consciousness with an odd heaviness in his chest. He’d been dreaming that he was running through a rainforest being hunted by shadowy figures with spears. He gasped for oxygen, filling his dead lungs, and sat up. Beside him, Daniel lay unconscious, one arm extended out over his head, his short blond hair messy against the pillow. Armand was curled against him on the other side, his head on Daniel’s chest and arm wound around his middle. 

Marius smiled to himself. He wanted to bask in this peaceful moment. He lay on his side and wrapped his arm around Daniel, hand landing on Armand, and drifted off into a mortal sleep. 

Marius jolted awake, unsure how long he’d been out. It was the presence of another immortal up above them that had woken him. He tore out of bed and flew up the stairs. He heard the door bang open at the back of the house. He ran toward the French doors and flew up over the garden wall, searching below for any sign of the marauding immortal. 

He followed their trail to the park across the street, scaring a woman walking her dog and a couple carrying take out containers. He pursued the shadow until it vanished at the other end of the park and was gone. Their presence faded away, disappearing into the night like smoke.

When Marius returned to Trinity Gate, Armand was awake and staring at the wall in the hallway. The smell of blood permeated the room and Marius saw why: a human heart had been pinned to the wall with a dagger. Blood dripped down the alabaster paint and onto the floor below, forming crimson pools. Armand turned when Marius approached, his eyes big and brimmed with tears. 

“Master, you’re here.” Relief filled his words. He wrapped his arms around Marius and held him tight, pressing his face into his chest. 

“I caught the trail of the immortal,” Marius said, smoothing Armand’s hair. “But I lost it.” 

Armand sniffled and pulled back, wiping the blood tears from his face. His expression was raw and full of pain and Marius gathered him in his arms again, holding him fast. 

“I thought you’d been taken,” Armand said, his voice small. Armand loathed being compared to a child but sometimes Marius could only see the boy he’d known and loved so long ago. 

“I’m all right,” Marius said. 

Armand nodded and pulled away from him, gesturing at the gruesome display on the wall. 

Above the bloody heart were words written in blood: “My turn.” 

Marius frowned. “What does that mean?”

Armand shook his head. “But when I saw it and you were gone…” He shuddered.

After his kidnapping last year, Armand thought he’d lost him for good. Now he’d clearly thought so again, albeit for only a few moments. He put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “At least we know for certain this isn’t Daniel’s doing,” Marius said.

Armand titled his head. “Did you still think so?” 

Marius shrugged. He didn’t want to doubt Daniel’s sanity, but the whole situation had been so strange. Daniel having a temporary black out and killing someone without remembering was not unheard of. Marius had witnessed him do worse and forget it all when he was in the depths of his madness. Armand had not seen him in such an unhinged state. 

Though admittedly, it would have been strange for Daniel to have slipped so far back into insanity only to seem perfectly normal again, but he hadn’t been able to rule out the possibility. Until now, of course. 

“Where did you chase this scoundrel to?” Armand demanded. 

Marius told Armand the approximate area where he’d lost the trail. Armand nodded solemnly. “Let’s get dressed. We’ll go there first, see if we can sense them, and then head to the vampire bar.” 

“Jesus fucking Christ.” Daniel had emerged from the cellar and was staring at the heart pinned to the wall. “What the hell is that?” 

“A gift from our secret admirer,” Armand said wryly. 

Daniel snorted. “I hope they left a gift receipt.” 

Armand smiled faintly. Marius looked from him to Daniel and shook his head. They shared an oddly morbid sense of humor, but Marius was relieved to see them both smiling. He himself could only remember Rhoshamandes’ anger and fury, his determination to hurt them all, and he wondered if this new foe was similarly minded. 

These little games struck him as disorganized and petty, but that didn’t mean the person behind them wasn’t a threat. A threat he would dutifully destroy. 

Chapter Text

Daniel: 

“He must be ancient to awaken so early,” Marius said, as they traveled in Armand’s black SUV. Daniel could hear his thoughts whirring with fury at himself for daring to drift back into a mortal sleep instead of going upstairs to keep watch. 

Armand was driving and Daniel was in the backseat, sitting behind Armand so his long legs had room to stretch. 

Armand and Marius both sat rigid. They were scared. Daniel was scared, too, but their fear was more terrifying than the damned heart pinned to the wall with a knife. That felt almost theatrical, silly, part of a game. It was the fear of the two immortals in the front of the car that kept Daniel’s shoulders tight, his heart pounding.

Daniel pulled out his box of Marlboros and lit one. Marius turned around to frown at him. “Must you smoke in here?” His tone was mild, patient, but Daniel could hear the irritation bubbling up beneath the words. 

“Let him smoke,” Armand said sharply. 

Daniel rolled down the window as a compromise. His nerves needed the cigarette even if the nicotine could no longer help ease them. The habit of it was calming. 

Marius turned on the radio but got flummoxed by the flat screen and the satellite radio. Armand found a station that played classic rock. Marius settled back against his seat. Armand stared straight ahead, focused on the road. 

Marius kept glancing over at Armand, his thoughts full of trepidation and fear. He was scared for Armand and what might befall him—all of them—if they didn’t solve this. Daniel hated how the terror in Marius’ thoughts echoed his own. For once, he was glad that Armand’s mind was closed to him and he didn’t have to listen to his similar fears. 

Daniel finished his cigarette and flicked the butt out the window.

“It’s uncouth to litter,” Marius said. 

“Hey, not my fault modern cars don’t have ashtrays.” He rolled his window back up.

They rode in tense silence while Daniel looked at the photos of the gruesome display on his phone. The human heart crudely stabbed into the wall with an ornate dagger. The message above it in blood that read, “My turn.” 

“Who do we think the message was for?” Daniel asked, looking up at the front seat. “‘My turn.’ Is that aimed at you? Me? Marius? Lestat?” 

Marius made a sound, one that indicated he was uncertain. Marius always hated being uncertain, Daniel knew. 

“It’s my house,” Armand said. “I’m likely the intended target.” 

“Maybe.” Daniel considered, clicking his phone off. “But I was there alone for weeks.”

“You think it’s meant for you?” Marius asked, turning around. He tried to keep his expression mildly curious and not belie the terror beneath. He failed. 

He shrugged. “Could be.” 

Daniel didn’t think of himself as particularly notable among the members of Court, nor was he a particularly nefarious vampire, but he was a killer. He’d done enough terrible things to have made a few enemies along the way. Though why another vampire might target him was hard to guess, unless they only meant to do so to get at Marius or Armand. 

The Carpathian was a bar in a stone building on the outskirts of Newark. It was a recent member of the Vampire Connection, and had been that way for maybe a decade or so. No one dared set up such a bar in Armand’s territory in New York, not after he built Trinity Gate. 

Armand had a reputation for killing new or weak vampires in any place he settled and while rumors of his cruelty were exaggerated, they were not unfounded, and they kept others at bay if he claimed a space. Daniel had heard a vampire bar had only recently opened in Miami, and only after the proprietor received Armand’s blessing. 

Inside, the decor was gaudy, with Renaissance paintings in ornate frames and furniture that looked like it was taken from the dumpster at Medieval Times. The bartender wore a corset and her fingernails were painted black to match her dyed black hair. She looked so much like someone playing a vampire that Daniel was sort of surprised to find she was actually one of them. 

Most of the people in the bar were immortals, in fact, and most of them stared openly at first before averting their glances. Daniel wondered if they knew who they were—or who Marius and Armand were, at least; Daniel himself was rarely recognized—but he was keeping his mind closed so the thoughts of the others didn’t overwhelm him.

He approached the bar, Armand on his heels. Marius hung back, examining the room. 

“What can I do for you?” the bartender asked, looking at Daniel, who was right in front of her, her glance slipping sideways to Armand until she corrected, as if she were afraid to look right at him. She probably did know who he was, then. 

“We’re looking for someone,” Daniel said. 

She smiled. “So is everyone in this day in age. Could you be more specific?” 

“An ancient vampire, perhaps one with a chip on their shoulder,” Armand said icily. “Likely new to the area.” 

Her smile faltered. “As I understand it, most of the ancients are in France.” 

“And as I understand it, this bar is dangerously close to my home,” Armand said, his tone even, so he almost sounded bored. “If I am to allow your continued existence, you will be of service.” 

Daniel put a hand on his shoulder. Armand let it sit there, not shaking him off, but he didn’t stop glaring at the poor bartender, whose pale face had flushed. Her heart was hammering in her chest. She glanced past them, over at Marius, and swallowed uneasily. 

She turned back to Daniel, lowering her voice. “The only ancient I know of in the area is Yumei, who has an estate up in Niagara Falls. She keeps to herself.” 

“Not her, I know of her,” Armand said. 

“This would probably be someone newer to the area or passing through,” Daniel said. 

The bartender shook her head. “I’m afraid I haven’t heard of anyone like that.”

Armand glared at her and she withered under his gaze, looking to Daniel as if for help. “Are you sure?” he pleaded.

She shook her head. 

“What about any rumblings about pranks? Hear anything like that?” 

“Pranks?” She frowned. “No. No one would dare–”

“So you would think,” Daniel muttered. 

“If you do encounter someone like we’re describing, I would like you to pass on a message that they will reget getting on my bad side,” Armand said.

“Of course,” the bartender said.

Armand turned and walked out of the bar. She stared after him. Then she turned to Daniel, looking at him uneasily for the first time. 

“Thanks,” he said. He gave her what he hoped was a friendly and reassuring smile–he didn’t feel like making more immortal enemies tonight–and followed Armand out, Marius on his heels. 

“Well?” Daniel asked, once they were outside. He pulled out his cigarettes but slid them back into his pocket at Marius’ admonishing look. 

“I didn’t get anything from anyone. We’re the first group of unfamiliar immortals to darken their door in over a year,” Marius said. 

Armand frowned. “Louis always has such luck at these places. Perhaps I should have brought him along.” 

Daniel shook his head. “There’s no sense putting him in danger, too.” 

The minute he said it, he wished he could suck the words back into his mouth. Armand stiffened and a cool chill filled the air. Last year, Louis and Marius were taken and briefly presumed dead. Daniel had been away from Court—and then forbidden from coming near it for his own safety—but he’d tried to talk to Armand while Benji held up the phone, and Armand had been frighteningly distraught, beyond any pain Daniel had ever witnessed. If they had been dead, Daniel wasn’t sure Armand ever would have recovered. 

“Sorry, boss, I didn’t mean to–”

“You’re correct,” Armand said, shoulders still as he turned to walk back toward the car. 

Marius put a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. It’s still an open wound. His thoughts came straight into Daniel’s brain, where Armand could not overhear them. 

I didn’t mean to poke a stick in it. 

It’s all right, Daniel. Just let him be. 

Marius slid his arm around Daniel’s shoulders and walked him to the SUV. 

The car ride back was tense, not least because the lack of answers or leads set them all on edge.

“This fiend had to slumber close by in order to get in and out before Armand was even awake,” Marius said from the backseat. He’d let Daniel sit in the front, and Daniel spent most of the drive fiddling with the radio, trying to find music that would calm his nerves. None of it did. 

“You’re sure it was an immortal?” Armand asked.

Marius did not scoff but Daniel could sense his impatience. “Of course I’m sure.” 

Armand let out a breath. “It would be smarter for them to have a mortal do their dirty work. It would be easier for such a person to go undetected.” 

Daniel’s skin crawled at the thought. Armand may have put him through some weird shit when he’d been human, but he’d never had him terrorize another immortal. What kind of asshole would do that?

“Some among our kind will prey on those who wish to be turned in order to get them to do their bidding,” Marius answered Daniek’s thoughts. “Surely you’ve heard the stories.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Daniel said. He’d asked Armand about that long ago, when they were discussing Dracula, a book Armand found gaudy and absurd, though he was amused by the prevalence of it in modern culture. He and Louis had read it together, apparently, and found it somewhat laughable even at the time. But then, Louis had been wearing a cape the night Daniel had met him. 

“Perhaps this creature has mortal acolytes but it was the villain themselves in your home,” Marius said. 

“Lucky us,” Daniel muttered. 

When they arrived back home, Armand parked in the open space several blocks away and they walked along the quiet, tree-line street near the park. The neighbors’ homes were mostly dark at this hour but Trinity Gate was lit up, every window illuminated from the inside. 

Daniel stopped, heart hammering. He could hear the rapid heartbeats of Armand and Marius as they came to a stop on either side of him. They had not left all the lights on.

“What the hell?” Daniel asked. 

“Stay here,” Armand said, and charged forward. For once, Daniel didn’t obey. He followed on his maker’s heels, and Marius fell into step beside him. Armand opened the front door, which was unlocked, and the smell of blood and viscera smacked Daniel in the face. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the putrid smell of entrails.

The normally-pristine marble floor was smeared with a trail of blood and guts, leading through the house, as if a body had been disemboweled and then dragged across the floor. The trail of viscera led straight down the hall and out to the garden. 

Armand stepped outside and made an inhuman sound, primal and guttural. Daniel quickly saw why: A body was propped up against one of the stone sculptures. But it wasn’t just a random person like the body he’d found the other night. No, this one had been deliberately chosen for its resemblance to Daniel: the same slight build and narrow shoulders, same short ashen hair, same boyishly handsome face. Not quite a doppelgänger, but close enough. 

And to add insult to injury, the corpse had been dressed in his clothes: his worn jeans with the hole in the left knee, his purple “Personal Jesus” t-shirt which now had a dark red stain around the body’s abdomen. The corpse even wore his spare pair of Converse shoes, the yellow ones. Above the body, written in blood, were the words, “He’s next.” 

Daniel’s stomach roiled and acid rose in his throat. He thought he might throw up. He couldn’t seem to get air into his lungs and the fact that his vampire lungs didn’t need it didn’t seem to matter. He was dizzy, the world spinning around him. He fell to his knees. Marius stood over him, but his gaze was fixed on the corpse. 

Daniel remembered how in Lestat’s autobiography, he’d found all those lookalike bodies in Magnus’ dungeon, how horrific it had sounded. This was repugnant and terrifying all at once, like seeing a vision of himself dead, the body’s head bent back against the stone sculpture, arms lifeless at his sides. 

How many times had he envisioned his own death? And yet now seeing it in front of him was worse than any of his most hideous intrusive thoughts. He felt like he’d been plunged into an icy lake and was drowning, unable to tell which way was up. 

Breathe, Marius coaxed, the word blooming inside his head against the thrumming of blood in his ears. He nodded. Marius bent down and patted his back rhythmically. Daniel tried to inhale. Coughed. Managed to exhale. After a moment, he found a steady rhythm of breathing. 

Armand stood a few feet in front of him, between Daniel and the faux-Daniel corpse, his back rigid. Daniel couldn’t see his face. 

“Armand.” The word came out in a hoarse whisper but Armand turned immediately and then knelt beside Daniel. He put his hand on his shoulder and dug his fingernails through Daniel’s sweatshirt. He studied Daniel’s face, his own inches from Daniel’s so that Daniel could feel his breath on his skin when he exhaled a shuddering breath. He kissed Daniel’s cheek and then stood. 

“Whoever is behind this will be destroyed,” Armand said. 

Daniel had no doubt that was true. But fear had crystalized like ice in Daniel’s chest. Marius helped him to his feet and started to lead him inside. 

“Where are you going?” Armand demanded.

Marius nodded at Daniel surreptitiously and Daniel pretended not to notice that he was being hauled away like a child. Marius walked him all the way down the crypt and sat Daniel in a chair. 

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Daniel stared at him blankly. Was he all right? No. Not really. Someone had left a body dolled up in his clothes in their backyard as a threat after trailing their insides all over the house like a bad art project. He laughed at the thought and his laughter sounded wild and unhinged. 

Marius cupped his face in his hands. “I won’t let anything bad befall you.” 

Daniel stopped laughing, panic gripping him again. “Armand! We left him alone!” 

“He’s all right,” Marius said, his voice reassuring. 

Marius pulled Daniel’s sweatshirt off him. He wore a t-shirt underneath, a gaudy Yellow Submarine shirt he’d bought at a vintage store. Marius removed his shoes and set them aside. He rubbed his feet and massaged his ankles in a comforting manner. Daniel tried to focus on his touch, the soothing feeling of Marius’ hands against his skin, not the panic that threatened to overtake him.

Marius turned down the covers and helped Daniel into bed. He wanted to argue but his brain was spinning and the room swayed like a boat on rough waters. The pounding in his head was so loud. Where was it coming from? It was a constant hammering that threatened to drown out everything else.

“Rest now,” Marius commanded. He smoothed his forehead and left the room. 

Daniel lay there in the dark, listening to the pounding in his head, trying not to fall into the chasm he felt yawning beneath him. 

Armand: 

Fury burned white hot inside Armand, so blistering that he thought he might go blind. He clenched his fists so hard that his nails drew blood from his palms. His dead, black heart slammed into his ribs and his insides burned. 

This dead person was wearing Daniel’s clothes. His hair had been cut like his and his face shaved clean. The young man had been of Irish descent and had a smattering of freckles that Daniel did not but they could have easily been brothers. This deliberate copy of his fledgling had been left here to mock them, threaten them, and Armand was going to tear the head off whatever fool had thought this was a means to their ends. 

“He’s safe in the crypt,” Marius said behind him, pulling him from his thoughts. 

Armand nodded. He’d only let Marius take Daniel out of his sight because the crypt was safe. No one could penetrate its security. But he wanted to be with him now, holding him, touching him, reassuring himself that his Daniel was fine. 

“We need to clean this up,” Armand said. 

Marius nodded but pulled out his phone. “Daniel had the right idea. We should document this for the Court.” 

“Damn the Court,” Armand hissed.

Marius ignored him and photographed the scene, including some of the mess in the hall leading to the French Doors of the garden. Then he typed something on his phone, probably sending the photos and an update to those back in France. 

Armand stared at the dead boy who so closely resembled his Daniel, his lover, his only child in the blood. Armand had forced himself to picture Daniel’s mortal death countless times while he was still mortal, to try and come to terms with the inevitability of it. In the end, he hadn’t been able to let him go. And now seeing this near-duplicate lifeless and empty made Armand’s insides knot up. 

This was not Daniel. Daniel was safe in the crypt. Daniel was fine. 

And whoever was threatening him was going to wish they’d never been born, let alone made immortal. Oh, he would make them suffer.

A hand landed on his shoulder and it took great effort not to jump. “Step back.” Marius’ voice was soft but commanding and Armand did not argue. He backed away from the facsimile of his lover. Flames engulfed the body and then ran the length of the blood trail on the paving stones. Marius had used the Fire Gift. Not the most elegant means of cleanup perhaps, but it would do for now. The garden walls were high but he couldn’t risk someone finding the body during the day. 

Armand went inside. He cancelled any housekeeping and gardening for the week and then changed the alarm codes so no mortal worker could accidentally come in. Then he pulled out the mop and bucket and got to work cleaning the blood from the floor while Marius used a sponge to remove the splatter from walls and table legs. Nothing seemed to be irrevocably ruined, which was good. It was certainly not his first priority but it would have added more fuel to the fire of rage burning inside him. 

“I will make this person suffer,” he said, mostly to himself as he dumped the mop water into the sink. Marius was hovering near, as if afraid to let Armand out of his sight. Armand felt a flash of warmth that his maker had the same protective instinct over him that Armand did over Daniel. He turned to Marius. “No recriminations about my quickness to violence? About my desire for vengeance?” 

He was mocking Marius, which was cruel. He couldn’t seem to help it. His fury had to go somewhere. 

“I believe for once we’re in agreement,” Marius said, tone dangerous. 

And that doused the flames in Armand’s center a bit. Marius’ protectiveness over him, and over his fledgling–whom he’d nursed back to sanity–was a powerful thing. Armand swallowed his bitterness that it had been Marius, not him, to help Daniel back from the brink. Marius was here now, where he was needed, because of his love for the boy. 

Armand set the mop bucket down. He could feel the prickle of impending sunrise on his skin. He checked the locks again, for all the good they would do. At least no immortal could attack them during daylight hours. 

And the crypt was safe. He was sure of it. He’d spared no expense building it to be a stronghold, a safe place. They descended together. 

Daniel was passed out by the time they reached Marius’ room. The sun still pulled him under so early and he was laying in the bed still and dead to the world. One arm was flung on top of the blanket, his blond hair messy against the pillow. Armand smoothed his forehead as if checking for a fever, and then got dressed for bed. He climbed over Daniel to the center of the bed and curled around Daniel’s still form. Marius slid into bed on the other side and looked down at them before settling on his side against Armand. Marius draped his arm around him and Daniel, hand resting on Daniel’s stomach. 

The security of Marius against his back was calming and more of the flames inside him fizzled as he lay wedged between his maker and his fledgling. They were both alive and safe. He could feel their heartbeats on either side of him. 

And Louis and Lestat and the others were safe across the ocean. 

Everything was okay. Everyone was okay.

“Good night, Master,” Armand murmured, stifling a yawn.

“Good night, little one,” Marius said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. 

Chapter Text

Daniel: 

Daniel returned to consciousness in an empty bed. Panic shot through him at finding himself alone. But the bed was messy and he could tell Armand and Marius had been there. He could smell the scent of them lingering in the room, cold and earthy, with a hint of Armand’s floral cologne and Marius’ sandalwood soap. 

He quickly reached out with his senses and found Marius upstairs. His mind was closed, which meant he was cloaking his thoughts, but Daniel knew the feeling of his presence. Armand was there, too, a dark void to Daniel, because of the wall the Blood had put between them. 

And there was something else: a third presence, another immortal. That one’s thoughts were wild and chaotic and being inside them for even a few seconds made Daniel dizzy. 

He got up and pulled on the clothes Marius had stripped from him last night then he paused. His head was still pounding and his veins felt tight, empty. He needed blood, and badly. He tried to shake off the weakness in his limbs and the pain in his capillaries. 

Blood would come. But first, he needed to find out what the hell was happening. He crept up the stairs as silently as his immortal body allowed him. He paused at the door to the crypt and listened, though he heard nothing. He typed in the code and the door opened. 

The house was strangely quiet for having three other immortals inside. He swallowed, ignoring the pounding of his heart as he moved deeper into the house. He found them in the den, the one next to the garden where he’d first found the body. Marius turned and gave Daniel a sad, weary look that made ice shoot down his spine. He quickly looked for Armand, who was deeper in the room, staring out the window into the garden. He was okay. Relief flooded Daniel’s veins even as his pulse raced. 

Daniel opened his mouth to ask what was going on.

And then he saw the third vampire. 

The vampire was young in the blood, so new that the magic of it danced on his pale skin. He’d been turned only days ago, maybe a week, no more than that. His eyes were wild as they landed on Daniel, almost bugging out of his head.

Daniel felt sick. He looked like him. Not Daniel’s twin, no, but another obvious attempt to duplicate his appearance as closely as possible. Like the dead mortal from last night, this guy’s hair was cut in the exact same fashion and was a similar shade of ashen blond. His face was fuller and his body a little more bulky, not as narrow and thin as Daniel, but close enough. His eyes were blue, not the strange color of Daniel’s which appeared violet. But still, if you saw them standing side by side you’d assume they were siblings. 

It was creepy as hell. 

The ground rocked under his feet and he fought to stay upright. He jolted and realized the earthquake had been in his head. Not a good sign.

Marius’ blue eyes were trained on Daniel, expression wary, his shoulders straight and his jaw tight. Armand was holding a piece of paper and staring out the window as rain pelted against the glass. 

“Who the hell is this guy?” Daniel finally asked. 

“A messenger,” Armand said, his tone dry and hard. 

The newbie vampire had been gagged, though not tied to the chair in any fashion. Daniel figured Marius and Armand were probably scary enough to a new immortal that he would stay put. 

“Messenger?” Daniel looked to Marius for an explanation. Armand came toward him and held out the paper he’d been holding. It was thick paper, heavy, and the words on it were written in ink. The handwriting was beautiful calligraphy. From Armand’s hardened expression, he doubted the words were anything nice. 

Daniel read the letter: 

Mon frère Armand,

You may or may not recall our brief acquaintance in Paris. I was already a vampire when I had the misfortune to come across your gaudy little theatre. It was quite clear to me that I would not fit in amongst your gaggle of blood drinkers, and so after a short time, I escaped your clutches and found passage to the New World. 

I thought I’d escaped you for good.

Mais non!

I made a home in North Carolina. And then in the 1970s I met a young man who loved records and guitars. I made him one of us. Things soured, as these things do, as I’m sure you’re aware. He left and I went West. 

Unfortunately, my fledgling went North to New York when you were there with your little mortal acolyte. You murdered him for being new in the blood and not knowing any better. Did you even speak to him? Did he get a chance to plead his case? Knowing your vicious heart, I doubt it.

I only learned this later, of course, when I read through those tedious tomes by your friend Lestat, who is happily publishing all the secrets of our kind for the world. But how lucky for me, as it explained what had befallen my dear fledgling! I’ve been biding my time and awaiting my chance. 

Took a while, as your own fledgling is the weak and mad sort of thing you would have callously thrown into the fire once upon a time. And yet you destroyed mine, a strong and powerful immortal whose only crime was being new in the blood and in proximity to you!

It’s your turn to pay. I will destroy your mad little child since you lack the courage to do it. An eye for eye and all that.

I do this for vengeance, yes, because you, who think yourself to be so above the rest of us, deserve to suffer the pain that I have. But also because it should be done. He should not be suffered to live. 

Vernon

Ice ran down Daniel’s spine. His hands shook with fury but it was the words “weak and mad” that stuck in his mind and played on repeat. The kind of young vampire Armand would have callously destroyed. 

He crushed the paper in his hands. Marius put a steadying hand on his shoulder and gently pulled the letter from his grasp.

“It’s nonsense,” he said quietly, answering Daniel’s thoughts, which now spun with this asshole’s words. “You are neither mad nor weak.” 

Daniel looked at Armand, whose expression remained unreadable. He said nothing and the ice bloomed in Daniel’s chest, cold permeating his bones. 

He turned to the poor immortal in the chair, who was staring at the wall in utter fascination. It wasn’t only Daniel’s appearance he shared, clearly, as he was utterly captivated by his new vampire senses so much that he wasn’t even thinking of how afraid he should be. The fool. 

Had Daniel been so reckless? And yet the newness of the blood was a spectacle and he remembered just how hard it had been to focus even with terrors all around him. 

“This asshole made a vampire just to make him deliver a letter?” Daniel asked. Well, and to get across the message that Daniel was a failure of a fledgling, who could clearly be copied. He swallowed around the lump forming in his throat. 

“So it seems,” Armand finally spoke. 

“Then why are we still here? We can get this guy’s location from his brain,” he stabbed his finger in the direction of the vampire, who turned to look at him, “and then go kill him.” 

“We were discussing that,” Marius said, his voice carefully even, which meant he was struggling to keep it that way. “The conundrum we face is that we don't wish to leave you alone. And yet we can’t bring you right to this creature either.”

Daniel looked from him to Armand, whose expression had cracked slightly, his eyes betraying some modicum of fear. If it was showing, it meant he was terrified, and that made Daniel’s hair stand on end. 

“So what? We’re just going to wait around for more special deliveries?” Daniel ran his fingers through his hair and tugged at the strands in agitation. “I’d rather not see yet another dead guy with my face.” 

“Daniel.” Armand’s voice was low, pleading. 

“This is your fault,” Daniel whirled on him. “If you hadn’t killed every random vampire who stumbled into the city, this guy wouldn’t be holding a grudge the size of Manhattan and taking it out on every blond guy in his  30s he can find!” 

Armand recoiled. Daniel’s heart pounded. He was riled up and he hadn’t drunk nearly enough blood. He needed to hunt. He needed to find this bastard and slit his throat. He needed this to end. 

“I did it to protect you,” Armand said, voice so quiet it was barely audible.

Daniel scoffed. “Yeah? Is that true? Or were you scared that if I met another immortal, they might give me the Blood that I kept asking for?” 

Armand’s face hardened, turning to stone. 

The newbie vampire let out an unhinged laugh around his gag. Armand flew at him. Daniel dove in front of him and Armand slammed into him, knocking him backwards. Daniel was slammed into the chair, sending the newbie flying, while he himself landed on the wood floor with a thud. 

Armand landed on top of him and snarled down at him, flashing his fangs. Heat shot through Daniel, a messed up mixture of frustration and desire. His heart was pounding and his veins were screaming with lack of blood, burning under his skin. 

“Get off me, will you?” He got up, pushing Armand off, and then turned, righting the chair. The newbie vampire looked horror-struck, standing statue still as he watched them. “Sit down,” Daniel commanded.

The vampire did so, obeying instantly. His heart was pounding. He hadn’t been visibly scared before but he was now. 

Daniel felt bad for the poor thing. “What’s your name?” 

The man shook his head. Daniel pulled the gag off his mouth. “Well? Answer me, or I’ll let him have another go at you.” Daniel nodded his head in Armand’s direction. Armand was still fuming and glaring. 

“Byron,” he stammered. 

“Where did he find you, Byron?” Daniel asked him.

“He came into the coffee shop where I worked,” the vampire said. “Said I was his type. I thought he was flirting. But instead….” Blood tears welled up in his eyes.

“When?” Marius asked. 

“Three nights ago.” 

Marius sighed heavily. 

A wave of dizziness overcame Daniel and he swayed, his vision blurring. Armand caught him. Daniel tore himself out of Armand’s grasp. He was too hot with the intensity of his anger and confusion. He didn’t want to be touched. 

“You need to hunt,” Marius said. 

Daniel knew he was right. His mind was starting to get hazy and that was no good. He was under enough stress. He didn’t need lack of blood to exacerbate symptoms that might drag him back to crazy town. 

“Perhaps he can kill the fledgling,” Armand said. Byron recoiled, trying to shrink into his chair. 

“The reckless wanton murder of young vampires is what incited this devil to come to our door,” Marius said. Armand flinched. Barely, but enough that Daniel noticed. Marius probably had, too. 

“There’s no way I’m killing a guy who looks like he could be my stunt double, that’s too damned weird,” Daniel said. 

“Then what do you propose?” Armand asked.

“We can lock him in the cellar,” Daniel said. “There are plenty of rooms. We can keep him there until we can get him back to Court.” 

“You want to keep him?” Armand asked, exasperated.

“Do I want to? Hell no,” Daniel said. “But he can fit in there with the other newbies. That’s part of what the Court is for, right?” 

“Daniel, his loyalties—” Armand started.

“He has none,” Marius interjected. “He was ripped from his mortal life and turned by this immortal for his own purposes. Byron barely knows Vernon’s name. I’ve searched his thoughts. He’s merely a pawn.” 

Byron nodded fiercely in agreement at this. 

Armand pursed his lips together in a tight line, folding his arms over his chest. 

“I’ll get him secured and then we’ll get Daniel fed and plan our next course of action,” Marius said. He pulled their prisoner to his feet and walked him out of the room.

Daniel headed toward the back of the house. Daniel saw Armand’s expression sour in his periphery but he kept going until he was standing out in the garden. He pulled out his box of cigarettes and lit one. Armand was right on his heels, glaring at him. 

“It’s not wise to allow him to live,” Armand said. 

“Yeah, well, it’s not your call.” Daniel took a deep drag on the cigarette but it didn’t calm his pulse or make his hands stop shaking. His veins constricted under his skin, tight and screaming for blood, and his thoughts swam.

Armand watched him, eyes burning. Daniel had pissed him off. Well, he was pissed off too. 

“I didn’t realize you’d been promoted,” Armand said, his voice cold. “Well, then, boss, what should we do next?” 

Daniel huffed in irritation and took a deep drag on his cigarette. 

Armand’s glare could have lit another cigarette, it burned so damn hot. Daniel tried to ignore him while he smoked, but the cigarette wasn’t doing what he wanted it to do and finally he dropped it onto the pavement and crushed it with his shoe. 

“Don’t leave trash in my garden,” Armand sniped.

Daniel glared back at him. “You don’t have to be such an asshole.” 

Armand said nothing so Daniel turned and  stared across the garden at the statue where his dead mortal doppelgänger had been left only last night. His brain spun and bile rose in his throat. 

“This friend of yours, was he this much of a psycho in Paris?” 

“He’s not my friend,” Armand said sharply. 

Daniel rolled his eyes. “Did you know it was his fledgling when you killed them?”

Through his periphery, Daniel saw Armand put his hands in his pockets. He was silent for a long time and Daniel figured he just wasn’t going to answer. Typical.

But finally, he said, “I destroyed those bumbling newbies who posed a threat from their carelessness, who killed recklessly and did not cover their tracks. I had other methods to dispel those I did not want near us if they were amenable.” 

Daniel frowned, trying to parse that. “So you only killed the ones who didn’t obey your psychic commands to leave?” 

“I did what I had to in order to protect what was mine.”

The word “mine” made the hair on the back of Daniel’s neck stand up. It also wasn’t a yes, but then, Armand was ruthless and unfailing when it came to protecting those he loved. Daniel had always known that, even if he hadn’t always been given the details.

“But did you know who he was?” Daniel asked, unable to help himself.

“No,” Armand said flatly. “But it wouldn’t have stayed my hand if I had.” 

“Of course not,” Daniel said bitterly. “What would it matter where these fledglings came from? Who made them?” 

“If one wants to keep their fledgling safe, they should keep them close.” 

Daniel scoffed and gave Armand a hard, knowing look. “Seems to me that they had a disagreement and parted ways. Doesn’t that sound familiar?”  

Armand pressed his lips together in a tight line. Daniel tapped his fingers against his thigh. They stood in agitated silence.

“I did it for you,” Armand said, his voice so quiet it was barely audible. 

“And by doing so, you’ve put us all in danger now,” Daniel said. 

Armand turned away, and Daniel’s heart dropped. Armand had barely moved but he could feel him pulling away. Damn, damn, damn. After their hard-won reunion and reconciliation, he sure as hell wasn’t going to let some psychotic vampire tear them apart. 

Daniel ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at the strands and letting them fall. The silence and tension felt oppressive. He kept picturing Byron’s face and the face of his dead double from last night. 

“It’s my fault, what happened to him.”

Armand turned back and some of the pressure in his midsection eased. “Who?” 

“Byron,” Daniel said. “If he didn’t have the misfortune of looking like me, he wouldn’t be in this situation. He’d still be working the afternoon shift at The Coffee Hut.” 

He shook his head and a wave of dizziness washed over him. He swayed and Armand grabbed him, steadying him. “None of this is your fault, beloved,” Armand said softly. 

Daniel sucked in a shuddering breath. The word ‘beloved’ was balm to his nerves and his shoulders relaxed. 

“It’s not yours either. I shouldn’t have said that.” He sighed. “This whole situation is messing with my head. It’s like I can feel the ground slipping out from under me.” 

Armand stared at him, saying nothing, but Daniel could feel the worry wafting off him in waves.

He swallowed uneasily. “The truth is, when I found the first body, I wasn’t sure I hadn’t done it. I thought maybe I’d blacked out again.” Armand started to protest and Daniel cut him off. “When I was at my worst, I did that more than once. I killed a poor housekeeper Marius hired, and a gardener. He had to send away mortal staff for god knows how long.” Shame bubbled in his middle. “It was horrible, waking up covered in blood next to a body I had no memory of killing. I know it wasn’t me this time, but I hate feeling like I’m on the edge of losing it again.” 

Armand tightened his grip and Daniel leaned against him. “He will suffer for this, I assure you.”

Daniel had no doubt of that. If this guy knew half as much as he seemed to about Armand, he should have known better than to mess with him in this way. Unless he had a death wish. Which, maybe he did.

Armand lifted his wrist to his mouth and tore a gash in his skin, pushing it at Daniel. “To hold you over.” 

Daniel took his wrist gratefully and drank several swallows, his veins burning as the blood filled them. Some of the fog lifted from his mind. Armand pulled his arm back and pressed a soft kiss against Daniel’s cheek, his lips velvet against his skin. “Now pick up your cigarette. I won’t have you littering in my garden.” 

Daniel barked out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah, sure thing, boss.” He bent down, picked up the butt, and followed Armand inside. 

Marius: 

They took Daniel hunting, and Marius forced himself to walk at a steady clip and not to hold onto Daniel for dear life. Armand was already gripping the boy’s arm like a vice as they walked down the street, ensuring nothing and no one would pull his fledgling from his grasp. 

Marius walked behind them, remaining vigilant for any potential threats. Every person who eyed them too long, who passed too close, was subjected to his scrutiny, though he found nothing out of order. 

After Daniel had fed, they disposed of the body, and then hurried back to Trinity Gate, which no longer felt like the fortress it had once appeared to be. He said something to that effect which had earned him a glare from Armand that was so full of fury that Marius had decided not to push it. He hadn’t meant it as a personal insult, merely an observation. 

Since the kidnappings last year, he’d been working with Gregory and Sevraine to increase the security and safety of the Chateau. The plan had been to do the same at the Coven Houses, though they had not quite gotten around to that yet. They’d been arrogant in thinking the threat had passed. There would always be new threats waiting in the shadows. 

“What now?” Daniel asked. Marius could smell the hot, metallic blood in his veins. He wanted to nuzzle against his blood-warmed skin and hold him close. Daniel leaned against the back of the sofa, his throat exposed as he angled his head upward toward the ceiling, hands in his pockets. He truly was a beautiful sight. Armand had chosen him for more than his beauty, but surely that hadn’t hurt. 

“We destroy this creature quickly and unceremoniously,” Armand said. He was also staring at Daniel’s throat. Neither of them had fed. They’d only been concerned with Daniel and neither of them needed it but now he wondered if that had been a mistake. If they shouldn’t hunt and gorge themselves to increase their strength. 

“Technically, it should be at the Court’s digression,” Marius said, but the look Armand gave him was even more murderous than before. He raised his hands in supplication. 

“I could FaceTime Lestat. Except for the whole pesky time zone thing, I’m sure he’d give us his full support,” Daniel said. 

“This is not up to Lestat or the damned Court,” Armand said angrily. 

Such fury burned in his fledgling. He reached out and touched his shoulder, expecting him to brush his hand off but instead he turned to him, face soft. Marius felt a lightness in his chest. There were still bridges to mend between them but more and more, Armand was allowing Marius to comfort him, and that was encouraging. 

“It’s not a question of whether, it’s a question of how and when,” Daniel said. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Does Bryon even know where this Vernon character is? Was he allowed to see his hidey-hole?” 

“He knows where he was brought after he was turned. It’s a place to start,” Armand said. 

“Okay, well, let’s go there.” 

“I will go there,” Armand said. “You will stay here with Marius in the cellar, where it’s safe.”

“Armand–”

“Do not fight me on this, Daniel. I will not have you harmed.” 

Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. Armand pulled away from Marius and went to him, pulling his hand from his face and kissing him passionately. Marius looked away, though from the corner of his eye, he saw Daniel grab Armand and pull him close. They tangled their limbs together and moved their mouths in a way that was almost obscene. Daniel nearly fell backward over the couch from the way Armand pushed against him and Armand had to pull him back, helping him to stand up straight. 

When they broke apart, Daniel was panting and flushed. Armand smoothed his shoulders and the front of his now-messy t-shirt. “You will stay here.”

“You can’t go alone, boss,” Daniel whispered, his tone beseeching. 

“I’ll accompany him,” Marius said. 

Armand whirled around. “You must stay with Daniel!” 

Daniel reached out and put his hand on Armand’s arm. “The cellar is safe, right? I can stay there.” 

Armand looked to Marius, expression pleading. How could Marius remain behind and allow Armand to walk into danger? And yet how could he leave Daniel alone, unsure if the stress of this situation might cause him to lose his senses and do something reckless? There was no good answer. 

After a moment, Daniel said, “Maybe we can lure him here.” 

“How?” Marius asked. 

“Ignore his letter. He wants to spook us, wants our attention,” Daniel said. “He’s gone out of way to get it. If he just wanted to kill me, he could have tried—and probably succeeded—when he left the first body.”

What little blood was left in his cheeks drained from them as Marius considered that. Armand looked similarly pained at the thought. 

“But he didn’t, because he wanted Armand’s attention,” Daniel continued. “He wanted to fuck with us. And people like that hate to be ignored.” 

“If we wait, we give him the chance to leave more gifts in my house,” Armand said bitterly.

“Sure, but we’ll have the advantage,” Daniel said. His eyes met Marius’. You know I’m right, he thought. 

“It’s a risk,” Marius said solemnly. 

“So is going wherever his vampire telegram sends us. It could easily be a trap. And we’d be playing on his terms,” Daniel said. “Come on, you’ve both seen enough movies to know that won’t end well.” 

Armand worried his lip and then sighed. “I suppose you have a point.” 

Daniel’s shoulders relaxed. “So we wait.” 

“At least until we come up with a better course of action,” Marius said. 

Daniel met Marius’ eyes. Don’t let him sneak out after I’m asleep, he thought.

Do you really think he’d do that? Marius thought back but when he saw the way Armand’s fists were clenched and his jaw set in a hardline, he knew Daniel had a point. I won’t. 

Daniel nodded. 

Armand gave them both an impatient look and went to secure the house. Marius pulled Daniel into a sideways hug. “You have powerful blood in you, Armand’s and mine. Perhaps he didn’t attack you because he knew you’d be a dangerous foe.” 

Daniel snorted and shook his head. “I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, old man, but I am a young vampire, relatively speaking.” 

Marius squeezed him. “Young does not equal weak, Daniel.” 

Daniel put his head on his shoulder and said, “I know.” 

Chapter Text

Daniel: 

Armand and Marius were both still in the bedroom when sunset released Daniel from the death sleep. Armand had pushed Daniel to the edge of the bed and wedged himself between Daniel and Marius. Now he was sitting up, talking to Marius, who was standing and dressed, the side where he’d slept still messy with his recent presence. 

“I’ve messaged Gregory,” Marius said. “He’ll come retrieve the boy.” 

“We should send him back to his maker with a message of our own,” Armand said, glaring at Marius.

“We’re not going to dismember him and send him back in a box,” Marius said, in a way that suggested they’d already had this argument several times while Daniel was out cold. 

Daniel stretched and sat up. “Gregory is coming?” 

“Tomorrow night,” Marius said. “Lestat may join him.”

Armand frowned deeply at this, and Daniel had to suppress a laugh. Armand always acted put-out by Lestat’s existence, but he loved it when he came to Trinity Gate. Though maybe not under these circumstances.

“So we must dispatch this asshole tonight,” Armand said. 

Daniel did laugh then. “That easy, huh? Do we know where he is?” 

“Somewhere beyond the city, and far enough that I can’t sense him,” Marius said. “But I did get a flash of awareness when I awoke, to the north.” 

“The north. Very specific.” Daniel ran his hand through his hair. Armand reached over and smoothed out a stray strand and then patted his cheek. 

“He’s close enough to play cat and mouse games. We’ll find him,” Armand insisted. 

He pushed off the covers and got out of bed. He was naked. He hadn’t been naked when Daniel had passed out and he glanced surreptitiously over at Marius, who watched Armand cross the room with piqued interest. He smiled faintly, wondering what the two of them had gotten up to after the sun had rendered him inert. Marius shot Daniel a soft, surreptitious look and Daniel smiled. He was glad they were getting along so well lately. 

“What happened to letting him come to us?” Daniel asked. 

“I’m not going to wait idly by and allow my home to be attacked by an enemy,” Armand said, pulling on his discarded jeans from the floor. 

“You don’t want Lestat to come riding in and save the day, you mean,” Daniel said. Armand glowered. Daniel ignored that and got out of bed. He was wearing pajama pants and a Batman t-shirt and would need to go upstairs to change. 

“I spoke with Gregory and he agrees this creature is best dealt with immediately,” Marius said.

“Ah yes, if the Court deems it vital…” Armand muttered. 

“The flash of him I got… I believe he wants us to come to him. He’s going to let us know where to go,” Marius continued. 

Ice slid down Daniel’s spine. If this asshole was letting them see where he was, if he wanted to come, it was undoubtedly a trap. 

“Perhaps,” Marius answered his thoughts. “But trap or not, we must settle the score before things get more out of hand.” 

“I’ll go get dressed,” Daniel said. 

Marius grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop. “I’ll come with you.” 

Daniel was going to argue that he was perfectly capable of going upstairs and putting on clothes by himself, but the familiar tight grip of Marius’ hand on his arm reminded him of the countless times Marius had guided him out of danger, figuratively and literally. He nodded and let Marius lead him out of the room as Armand finished dressing. 

Daniel’s heart hammered the second the cellar door opened and he looked around for signs of intrusion. But there were no more stray corpses, no more messages in blood. Marius led Daniel upstairs and to Armand’s bedroom, where most of Daniel’s things were. He had his own room next door but he rarely used it. He dug out a David Bowie t-shirt and jeans, a plain black hoodie, and his purple chucks. He checked his short ashen hair in the mirror. Behind him, he saw Marius watching him appreciatively. Daniel wiggled his ass. “Like what you see, old man?” 

Marius laughed and shook his head. “This is hardly the time.” 

He turned around. “You and Armand had fun last night, huh?” 

Marius’ smile remained. Oh yeah, they definitely had. 

A cloud passed over Marius’ face. “I’m not sure you should come. If you’re the target of this vile creature’s ire…”

“I should get to kick his ass,” Daniel said. “He sure as hell put me through the ringer.” 

Marius folded his arms over his chest. “Daniel, despite what Armand may believe, this isn’t about egos. It’s about someone acting reckless in ways that could endanger our kind and expose us. Leaving corpses and body parts in the home of a vampire, turning fledglings to use as a messenger pigeons. He’s breaking our laws and he must be brought to justice.” 

Daniel put his hands in his pockets. “Come on, man, this isn’t about rule breaking. It’s personal. The guy wants to kill me.” 

“You yourself have pointed out that he had the opportunity to do so—or at least to attempt to do so—without giving you a warning.” 

Daniel gaped at him. He opened his mouth to argue but Armand, who had appeared in the doorway, beat him to the punch. “He deserves no credit for being a coward.” 

Marius whirled around. “Would you rather he’d tried to hurt Daniel?” 

“He did hurt Daniel,” Armand said. “And he will suffer for it. Let’s go. I’m tired of talking about it. I want to rip his head off from his shoulders and drink the blood that drips from his neck.” 

Marius frowned but a spark flashed in his eyes. Daniel suspected he wanted to do the exact same thing. 

“Come, we’re wasting time,” Armand urged.

Daniel followed Armand out in the hall. Marius stopped in the doorway. “Are we sure it’s wise to allow Daniel to accompany us?” 

Daniel rolled his eyes but his back was turned to Marius. He gave Armand a warning look, one that said he wasn’t going to be left behind. He’d been tormented by this guy. He wanted to be there when he met his end. 

Armand hesitated, glancing up over Daniel’s shoulder. He could feel the heat of Marius’ glare at his back. 

“I’m the one he’s fucked with the most,” Daniel insisted. This guy had scared the hell out of him, not just with his look-alikes, but with the fear that he himself was becoming a deranged lunatic again. 

Armand met Daniel’s eyes, his own expression hard. But after a moment, he said, “There’s no use in trying to stop him from coming.” 

Daniel’s shoulders relaxed, glad he wasn’t going to have to fight them on this. 

He and Marius followed Armand out to where his SUV was parked. 

They drove North with Armand at the wheel. Daniel tried to turn on the radio but neither Armand nor Marius seemed to want the noise. So instead, he closed his eyes and tried to locate the presence of this immortal.

As soon as they crossed into New Jersey, Daniel could feel the vampire’s presence light up like a beacon. And then suddenly he could see the room he was in! There was fire in the fireplace and he was waiting for them, anticipating their arrival. 

Daniel’s eyes snapped open. “He’s waiting for us!” 

“Yes,” Armand said. He’d already felt it, seen it. Marius glanced back at Daniel, worry drawing his jaw tight. 

They arrived at the house, a large mansion made of brick and stone off a rural road, surrounded by pastures and fields. There was a violent, furious energy radiating from it, and Daniel had to close his mind to keep the psychic onslaught at bay. They sat in the car for a long moment. Daniel was silent and still. If Armand and Marius could use the mind gift with each other, he’d have been sure they were having an exchange, but that wasn’t possible. 

Daniel tapped his fingers against the arm rest, restless and uncertain. He wanted to get this over with but now that they were here, he had a rock in his stomach. Not fear, exactly, just a strange uneasiness about the whole situation. What the hell was this guy planning? He couldn’t begin to guess. 

He started to vocalize these thoughts when Marius’ door opened. Armand looked back at Daniel, his expression carefully neutral. He was scared. The hair on the back of Daniel’s neck stood on end. 

“No time like the present,” Daniel said, and opened his own door, getting out of the car.

The house was so normal, with stones lining the walkway and a wooden “Hello!” sign propped next to the door. Daniel figured those were the touches of whatever poor souls had occupied the house before Vernon had taken it over, likely murdering them in the process. 

Marius was first at the door. He paused. Should I knock? He shot a wry smile in Daniel’s direction and Daniel laughed. Armand shot them both a look which made Daniel laugh harder.

“A little levity never hurt anything, boss,” Daniel said, clapping his hand on Armand’s shoulder. In truth, he just wanted to touch him, to be connected to him. 

Marius opened the door. He walked into the house and after a second, Daniel and Armand followed. 

Vernon appeared immediately. Clearly he'd been waiting to dance into the parlor. He was a short man, about Armand’s height, with a bald head. He wore a tailored suit of Italian finery and a silk tie. He had been in his late forties or fifties when he died, Daniel guessed. 

He beamed at them. 

“I see you got my invitation,” Vernon said. His eyes landed on Daniel and stared into him with an intensity that felt like it might set his hair on fire. His smile widened. “What a pleasure to see the mad fledgling in person! You know, I struggled to find immortals whose minds I could search for images of you. You’re not thought of much among your kind.” He frowned theatrically. 

Armand’s hands curled into fists at his sides. Daniel tightened his grip on his maker’s shoulder.

“Daniel is not mad,” Marius said. “And he’s well regarded among our Court, the one that governs all of our kind.” 

“Ah, yes, I’ve heard of your little Renaissance Faire over in France.” 

“You’ve broken our rules,” Marius said sternly. 

Vernon smiled in a mocking manner. “Funny I don’t remember agreeing to play by your rules. I do, however, have a score to settle. That one,” he pointed to Armand, “killed my fledgling. And I will take my justice by returning the favor.” 

Armand tried to run at him but Marius held out an arm to block him and Daniel tried to hold him back. “You infuriating sack of—“ Armand growled. 

“Boss,” Daniel hissed.

“It is impossible to prove such a thing from so long ago,” Marius said. “Whatever happened has past. However, your crimes—“

“My crimes!” Vernon scoffed. “I toyed with you and killed a mortal. You dare call those crimes among our kind?” 

Daniel seethed. “I knew you were a jackass, but I didn’t realize you’d be a fool.” 

Vernon’s eyes shot to Daniel, and all of the amusement was gone. They were dark and full of hatred. Anger. Daniel stepped back involuntarily. He felt a pressure inside, a heat, and he realized Vernon was trying to set him aflame. He did his best to counter the attack in the way Marius taught him. 

“If you will not grant me an eye for an eye, then I will take it. I do not follow your rules. I have conceived of my own justice.” He stepped toward them and the floor between him and Marius burst into flame.

“I’m offering you a chance,” Marius said, his words a harsh whisper, as if this was a conversation between only them. Vernon stopped, even as the flames died and fizzled out in front of him. “A case can be made for your death for the way you’ve terrorized a Coven House and threatened one of ours.” 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Vernon said. “Isn’t killing each other against our rules?” 

“You’re hardly one of us,” Armand said, pulling out of Daniel’s grasp and stepping forward, sweeping Daniel behind him. The pressure inside Daniel evaporated, as if Vernon had given up. For now. 

“You!” Vernon stabbed his finger at Armand. “I rue the day I ever laid eyes upon you.” 

Armand laughed, cruel and mirthless. The sound set Daniel’s teeth on edge. “Don’t worry, you won’t have eyes for much longer.” Armand flew forward. Marius caught him by the back of his shirt. They fought with each other. 

Vernon scowled. He lifted a remote. Daniel started to shout a warning. The French doors to their right burst open and all of the words died in Daniel’s mouth. 

Out of the doors poured a crowd of vampires, a veritable army coming at them. Two dozen, maybe three. All of them were relatively new in the blood, the remnants of their humanity still dancing on their skin. All of them were approximately Daniel’s height and build, with various shades of short blond hair. They were dressed in t-shirts and jeans and sneakers. Some resembled him more than others but they all looked as if they’d decided to dress as him for Halloween. The crowd of lookalikes was so unsettling that Daniel froze.

He heard Marius shouting at them to stop as the small army came at them, Vernon yelling at them to “seize them” like some terrible movie villain. Two of the vampires closest to Armand and Marius burst into flame. Armand grabbed another and broke his neck. 

And then one of the new vampires wearing a purple hoodie came through the door and met Daniel’s eyes. This one could be his brother, easily. Bile rose in his throat. The newbie vampire regarded him strangely, as if he hadn’t understood why he’d been selected for this army of thin, blond vampires until he saw Daniel in front of him. His face twisted in a flash of sick realization. 

Daniel was staring at him when hands grabbed him from behind and dragged him out of the foyer, into a room on the other side. Steel doors clanged shut. He was forced to his knees. The room was dark but with his vampire vision he could see it was another parlor. The two doppelgängers who’d grabbed him let go and then Vernon was standing over him holding a sword. A sword! 

Daniel thought of a million comic books he’d read with scenes just like this, where a petty, unprepared villain was using wild tricks. An army of Daniels! It was the most absurd thing on the planet. Daniel started laughing. He couldn’t help it. He laughed uproariously, the sound echoing through the room. 

Vernon’s eyebrows rose and he took an involuntary step backward. The two lookalikes had slinked away from him as if he might be contagious. 

Daniel got to his feet. He was pretty sure Vernon hadn’t planned to let him stand. That he’d meant to kill him on the floor. But he was clearly shaken by Daniel’s unhinged laughter.

“You really are mad,” Vernon whispered. 

Daniel laughed harder. He wasn’t mad, that was the problem. This situation was fucking insane. 

“I’m mad?” Daniel asked. “You created an army of lookalikes of a guy you’d never even met! All to get revenge on a guy you knew briefly back in the 1800s!” 

Vernon’s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. “Your maker murdered my fledgling. Now I shall return the favor. I take no pleasure in your slaughter. But it must be done.” 

Cold fear shot down his spine. Daniel’s heart pounded in his chest. Again, he felt the pressure inside him building and strange heat rushing through his veins. He tried to fight it. But then he saw the doppelgängers on either of him, looking uncertain, and he started laughing all over again. The pressure again eased, as if Vernon couldn’t quite ignite the flame he was trying to kindle. 

“I’ll quiet your laughter, you miserable excuse for a vampire!” Vernon came at him with the sword. Daniel dodged. The sword lodged into the soft wood of the floor. Vernon yanked it out and rounded on Daniel, who ducked out of the swing of the blade. The blade hit doppelgänger #2, slicing his head and part of his shoulders right off his body. He slumped to the floor. 

Vernon came at him again. This time, Daniel remained still until the blade was so close he could feel the disturbance of the air. He ducked out of the way and spun, grabbing Vernon’s arm. He used the momentum of his swing to toss him sideways against the wall. Vernon dropped the sword. 

Doppelgänger #1 went for it but Daniel grabbed it first and then sneered at the lookalike, who threw his hands up automatically, as if he were a bank teller in a robbery. 

Vernon pushed himself off the wall but Daniel put the blade to his throat. Vernon started to say something and tried to grab for the sword. Daniel swung it at him and it cut through his flesh and bone like butter. His hand landed with a wet plop on the floor.  Blood dripped from his arm as new skin knit itself over the wound.

The doors to the parlor burst open and Armand was at his side in half a second, blood spattered on his pale white hands and in his long, russet curls. He grabbed Vernon’s shoulders and hissed at him. Vernon’s eyes went wide.

“We can let the Council deal with him,” Marius said from behind Daniel. Daniel turned. Marius was covered in blood. It was splattered on his arms and cheeks. His long blond hair wipping around his face. He was so beautiful in that moment that Daniel nearly gasped. He and Armand were radiant and glowing with fury, like avenging angels. 

“No,” Armand said. 

“Then let me do it,” Marius said. He focused on Vernon, no doubt intending to use the fire gift to immolate him the way Vernon had tried and failed to do to Daniel.

Armand didn’t give him the chance. He grabbed Vernon’s head and tore it from his neck. Vernon looked faintly surprised before his head went lifeless. Armand held it up over his mouth and drank from it before dropping the head unceremoniously to the floor. He turned around, blood all over his pale face, his blue shirt. The remaining doppelgänger whimpered. 

“We must burn the bodies,” Armand said. Always so damn practical. 

Daniel grabbed Armand and kissed him, the taste of rich, vampire blood hot on his tongue. Armand kissed him back, bloody fingers making a mess of Daniel’s face and shoulders and neck. They kissed until Marius cleared his throat and then they split apart. Daniel grinned at his maker and then at Marius. 

“Armand is right,” Daniel said, breathless. 

Marius used the fire gift to set Vernon’s corpse and head on fire. The newbie vampire ran for Vernon, screaming his name, and lifted his head. The flames exploded and engulfed him. 

Daniel left the room only to wade into a sea of fallen bodies that resembled himself, some decapitated, others burned to near ash and still smoking. 

“Wait until Lestat hears about this,” Daniel muttered, thinking of how Lestat found himself in a castle full of bodies that looked so much like him. He would appreciate the sheer horror of the scene before him. One of them had hair so close to Daniel’s color that looking at him with his neck bent unnaturally on the ground made Daniel’s stomach roil. 

He went outside and lit a cigarette with shaking, blood smeared hands. 

Armand and Marius came out soon after and they stood by the car as they watched the flames engulf the house, the air crackling as the wood burned and smoke filled the air. 

“He had to know he couldn’t win,” Daniel said. 

Marius put an arm around him. “He wasn’t using reason. He was too lost in his desire for vengeance.” 

Once the house was fully aflame and it was clear there wouldn’t be enough of Vernon or his army of young immortals to ever come back, they piled in the car and drove away. 

Armand: 

“You should get a proper bath,” Marius said, as water ran into the large, jetted tub that took up half of Armand’s bathroom. 

“Is this not proper, Master?” Armand asked, though he knew Marius was thinking of the large bath he’d had built at the Chateau, a proper Roman bath that took up a whole room. But it was not feasible to have such a thing in a New York townhouse, even one as large as Trinity Gate. 

This tub wasn’t large enough to fit a group, at least not comfortably, but it was massive, so big that the contractors had triple-checked the specifications and had to reinforce the floor. The four adults could fit in there. Anymore would be a stretch. 

“You know the baths of which I speak,” Marius said, but there was no chastisement in his voice. He even sounded amused. He touched Armand’s blood spattered face with a blood spattered finger, caressing him. Armand closed his eyes, losing himself in the touch.

“Jeez, get a room already,” Daniel said.

Armand laughed. Always so quick to sarcasm, his Daniel. 

“This is my room,” Armand said. “If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to go find your own.” 

Daniel came over to him and kissed the top of his head, winding his arms around him. Marius looked over at his Daniel, who, from the feel of his skin against Armand’s back, was naked. He and Marius had stripped off their blood-soaked clothes when they’d entered the room. 

Steam rose from the tub as it filled with hot water. Armand moved around Marius and put in some soap that made it froth with bubbles. He could feel the blood, sticky and sweet, dried on his skin. It was stuck in Marius’ long hair and Daniel, too, was coated in blood and ash. It looked good on him, but he’d always been someone who looked radiant when disheveled and Armand had always enjoyed the process of cleaning him up. 

“Get in, beloved,” Armand said. 

Daniel had been staring off into the distance and shook himself at the command, climbing into the bath. He sank in with a groan that was so human that Armand smiled to himself. Daniel had been an immortal for over three decades and yet he retained so much humanity. Armand hoped he’d hold on to it for as long as he could. 

“Well, what are you waiting for? The water’s fine,” Daniel grinned at him and then shot a similar look to Marius, complete with lustful, lidded eyes. Armand tamped down the flare of jealousy that arose sometimes when he was reminded of how close they were. It wasn’t their closeness now that tore at him, but the years of their togetherness that he had been locked out of, and the easy intimacy they now shared as a result. 

Armand climbed into the bath and Daniel grabbed him, pulling him onto his lap. Armand splashed him and pulled away, sitting down beside him. Marius climbed in on the other end and was able to extend his legs so his feet hit the side of the bath beside Daniel.

“I suppose this will suffice,” Marius said. He smiled. Armand felt a little thrill of warmth at his approval. 

“Come here,” Marius beckoned. “Allow me to wash your hair.” 

Armand rolled his eyes before he realized Marius was talking to him, not Daniel. Daniel splashed him playfully. Armand moved around the bath so he was beside Marius, who took the sprayer from the tap and turned on the water. He washed Armand’s hair gently, first rinsing it, sweeping it out of his face with his free hand as the water made it heavy. Then he set down the sprayer and lathered Armand’s head with shampoo, his fingers digging deeply into his scalp, and strong and solid.

Emotion welled up in Armand. He’d kept it down on the way to his foe’s house and even when facing the fool, he would not allow himself to feel anything but fury for the asshole who had dared come after his Daniel. But now he thought of the army vampires, new in the blood and chosen for their resemblance to his beloved. He and Marius had killed them all, cutting them down when they came at them and would not stop coming.

He had no regrets. If they had cowered, if they had turned and run, he might have let them live. Their similarity to Daniel’s appearance alone may have stayed his hand. But they had attacked, weak and ineffectual as they were. Vernon had surely known they would be destroyed. It had been only a distraction to get Daniel alone.

To hurt him. 

Armand opened his eyes, water still running down his face as Marius washed off the shampoo. Daniel was alive and well, and looking at him now with such affection. 

“His fledgling would have been feral and wild,” Armand said. “If I truly killed him. Too new to be left alone, too messy. But perhaps he met some other end that Vernon simply blames on me.” 

Daniel’s expression changed, the smiling fading, and he looked distant again. Armand pressed his lips together. Perhaps he should have said nothing. 

“You did it for me, boss,” Daniel said finally. He leaned back against the marble of the tub. “I know that.”

Armand nodded. He had done it for Daniel. He’d done everything to keep him safe. He always would. He would kill anyone who posed a threat to the people he loved. 

“There, much better,” Marius said, planting a kiss on the top of Armand’s head. He handed the sprayer nozzle to Armand. 

Armand took it, and Marius slid in front of him, kneeling in front of the bathtub’s bench seat. Armand washed Marius’ hair as he had done for him, lathering it with shampoo and massaging his scalp. And then Marius switched places with Daniel, and Armand washed his hair while Marius got a sponge and began washing Daniel’s body. 

When they were all clean, they climbed out of the bath, and Armand handed them fine terrycloth robes. Daniel put his on and pet the soft fabric. “Reminds me of that night we spent at the Excelsior in Rome,” Daniel said idly. 

Armand remembered that night so vividly. He’d given Daniel his blood for the first time. Just a taste. No more. He would not turn Daniel, he had sworn to himself. He would give him little drinks and he would allow Daniel to guide into the mortal world. He had been so sure on that night that he could contain his love for this creature, with his soft blond hair and beseeching violet eyes. How wrong he’d been. 

“We’ve worn such robes before and after that,” Armand said. 

Daniel laughed. He pulled Armand close and kissed him on the cheek and then the lips, his mouth soft and pliant against Armand’s. “I love you,” he whispered against Armand’s mouth.

Armand put his arms around Daniel and held him tight, pressing his head against his chest, and didn’t move for the longest time. Not until Marius gently touched his shoulder and looked at the windows. Sunrise was coming. Not for an hour or so, but Daniel was drowsy in his arms already. He, too, looked at the window and then yawned, another mortal affectation Armand hoped Daniel would not lose. 

Armand pulled back and led Daniel to the bed. He turned down the covers and Daniel removed the robe before sliding into bed naked. Armand followed suit even though the sun would allow him to stay awake for a while yet. Marius did the same, climbing in and getting so close to Armand that their bodies touched. He reached past him and ruffled Daniel’s hair, telling him to sleep. 

Daniel murmured something nonsensical and curled onto his side, arms around Armand and his head on Armand’s chest, who remained on his back. Marius did the same, curling around him the other way, his head above Armand’s on the pillow. 

“Good night,” Daniel whispered, eyes closing. Armand threaded his fingers into Daniel’s hair as he went still with the death sleep. 

“I would do anything to protect him,” Armand said. 

“I never questioned that,” Marius said. He began to play with Armand’s curls, threading them through his fingers. 

“He had to die.” Armand held his breath, waiting for Marius to argue, to say that they could have taken Vernon prisoner and let the council deal with him. He hadn’t really put up much of a fight. 

Perhaps that what was the fool had expected, to be escorted to Court and put on trial, where he could then accuse Armand of murdering his fledgling. Or perhaps he’d really thought his plan would work and he’d dispatch Daniel. But of course, there was no way they’d have let him live after that. It was a suicide mission either way. 

“I would kill for both of you,” Marius said softly. “Surely you know that.” 

Armand turned his head and met Marius’ piercing blue eyes. They were full of intensity and of love. 

“I do know, Master,” Armand said.

Marius kissed his temple. Armand closed his eyes and felt the weight of Daniel and his maker against him, and tried to drift off into mortal sleep before the sun pulled him under.  

Chapter Text

Daniel: 

“An army of Daniels?” Lestat poked at Bryon’s forehead. The poor fledgling’s heart pounded furiously in his chest. Daniel felt bad for him, being poked and discussed as if he weren’t even in the room. Daniel certainly knew how that felt. 

“There were over two dozen of them,” Armand said. “All turned within the last six weeks.” 

Lestat turned around, frowning deeply. “Is it even possible to sire so many in such a short time?” This was directed at Gregory and Marius. 

“Why, thinking of going for the record?” Daniel joked. 

Lestat grinned at Daniel but once their eyes locked, his expression shifted, and something sorrowful crossed over it. It was clear he felt a deep sympathy for Daniel’s ordeal and Daniel suspected the two of them would talk about it later. 

Of course, his grin returned quickly and he turned it on Armand. “Your fledgling is daring me to break the rules.” 

“It wasn’t a dare,” Daniel said. 

“Vernon weakened himself with the effort,” Marius said grimly, answering Lestat’s question. “It made him easy enough to dispatch, though we took no pleasure in doing it.” 

Armand opened his mouth as if to argue and Daniel gave him a quick shake of the head. Armand closed his mouth and Daniel’s shoulders relaxed. 

“Well, we are grateful you were able to handle the threat,” Gregory said. “Why on earth did he set his sights on you, young man?” 

Daniel felt the weight of Gregory’s long look and the heaviness of his gaze. They’d been in the same room countless times but Gregory had rarely paid him any mind. He swallowed, feeling smaller under the scrutiny. “I was here alone at the New York Coven House. I’m sure he thought I was someone important.”

“You are,” Marius said, giving his shoulder a gentle shove. 

Daniel resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 

“Should we examine the scene?” Lestat asked. He seemed uncertain of protocol and looked to Marius, and then Gregory, and finally to Armand.

“We burned the house, as we said,” Armand said tightly. “There’s only ash left but you’re welcome to go sift through it if it will help confirm our version of events.”

“No one is doubting your accounting,” Gregory said. “Though we may find something of interest in the ruins.” 

Gregory turned and headed for the door. Lestat lingered behind, looking from Byron to Daniel and then to Armand, holding a smile like he was afraid he might drop it. Thorne stood in the doorway, arms folded across his chest, his red hair tied up in a ponytail. He gave Daniel a wink when he saw him looking his way and Daniel smiled at him.

“Well? Aren’t you coming?” Lestat asked.

“We’ve already seen it,” Armand said dryly. 

“I’ll go,” Bryon said. 

Lestat raised an eyebrow. 

“The bastard kidnapped me, turned me, and then sent me here to my death just to deliver a message.” 

“You look alive enough,” Lestat said. 

“Don’t be a dick,” Daniel muttered. 

“Ah, protective of your twin, are you?” Lestat studied him for a moment and then shrugged. “Fine, you may come. But watch yourself, hm? Thorne doesn’t play nice with trouble makers.” 

Thorne beamed proudly. 

“We’ll be back to avail ourselves of your hospitality before sunrise,” Lestat said to Armand. “Do have our accommodations ready.” 

Armand glared at him. Lestat knew they were ready and always were and despite his hateful stare, Armand was always pleased to see him. 

“Then I’ll take my leave.” Lestat paused, as if waiting for them to bow or something. When none of them did, he ushered Bryon through the door and Throne gave a little wave before following them out to the car.

“The arrogant, insufferable fool,” Armand muttered.

Daniel laughed. “Please. You love him.” 

“Those things are not mutually exclusive,” Armand said.

Daniel put his hands to his heart as if he’d been shot by an arrow. Armand rolled his eyes, which softened his expression and made him look closer to his mortal age. Marius clapped a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. 

“I suppose we should make arrangements.”

“Arrangements?” Daniel asked. 

“To travel,” Marius said, frowning. 

“Oh.” Daniel had known Lestat and Gregory would head back to Court, with Thorne and probably Bryon, but he was still reeling from the whole ordeal and hadn’t thought of what would come next for him. 

“Do you wish to remain here?” Armand asked.

“Not alone,” Daniel said with a self-deprecating laugh. He would be fine by himself again soon enough but for now, he preferred to keep close to the others. 

“I do need to get back to Court,” Marius pressed. 

Daniel sighed. He understood.

“I’ll stay with you,” Armand said. They often spent time here in New York just the two of them, so why not now? But Daniel knew the Court was in the midst of important business. They had issues they had to deal with, rules they had to hammer out, and he didn’t want to keep Armand from having a seat at the table, to be the reason he wasn’t part of that. He was already sidelined enough when he was there. Though, given how he and Marius were acting with each other, maybe that had changed. 

“No, boss, it’s okay. We can go back.” 

Armand titled his head, staring at him, as if trying to read his thoughts again. Daniel offered him a reassuring smile. “But maybe we could just chill for the rest of tonight. Watch a movie, try to relax. At least until Le Prince and his entourage return.” 

“I’d like nothing more.” Armand took Daniel by the arm and led him down the hall, to the living room with the big screen television. 

Armand sat beside Daniel on the sofa, and Marius sat on his other side. They scrolled around until they found a movie they could agree on: Network, a favorite of Daniel’s, and one he and Armand had watched dozens of times together, though somehow Marius had never seen it. 

So Daniel sat nestled safely between them, Marius’ arm around his shoulders, Armand holding his hand, as he settled against the sofa and the movie played.