Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“You want to do what?”

“Find other Vampires. Let them tell their stories,” Daniel answered, shooting Armand a determined look. 

“If you remember, I was once a bright young reporter with a point of view, getting good angles on stories, getting people to open up.”

“Yes, but—”

“And I want to do it again. Don’t they deserve a chance to be heard? To be known? And besides, that could help with the upcoming census—an insane thing to do if you ask me, but-”

“It could be dangerous, Daniel, you never knew who you might encounter… “

“That’s why I suggest that we all go. Together. Didn’t you say recently that you longed to travel again, around the world, like we did in the 70s and 80s?”

Armand didn’t answer immediately, and Daniel saw a series of micro-expressions on his face. 

“Boss?” 

“Yes, yes, I am thinking… This is not something that would only take a few weeks, would it?”

“No. But we are vampires, we have time. Trinity Gate will still be there when we return. Look, Louis is with Lestat in France, and if Benji comes with me, then Sybelle naturally follows and—”

“...Is that what you meant by ‘we all’?”

It was exactly what Daniel had meant with that. After talking some more Armand said that he’d at least think about it—which turned quickly to yes, when he saw Benji’s and Sybelle’s enthusiasm about going on a world tour. 

And so it was decided. 

They would pack up their belongings, and make travel plans. Regarding the idea of finding other vampires with a story to tell—they were making plans for that too. Armand, master of the mind gift, would try to pick up information in the thoughts of others, Daniel would do some online research and contact some of the ancient ones to ask if they knew something. Benji had the glorious idea to advertise their plans on Tik Tok and Instagram so other vampires could invite them for interviews. He had many followers on social media, mortals and probably vampires too, who were always eager to hear from him and what was going on in the vampire world. The important messages, by using some audio editing magic, would be in a low frequency so only actual vampires would hear it. And the Talamasca, probably. Okay, and some humans who were so determined to figure it out that they would spend a lot of time on editing and decoding the videos… but Benji always thought that if they were that obsessed with their world and put much work into figuring it out, they deserved to know. Besides, those were probably only a few people who either already were in the Talamasca or were unknowingly putting themselves on their recruitment list.

And Sybelle—lovely Sybelle, she would bring music to the hearts of mortals and hopefully immortals too. To draw them out, to bring them joy. As long as she had access to a piano, she could do her YouTube videos from anywhere. 

But before all that could take place, they needed to get approval by Prince Lestat. A formality—Daniel didn’t think that he would have anything against it. Armand would have told him, if that could be the case.
So like they had done so often, they got ready to travel to Auvergne, which was basically their second home anyway. 

When Daniel had shoved the last of their luggage into their private plane, he stood in front of the pile and shook his head, a little chuckle escaping him. Armand, who just came back from talking with the pilot, approached him and hugged him from behind, chin resting on Daniel’s shoulder.

“What’s the matter, beloved?”

“Well—look at this!”

“I am looking…it is luggage.”

Another chuckle from Daniel.

“Yes—but look, this area is filled to the brim! One could think that not four people were travelling, but ten!”

Armand hummed and after giving Daniel a quick kiss on his cheek, let go and stepped nearer to inspect what he saw in front of him.

There were suitcases and bags with clothes, of course, then books, various electronic gadgets, Sybelle’s electrical piano, Benji’s skateboard, a few plants that Armand had come to love and for which he didn’t trust the housekeepers in Trinity Gate to look after. Not to forget the four large trunks which they had to take for safety, should there arise an emergency where they wouldn’t be able to find shelter from the sun otherwise. 

“You might have a point, Daniel.”

The reunion with Lestat and Louis was quite emotional—it had been a while since they saw each other in person. A decade ago Daniel would have thought it unimaginable for Armand and Louis to even just be in the same room together, given how things had ended in Dubai. But a lot had happened since then— Akasha,and everything that followed, mainly, then Lestat’s strange body swapping adventure, his supposed meeting with the devil himself… who turned out not to be the devil at all. The religious craze it had caused was brief and impactful, leading some vampires to immolate themselves in front of churches—sometimes he had nightmares about that. About the what if. What if Armand had not survived this… Well. Then he’d be dead. Sybelle and Benji would be dead. And who knows how things would have gone with Amel, if-

No, there was no use in thinking about that. Things were as they were and forgiveness seemed to be the new trend between vampires. Louis had recognised that Armand did not bear the whole, sole responsibility for Claudia's death and they ultimately reconciled, leading to them founding Trinity Gate with Benji and Sybelle. Not as companions, but as vampires with a history, with a rekindling friendship. Louis had been quite lonely after realising that Lestat was too busy with being the Rock Star, the Brat Prince and the Antihero of his own story, leaving not much space for Louis. But now, they were back together with Louis living some time of the year with him, and some time in New York. 

Sometimes Daniel wished he would have experienced all that up close—but he had been cooped up with Marius for a while, battling his mental decline. And when he'd started getting better, that had shifted into battling Marius. With words, of course. Not only. The man had still some reflecting atoning to do regarding what he’d done to Armand in the past. But Daniel also couldn’t solely hate him. He was thankful for his care and found value in what he had to say. It was…complicated. When were things not?

Speaking of Marius… 

After going out for a hunt, the vampires were now seated around the big table in the room that was Lestat’s throne room, so to speak.
Lestat, Louis, Armand, Daniel, Benji, Sybelle, Rose, Viktor, Marius, Thorne and, to Daniel’s surprise, Gabrielle. 

There were some others in the renovated castle, Daniel could sense them… 

After explaining what they were about to do, the room fell dead silent. Lestat and Marius exchanged glances, probably speaking with each other in their minds, and Daniel was sitting on the edge of his seat, trying to act calm. He really wanted him to say yes, to approve of their mission to connect more vampires in the world through stories, to give a voice to those who wanted to be listened to.

Finally, Lestat spoke up.

“This endeavour seems noble… and it interests me, to know who else is out there, to hopefully unite all the members of our large tribe, one night. I support your plan—”

“Yes! Oh, thank you. This is great! We will stay for a few days, and then—”

“But,” Lestat continued, “there is one condition. Nothing drastic. You are to introduce everyone you meet, who might not have heard of it yet, to the new rules we laid out, the rules all blood drinkers shall abide by. And ask for a way to contact them, in the future, should the need arise.”

That was something Daniel and Armand had planned to do anyway, so the terms were gladly accepted. 

Just before they called the meeting to an end, Gabrielle cleared her voice, making everyone look at her.

“During recent travels through Greece, Sevraine and I have picked up on something in the thoughts of mortals, as we flew above Athens. Something they refer to as ‘urban legend’."

Sevraine, Gabrielle’s 'situationship' as Benji liked to call it. One of the ancient ones who maintained a coven in the mountains in the Cappadocian region. According to Lestat, Gabrielle had found some happiness there, but being who she was, she could not stay long at one place. 

“An urban legend?” Armand repeated, looking at her with interest. 

She nodded.

“And a digital one, as well. Something about a group of underground hackers, with a mysterious leader who has never been seen by anyone during the day, only some saw him briefly at night and described him as ‘too young to have been doing it for decades’.”

Daniel and Benji exchanged glances, a wide smile forming on both their faces.
It seems that their first destination would be Athens, Greece. 

Chapter Text

They ended up staying longer than planned—but a week after the court meeting they finally landed in Athens, arriving at their rented house an hour before their luggage did.

During the first days there, Daniel had done some research, sifting through Reddit posts and older web forums to collect any notion of the hacker circle around the suspected vampire. With not too much success—until now.

“Benji, listen to this: Urban hacker legend Dionysus sighted two nights ago near an automobile enterprise known for recent ethical controversies—myth hunter stated he “looked just like he did in the 90s”. … This sounds like our guy, doesn't it?”

Benji, who had just finished answering some of the comments on Sybelle’s newest video, perked his head up in interest. He rolled off the couch and walked over to the table where Daniel worked, taking a look at the notebook screen himself.

“Cool, finally something! But, what do we do with that info? Go there and investigate like private detectives?”

“You've watched too much Sherlock Holmes, kid. Not investigate… But it certainly wouldn't hurt to hang around in the area in case he comes back or is there somewhere.”

“Or,” Benji said, a grin on his face, “we could figure out who this ominous myth hunter is and interview him for clues.”

“You are really enjoying this, aren't you?”

Benji didn't answer verbally but the widening of his grin told Daniel everything he’d wanted to know.

They had contacted the one who’d made the post, and the answer came the same night. So, the next evening at 7 pm, the doorbell rang—and when Benji opened the door, he looked at a young man who wore a leather jacket and sunglasses, similar to how Daniel used to dress. His black curls framed his beautiful face, enhancing the bronze tone of his skin. When he waved him a quick hello, Benji saw the fingernails and-

"Yes. Vampire," Armand informed them shortly before he appeared next to Benji and stared at the stranger intently.

“You are Dionysus, are you not?”

The vampire flashed them a toothy grin and took off his sunglasses to reveal his unnaturally green, glimmering eyes.

“Aren't you going to invite me in?”

That's exactly what they did.



After sitting down and handling pleasantries, Daniel couldn't wait any longer to start his bombardment with questions.

“Why do you post those things about yourself? Did you create the myth?”

“Create?” Dionysus answered Daniel, while he shifted in his seat on the couch. 

“No. I did not create it. But let me say that it is fun to stoke it from time to time, for the amusement of those obsessed mortals and myself, frankly.”

"Okay… So you are playing games with humanity," Daniel said, with no particular emotion behind it —he just wanted to understand the other vampire's motivation behind what he was doing.

"Daniel… aren't we all?" Dionysus asked in an overly sweet tone that made Benji cross his arms and huff.

"In different ways, of course," he added, and then smiled gently at the others, who mirrored that expression, trying for a more welcoming atmosphere.

"So…you want to hear my story?"

"If you're inclined to tell it."

Dionysus let out a short laugh, and nodded.

"I wouldn't be here otherwise, would I? I just ask that it won't be published to the mortal world - it's for the eyes and ears of other vampires —and associates —only."

"Of course."

And so they started.

"Where should I begin… Ah, yes. Let me start with this. I have read many of the so-called Vampire Chronicles books, and I must say that I was greatly astonished by the richness of mortal and immortal lives lived, dating back through all those ages. I haven't been in the blood for long, as you might have guessed by my appearance. I was born in 1974 to a married couple of doctors, as the second of three children. My parents seemed to have a fascination with names starting with the letter A, considering all of us were given those. Hm? Oh… yes. I go by Dionysus now, but it was not my name when I was human.

"I will not bore you with details of my childhood. It was pretty normal - I did well in school, I fought with my older brother Alexandros constantly and loved my younger sister Aspasia dearly. We were raised to achieve greatness, belonging to the lower upper class of Athens, and there was nothing we lacked. It was in my youth, when everything changed. For my brother's eighteenth birthday - I was fifteen at the time - we took a vacation in Yugoslavia, on the coast of today's Croatia. It was nice to spend more time with my mother and father, because usually they were so busy with work that we were raised more by a nanny than by them. But of course they also wanted their alone time - and that's how we three siblings ended up alone at the beach on that fateful afternoon.
My brother and me, tasked with looking after our ten-year-old sister, got into another stupid argument. You would think that I'd have remembered what it was about, but no - that's how totally unimportant and unnecessary it was. When I finally turned and walked away, I was intent on grabbing my sister and returning to the hotel. But I couldn't find her.
'Alex,' I said after running back to him, my tone breathy and on the verge of panic, 'I can't find Aspa. Have you seen her?'
At first, he laughed, probably thinking I was joking. But then, he froze, his face contorting in fear just like mine had.
'No. I thought she was with you - she was behind you, a moment ago, when we fought-'
'She isn't anymore. Fucking hell, we need to find her. Come on!'
We began our search. We ran up and down the whole strip of beach that belonged to the hotel, for minutes, but without success. I had never felt such fear in my life before. There weren't many other people there and I often asked myself if it would have changed things, had there been more people. Maybe someone else would have seen her earlier than we did, would have seen her run into the water, would have seen her struggle. But the reality is, that no one saw her. Not until we caught a glimpse of the figure of a child floating in the water, causing our hearts to sink even further. We jumped into the ocean, fought against the waves to reach her, to drag her to shore. Due to their profession, of course our parents had taught us first aid measures and CPR, so that's what my brother did while I ran to the hotel to get help. Another thought experiment: What if handheld phones had been commonly available already? What if our parents had been with us? Could we have saved her?

"When I returned with my parents, an ambulance was on its way, they took over and tried everything - they wouldn't give up, not until the emergency doctor had to pry their hands away from … from the corpse of my sister. Within the span of thirty minutes our lives had changed forever, while hers was snuffed out like a candle flame. And our parents… they blamed us, for what had happened. After returning home, with one less seat needed on the plane and one extra casket, they stopped speaking to us, stopped spending any time with us. They still provided for us financially but there was no love, that had died with Aspasia. A year later my brother moved out and in with some friends of his, focused on his new chapter of life at university as a law student.
So I was alone - with sixteen I didn't need a nanny anymore. Totally alone. I started to feel worse each day, mentally, looking back I'd say I was depressed. I stopped speaking to my friends, because I felt they couldn't understand what I was going through, and started spending more time in front of the brand new computer I had asked my parents for. Remember, it was 1990, so the internet as we know it today wasn't yet a thing, with the World Wide Web opened to the public only in 1993. But I took a fascination with the technology, the codes, the potential of that machine. Each day after school, I would sit down in front of it with a book about informatics and study on my own, teaching myself the basics of programming."

"I remember the technology of that time," Armand interjected, his eyes glistening with excitement. "I had such joy to learn about everything, Daniel might remember how I stuffed our apartments full with computers and other machines-"

"Yes," Daniel stopped Armand before he could go on to infodump about anything computer and tech, "I certainly do remember. But this is not the time to talk about it - would you continue?" He asked Dionysus, who looked not the least bit offended to have been interrupted.

"Of course. Fast forward three years. 1993 - I had somehow graduated from the Lyceum, eager to move out of the cold and unloving atmosphere my childhood home had turned into, planning to enrol in university like my brother. I wouldn't study law, but informatics, of course. But before that, I had the whole summer to spend - something I dreaded. Ever since my sister died, I hated the season, being reminded of her death every time I saw tourists roaming the city and hotels advertising for them to stay.
And in that year, something else would take place, something that ultimately led to the end of my mortal life."

Dionysus paused, crossing one leg over the other. Daniel watched patiently as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the couch, quite the opposite of a gesture of vulnerability. If Daniel had learned one thing from staring at Armand's neckline all those years back in Dubai, it was that a vampire didn't expose their throat to a room full of fellow bloodsuckers, not if they were strangers.

"Ah," Dionysus said, he must have picked up on Daniel's thought - shit, he should train shielding his mind more, Armand would certainly be disappointed in him.

"Am I not with friends? You invited me into your home, you are listening to my life's story… No, I do not fear you. Call me naive, because I have not met many others of our kind, but I am tired of this culture of general distrust. Now, where was I?"

He straightened out his clothes, unnecessarily so because there was no crease visible, not even to vampiric sight. Then he continued.

"A month after my graduation my brother showed up at the house, personally handing me an invite to his wedding which was scheduled for a few weeks later. You can imagine my surprise - I didn't even know he had a relationship! That is how far we had drifted apart. With the invitation came also another one, for the stag night tour he had planned with some friends.
'Come on, Athanasios,' he had said to me, 'it will be fun! I know that partying isn't something you really do, but don't you think it's time to change that? A night away from your screens, to roam the streets and loosen up, having some drinks with your big brother - you can't say no!'
I couldn't say no, but that had more to do with my joy of having my brother back in my life, and less with my enthusiasm for this event.
'It's themed,' he continued to tell me. 'We're dressing up as the old Gods, paying homage to the pantheon… I will be Zeus, of course. The other guys have already chosen their roles…'
I thought for a moment, going through my limited knowledge of mythology.
'I could be Chronos?'
'Oh,' my brother said with an almost nervous chuckle, 'Uhm, we- Sorry, forgot to specify. We're doing Olympians only. And I can tell you that the guys are committed - some have even bought wigs for the female ones. I believe Aphrodite is still available… But her costume would have to be…fitting, you see.' He laughed, and I could feel my cheeks redden at the thought of wearing such a suggestive costume.
'What about Poseidon?' I asked because a trident prop was much more desirable to me than putting on fake female breasts.
'No, he's taken…oh! The one who chose Dionysus cancelled, almost forgot that… what do you think? The God of wine, the patron of the theatre… couldn't be any more different from you.'
Once again, my brother laughed, but I shrugged and accepted. And once again I come this the question of what if. What if I had just sucked it up and chosen to portray Aphrodite? Would a different costume have changed the outcome? Would I have been mortal still, perhaps married, with children of my own?"

Daniel smiled sympathetically at him, feeling a surge of dad energy rush through him as he saw the young man now stare into nothingness. Didn't matter that Dionysus was older in the blood; the overall lifetime measured, Daniel still had twenty-one years on him. And the way he had phrased it… it reminded him of something. Something that hopefully wouldn't trigger Armand to have one of his hissy fits.

"A friend of mine once faced a similar question, as he recounted his tale to me. For him, the metaphorical stand-in of change wasn't a costume, but a suit. I remember him saying it clearly, as if it happened yesterday: The suit changes nothing."

"The suit changes nothing…" Dionysus repeated, mumbling as if not noticing that he even spoke the words.

"Yeah," Daniel said, nodding along with his own words, "So basically, we can't know. Things are as they are now, no way to go back, huh?"

"Yes. You are right. And I wouldn't want to go back. That night… You can guess what I am trying to say. It was the night of my brother's stag night that I entered the Devil's Road… although I dislike the term. My life as a vampire is better than it was as a mortal boy. But I digress.
So, there I was - dressed in impractical robes, a crown of wine twigs on my head, already quite tipsy from the alcohol my brother introduced me to. I didn't like his friends, they were too loud, too obnoxious, too … perhaps, yeah. Too straight. Now, that wasn't my thought at the time. I hadn't paid too much attention to my sexuality, and such thoughts about other men had been too fleeting to assume any kind of orientation for myself. But when I wandered off alone, in the next club we entered, and my eyes fell on him… Let me say, that I suddenly knew what desire was, I felt it as if I've always done so."

"Him?" Benji asked, leaning forward in his armchair, feet dangling against the seat.

Dionysus smiled bitterly, but there was something in his eyes that revealed that there was more to it - that there, at least in the past, had been affection for whomever he was talking about.

"The DJ. He was standing in his cubicle, his hands flying over the turntables with efficiency, mixing the vinyls to what was almost perfection. Or so I thought. Music isn't my area of knowledge, I have to confess. Maybe my fascination had more to do with him and how he looked doing it, than the actual technique he used.
When our eyes met, I felt sparks flying through the room. My heart beat fast and my whole body started to heat up. A new feeling, a strange feeling - and so I did what I could best. Hiding away from other people. Quickly, I made my way to the bathroom, standing in line just to be anywhere but near the dancefloor. When I ultimately had to return, if only to have another drink with my brother, I caught myself glancing at the DJ again… but this time, he was not returning the gaze. While outwardly I smiled bravely through the bad jokes my brother and his friends told each other, internally I beat myself up over not acting, over fleeing like a coward. But as fate had it, it was not the last time I would see him.

"When forty minutes later we exited the club and walked through an alleyway to the next establishment I let myself fall back a bit, not eager to arrive at the strip club any sooner than needed. It was then that I heard a voice call my name - no, not my name, of course, but that of my costume.
'Hey, Dionysus!' I froze and turned around, only to freeze a second time when I saw none other than the DJ walk up to me with a wide grin, his silver headphones around his neck sparkling in the light of the street lanterns. I couldn't speak. I couldn't move. And the man came nearer still!
It was only when my brother called my name that I turned back around and yelled the first lie I could think of.
'A friend from school. You go ahead… I'll join you shortly.' My brother just shrugged and walked away again - and that was the last time I talked to him.
'A friend from school?' The DJ asked, raising one of his painted eyebrows, his eyes scanning my face and then, my neck, down my chest…
'I… had to say something. I didn't want him to stay and bug me.'
'I see. Now, what I am interested in, is why you are wearing this costume. Not the usual attire for guests of our club.' He said it in a tone that was definitely flirty, a tone that made my cheeks flush and my brain fuzzy.
'Stag night.' I croaked, wanting to facepalm myself for giving such a simple, stupid answer.
'Yours?' He asked with a wide smile that was so inviting, I had to join in. Most people had cleared the alley now, it was only him and me in the dimly lit space.
'Oh God, no. My brother's.' There, more than two words, at least.
'You don't sound enthusiastic about it.'
'Oh, believe me, I'm not. But I'm his only… brother, so I felt I had to come.'
'How noble of you,' the DJ remarked with a slight chuckle, but I could feel that in his words there was some truth.
'Well, I'm glad you did decide for it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have seen you, probably. And certainly not in that costume… it fits you well.'
Although I felt quite ridiculous in my costume, I blushed at the compliment and I suddenly found myself wanting to return it… But what was there to point out, when everything about him seemed ethereal, beautiful? His hair was short but curled on the sides, and he wore sunglasses, which was a bit strange but suited his overall grungey look. I was so distracted by the view of him that I almost missed the slight accent he had while speaking - but as I stood there and stared like an idiot, my brain latched onto it, and so the question tumbled out of my mouth.
'Where're you from? Your Greek is quite good, but-'
'Ah, yes,' he said, 'of course it cannot be perfect. But that's fine, I don't try to pass for a native speaker most of the time. Where am I from… oh, that's a long story. One I might prefer to tell you over a drink, or two… Do you want to accompany me?'
The blush on my cheek must have been radiant by then.
'Don't you have to work?'
'Just finished my shift. I'm all yours.'
I wanted to die of embarrassment, and yet at the same time, grab him and kiss him against the wall. Instead of doing either of these options, I just smiled and nodded a little, hoping that he would take the lead in whatever this was.
'Wonderful! I know a place, a bar, not too far from here… one more open to people like…us?' He phrased it as a question, and it was in that moment that I fully realised the implications, what he meant, and what that meant for me. But if that was what it was… no sense to deny it, was there?
'That sounds good, yes.'
So, we walked. Through the streets, my heart galloping in my chest as if it were trying to win a hippodrome race.

"I will not pollute my tale with every detail of how my attraction to him grew each moment we talked and laughed and sat together in the bar, slowly sipping our long drinks while making eye contact. I thought he was wearing the most interesting contact lenses. Depending on the angle and intensity of light falling onto them, they looked anything from golden, to pale yellow, to beige. They reminded me a bit of cat eyes, the sharpness in the contacts too. It was hours later that I would learn that they were, in fact, not contacts but his real eyes.
He told me that he was born in Ireland, but lived in France for a very long time - which sounded so curious to me. I had assumed him to be about my age, perhaps a few years older, considering he must have worked for a DJ for some time already. It was also then, that I learned his name.
'I'm Sam,' he said with a sweet smile, 'Sam Barclay.' I was-"

"No fucking way!" Daniel yelled, not able to hold his comment back at a revelation like this.
"Sam Barclay?! Are you kidding me?"
"Was it really him?" Armand joined in, making Dionysus look up in confusion.
"You…know him?"

"I thought you had read some of the chronicles," Armand remarked, rather sharply.

"I might have… skimmed them," the other vampire admitted.

"Skimmed-" Armand began but Daniel interrupted him.
"Doesn't matter. Yes, we know him. Or, I mean, Armand and some other friends of mine knew him. I have never seen him personally."

In that moment, Sybelle, who had sat quietly throughout the whole conversation so far, began to giggle as if Daniel had just said the funniest thing in the world. He furrowed his brows. He loved her, of course, she was like a stepdaughter to him. No, she was his stepdaughter, in any aspect that mattered. But he could not say that he always understood her, or the way she viewed the world.

Dionysus smiled at her - an action that won him sympathy points in everyone's hearts.

"Is it important for my story, that you know or knew him?" Dionysus then asked Armand directly, who after a brief moment of reflection, shook is head.

"So, then I can continue to tell you about that night?"

Everyone nodded.
Dionysus sat upright now, his eyes focused as he recounted the rest of his tale.

"We talked about this and that - he told me about his love for theatre and mythologies of all kind. Of course, he liked my costume, because Dionysus was his favourite Greek god. He asked me all kinds of questions, and sometimes they were worded so perfectly that it felt like he was in my head. Which, looking back now, he probably was.
One thing led to another - and suddenly I found myself agreeing to accompany him home, my brother and his stupid stag night forgotten just like that. I felt the alcohol inside me, but I was clearheaded enough to know that it was my own decision to go with him, no coercion needed on his part.
Turned out that his home was a hotel room - I didn't question it much, too focused on other things - like the way his hands felt on my body when he pulled me closer to him as soon as we were through the door. The way his lips crashed with mine, and all the passion I let myself fall into. Although I felt quite insecure, the experience was wonderful, taking me to another plane of existence where nothing else mattered other than him and me. He was patient with me, and he told me that he wanted to make me feel good, that I just needed to relax and he would take care of it all. And so I did.

"When afterwards we lay on the bed, naked and satisfied - or at least I was - he turned my head slowly by taking hold of my chin, his eyes deeply staring into mine.
'Do you believe in the supernatural?' He asked me and my first reflex was to laugh - what an absurd question for the situation we were in!
'I'm serious,' he said, his eyes never leaving mine, his sharp nail gently pressing into my jaw, just enough to send another round of shivers down my spine.
'I mean… No? I don't know. I hope there is an afterlife, but aside from that…'
My answer was truthful then. The reason for my …what I consider a childish hope of something coming after death? My sister, of course. I simply could not allow myself to think I would never see her again, in any life. Oh, the irony of it. But I won't go down that road now.
Sam's eyes sparkled with something and then he bowed down, placing a few kisses along my jaw, my neck.
'I bet I could convince you otherwise…'
'How?' I said, half laughing and half gasping at the sensations.
'Just… trust me.'
And I did. Perhaps I shouldn't have done so. But he'd been so very careful with me, so why shouldn't I try to return the patience?
He waited until I nodded - and then I felt it. A sharp sensation, painful - yet it quickly turned to pleasure. He bit my neck! With his teeth! And it felt like nothing ever had before. It was pure bliss. But who am I to tell that to you, we all know the pleasure of the bite."


Everyone nodded.
"Was this how he turned you?" Daniel asked, glancing at the recording graphic on his screen. It gave him whiplash, taking him to another interview, another time…. He pulled himself together.

"No, not quite… This was merely how he revealed himself to me. After he pulled away, we looked at each other, and I didn't know what to say except for one word.
'Vampire…'
'Yes. I am. I have walked the night for almost two centuries since I was introduced to the Dark Gift. Not all of it was pleasant, I admit, but overall I don't regret it. Not that I was handed a choice… But, some say, that those entering the Devil's Road by force turn out to be stronger. I don't know whether it's true…'
I was fascinated. I was scared. I told him as much.
'Yes, I thought you would react this way. It's quite normal for a mortal to experience both of these feelings… But, now that you know… let me ask you something. Do you want to live forever?'
I didn't know what to say. I looked at him out of wide eyes, which he took as an incentive to talk further.
'I have never attempted to make another of us… At first I was too scared, then coven law forbid it… and since that all ended, I had other things to do, other work to…finish. But for the past years I have yearned to have an immortal companion, a fledgling of my own… and then, tonight, I saw you. I saw you in all your beauty, your aura of tragedy - to me, that makes you even more worthy to be given the Gift. Do you want it, Dionysus?'
'That's not…my name,' I whispered, too enthralled to comment on everything else he'd said.
'But it is what pulled me towards you. It is your destiny… Is it not, Athanasios? To be immortal, as your very name describes?'
My mind was whirling, my sanity seemingly dripping down the drain, thought by thought. He continued to talk, and his words, they seemed to hold magic, lulling me in until all I could think of was yes-yes, I want to live forever. Yes, I want to become immortal - Yes, I want to become his companion on the Devil's Road.
He seduced me - was it my own free will? I truly cannot say. But he had certainly decided that I would become his fledgling from the moment he saw me. Now, forgive me - but I do not wish to speak about the details of my…transformation. To say it mildly - the pleasure was the best I'd ever felt, and the following pain the worst I'd ever had to endure."


Daniel winced as he remembered the moment of his turning, and it seemed like everyone was pulled back to that, remembering their own turnings. It was Benji, who asked the next question.

"Did he stay with you long?"

Dionysus eyes darkened and he shook his head.
"No… He stayed with me for not even two years - minutes to a vampire's sense of time - teaching me the basics, before he vanished one day, without a word. He… broke my heart. I really loved him. I did. Not as much as I love my current companion, but Sam was my first lover, he is my Maker…"

Daniel and Armand exchanged warm glances with one another, and Daniel wanted to crawl up into his partner's arms and let himself be cuddled and kissed to sleep. But he had to stay professional now.

"Yes, such feelings can be…intense, I know." Daniel said instead.

"I don't know what became of him…" Dionysus said, his gaze darting to the window, as if he could find Sam standing there.

Didn't he… You know. His name was on one of the lists I once saw at court. Benji's voice entered Daniel's mind, and it was only then, that he remembered the tragic truth about the Vampire Sam Barclay's whereabouts.

"I… We might know. But it… You will not like…He-"

"He died," Armand said simply, matter-of-factly. Sometimes he was crude, that man. But maybe a direct approach was sometimes what was needed.

"He… what?"

"Does the name Akasha ring a bell?"

"Yes… The Mother… I heard others talk about her Awakening."

"Yes. She woke up… and brought a very short, but intense reign of terror over vampires and those of humanity unlucky enough to live where she descended from the Heavens during her grand flight. She burned many of us… Sam was among them."

Dionysus didn't say anything. He sat still, like a statue, which was a bit uncanny, having just recalled the image of Akasha into all of their memories.

"I'm sorry," Benji said, and Sybelle nodded along, her gaze soft and her smile loving.

"I… I didn't think -" Dionysus started but stopped himelf, and shook his head.
"Can we take a break? I want to tell the rest of my story, why I do here what I do, but I…yeah."

"Of course," Daniel jumped in. "Have you hunted yet? Perhaps that might help you to…feel better?"

"That, and some rest. Would it be alright if we ended this for tonight? I promise, I will return next night to tell the rest, that is, if you would have me."

"Of course we do!"
"Yes!"
"It is our pleasure."
Benji, Daniel and Armand said simultaneously while Sybelle nodded so hard her whole chair began to move.

Dionysus inclined his head politely and stood up from the couch.

Daniel hit stop on the recording, quickly typing a title, before following Dionysus, who was already headed for the door.

"See you tomorrow night then!"

Dionysus turned around once more, his eyes red-rimmed and suddenly looking very tired, but he smiled.

"I will be here."

Chapter Text

The next night, not only did Dionysus return - when Armand opened the door, there was another man standing next to him, smiling politely.

"Good evening," Dionysus said, smiling before placing on hand on the other man's shoulder as if to encourage him. He was a bit shorter than Dionysus, and his black hair wasn't as curly, although similar in length. His jaw, upper lip and chin was covered with a trimmed and well-groomed beard, and he stared at Armand with curiosity visible in his almost violet eyes.

"This is Efthymios, my companion. I mentioned him yesterday, briefly — I hope you don't mind that I brought him."

"Not at all," Daniel said, now appearing behind Armand and waving their guests in.

"Come inside, our house is open to you both."

"I'm glad. Besides… He might have a few words of his own story to tell you."

Like the night before, it only took them a few minutes until everyone was settled in the living room, Efthymios next to Dionysus on the couch, clasping his hands a bit nervously.

"I imagine that you're eager for me to continue my tale," their guest began, casting a sweeping gaze through the room. "But for that to occur, he must first tell his. For his story is how he was led to and his saving me - without Efthymios, there would not be much more to my biography from where I've left off. I would not be sitting here with you."

"Alright," Daniel said, creating a new folder in which he opened a fresh recording, readying himself to press the button. "Whenever you're ready."

Their newest acquaintance smiled and immediately started to talk.

"I was born and raised in the very early 19th century in a small village located in the north of Messenia. My family were orthodox Christian farmers, and religion played a big role in my education and our lives. My uncle was the village priest, and he told me bible stories each Sunday after mass, teaching me about the contents of scripture and liturgy. A private Sunday school, if you would call it that. I learned reading and writing from him, his ever-watchful eye making sure that my penmanship developed orderly and nicely.

"My parents were too poor to provide formal education for me, but with my ability to read, I immersed myself in every book I could get into my hands. I wasn't good at maths, but I learned the basics alright, enough to handle the little money we had when I went to the market.

"My father, not in line with adhering to the religious doctrine, was a hot-headed drunk, so it came to no one's surprise that I grew closer to my uncle than I ever did with him. From the time I was fourteen, I knew that I wanted to leave home and dedicate my life to religion, becoming a priest myself or even trying to serve God as a monk. I was the third son in my family, so the pressure of overtaking my father's farm wasn't a burden that fell to me. So, a life of religious study, I began. Once again, through my uncle's help, I was allowed to undergo the necessary education, and when I was accepted into a monastery, it was the luckiest day of my life. I worked hard, prayed even harder, eager to learn all the rules and get even closer to God.
"The monastery was dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ, founded at the end of the twelfth century. It was small, hidden between mountains and built like a fortress, a feature that would become very practical in the upcoming years. And lead to its demise.
I don't know how much you know about the history of our country, so let me just tell you that for a long time, the Ottoman Empire ruled over Greece. But the people had had enough of it, and in the year 1821, a revolution started, causing the Greek War of Independence, which would go on for many years. In my little village, I hadn't noticed much of it - but when I joined the monastery in the year 1824, eighteen years old at the time myself, everyone around me talked of it, and with revolutionaries hiding within our very walls, there was no way to stay ignorant about it. I found myself facing constant moral dilemmas, between the pacifism instilled by religion and the fierce determination of a young man to fight for what's right, what's best for the people, also in God's grace…
I didn't have too long to sulk in that particular internal debate. In 1825 Ibrahim Pasha led his Egyptian troops into the Peloponnese, quickly gaining control and not stopping, not even turning their back on holy places. We'd heard of pillages and raids happening to other monasteries and so it came of no big surprise when the soldiers stormed our place one day, killing and destroying everything in their path. There were those of us who died as martyrs, praying until their final breath, and then those who fought back. And then there was me - an act of cowardice, perhaps, or just mortal self-preservation - as I hid away, wounded by a sword I took to my side, crawling into a cabinet and waiting there, falling in and out of consciousness. What finally woke me was the smell of smoke and burned incense mixing with the nauseating scent of my own blood, causing me to fling open the doors and roll out with a groan. It was dark around me, so I'd stayed there until nightfall. As I said, I was wounded - yet not mortally so, I could move around by dragging my feet across the corridors, supporting my weight by half leaning against the walls. I remember how scared I was and how I yelled names of the other monks, hoping that somebody, anybody, would answer me… But all I saw were the glowing embers of where small fires had destroyed scripture and other items, and the countless,dead bodies that were spread out throughout the whole building. I felt the need to retch and with my last strength, I staggered outside, where I emptied my stomach onto the earth in the courtyard. I couldn't have forgiven myself for sullying the floors inside when so much had already happened to the monastery.

"Kneeling there, I caught my breath after I was finished and then closed my eyes, sending prayers to God and all the orthodox saints I could think of in the moment, pleading for my brothers to be taken into heaven, asking for guidance, begging God to send help, although I knew that the last one was more wishful thinking.

"I fell back into the grass, my torso hurting from the wound, which had already begun to get infected, and I stared up into the stars, wondering if this was it, if I would die this way. I thought of my uncle, my parents and siblings, the whole village…
When I heard footsteps, I closed my eyes, praying to be absolved for my sins, hoping to find peace and love with God and the angels.
But no fatal blow ever came as I lay there.

'I thought you asked your God for help… are you so quick to give up, little monk?'
I opened my eyes and saw a figure above me, a face so young and full of angelic beauty… Had God really heard my prayers? Was he an angel, about to save me? Or was I already dead, and he would fly me up to Heaven?

'Oh, I am no such thing. And you are very alive, still. Come, let me take you away from here.'
I didn't have time to protest - the creature took me into his arms, clutching me to his chest, and up we went, to the clouds, but not to another realm, no - after two minutes I passed out again, and when I woke up I was lying in a soft bed with barely a recollection of how I got there. The room I was in was small, but luxurious for the time - cushioned furniture, many candles that illuminated the space and reflected in the polished marble floor. The rugs on it looked like nothing I had seen before, apart from perhaps… Ottoman carpets - oh, what a cruel turn of fate.

"The door opened and in came my saviour - or my captor? - with a large bowl of what smelled like soup or stew, and he approached me with it, putting it down on the night table. Now, with the candlelight, I could see more of his face, of his appearance. And I felt a shock when I saw how young he was. He could not have been older than fourteen or fifteen years, or so I thought. Brown, greasy hair falling to his shoulders, brown eyes that stared at me with unruly sharpness.

'My body stayed that age, but I am much, much older than that.' The boy answered my thoughts, which sent a chill down my spine. 'Don't be afraid of me, Efthymios.'

'That is not my name anymore, I am Brother -'

'Yes, yes, of course you are. Does it matter now, though? Your monastery is destroyed, and everyone is dead. You survived. For now.'

It angered me greatly, the words that sought to strip me of my religious identity and I yearned to put things right. It angered me so much, I didn't question how he knew my old name at all.
'I've received the tonsure and have been growing out my hair and beard since. I am a Rasophore, not a Novice anymore - my commitment to God has been made final.'

"It was then that I realised that I had lost my kalimavkion, the headwear of monks, and I felt exposed without that part of my habit. I was still wearing my robe and I was glad about it, although it was dirty and stained with blood.

'God doesn't exist.'

"I didn't know what to answer to such blasphemy. And other questions were more pressing.

'Where am I? Where have you taken me? And why? And, what are you?'

'You are in Alexandria.'

"Alexandria. What dark irony. Egypt, like the very people who caused my monastery's demise. Alexandria, where the governing body of the orthodox confession sat. A place I was told about, growing up. A place that was far away.

'No…that can't be. We haven't crossed the Mediterranean-'

'Oh, but we have. I have that power, to quickly fly where I want, and I carried you with me.'

I studied him, the unnatural stillness of his body, his skin that was just some shades darker than mine, yet seemed totally different. It was too smooth, too perfect.

'Are you a demon?' I whispered fearfully, trying to sit up, but my body was too exhausted and every movement felt like stones crushing and grinding my flesh down to its last cell.

'Some people would say so. But no. I am something else… I was human once, like you. Then I became immortal.'

I had to think of the ancient Greek myths and legends, and the believers in such, which I'd learned to call Pagan.

'I brought food for you.' The creature said, and I looked at the bowl - a type of lentil soup, perhaps?

'Yes. Eat - I will also bring you some water. And after that, I want to take a look at your wound.'

I was scared and touched by the care simultaneously.
'Why… are you doing this?'

'I need you to be strong, and your mind to be clear and not distracted by the pains of hunger and injury.'

I laughed.

'Good luck with that, my strange friend. I have never felt such pain before, and I can feel it spreading. This wound will kill me, and you know it.'

Describing his reaction in modern terms - he pouted at me, and shook his head wildly.

'Do as I said. I will be right back, with the water.'

And so it happened.

"Despite my protest, I took to the food and drink with great urgency, glad to give my wilting body at least something and if it was its last meal.
During it, the pain made me almost choke on the food twice, and you would think that it's impossible to choke on soup, but with my throat constricting, I felt powerless as my body began to fail me.

He, who had not revealed his name yet, removed my robe after I was finished, and he did so with surprising gentleness and care.

We both looked at the wound.

'I told you… No doctor can help me now. I thank you for your kindness, for not letting me die alone, but you must see that it's inevitable.'

His fingers felt along the edges of the cut, and they were so cold that it felt soothing. Then he snapped his gaze to meet my eyes, and there was intent in it, determination so clear it scared me, again.

'You will not die,' he said. 'You will become immortal, like me.'

'I do not wish to become immortal, not on the earthly realm at least,' I said, silently sending another prayer to God, but before I finished it, the stranger spoke again.

'You say that now. You are blinded by your devotion to a lie. You will feel different about it all… you will feel different.'

Before I could answer, he'd taken his wrist to his mouth and bit down. I wanted to scream when I saw the fangs, but I couldn't, for he had pressed the wound in seconds against my lips, his blood entering my mouth. It tasted like iron at first but then the taste faded, replaced by something sweet, something I couldn't discern. I swallowed and it was pure ecstasy, my body going numb from the feeling of floating… The pain of my injury was forgotten while it lasted. When he pulled away after what felt like too little time, I tried to chase his arm but he was faster, pressing me into the sheets by one hand.
He leaned above me, his eyes staring at mine.

'Sleep now. I will join you next evening. Enjoy the sunshine falling through the window at day… it will be your last.'

I wanted to protest but of course, his words disarmed me, and I found myself sinking, sinking into relaxation, and finally, into sleep."

Efthymios paused for the first time and gave a little shy smile towards the four vampires listening to him, and then smiled more when he got a reassuring one from Dionysus.

"He imprisoned you for the day?" Daniel asked, thinking about how often this had occured, how often he'd heard or read the stories of humans being imprisoned before their turning. Or their death. Vampires could be like cats sometimes…playing with their prey. It had happened to himself, he remembered. San Francisco, 1973. He almost died there. By Armand's hand, of all people.
As if on cue, Armand looked at him, with love in his eyes… Yeah. No. This, this was way better than being dead.

"Yes," Efthymios answered, "That's what he did. I slept through most of the day and the few hours of sunlight I had left I spent in agony, the effect of the vampiric blood having worn off mostly, making me feel the pain of my fatal wound but also the burden on my soul, to know that came evening, he would snatch away the promise of Heaven, of being amongst those I loved, of being with Christ, one day.
I could not care for the rays of sun at all. Day, night, what did it matter when your soul was sentenced to damnation? The promise of warmth, of happiness, of power, gifted by the day, it was an illusion. Day is an illusion, I thought to myself.

"I was almost relieved when he came through the door, finally. What was worse than the evil looming above my head? Waiting for it to get strung up, and then waiting for it to unravel.

His mood was considerably less gentle than the night before. He marched to my bed and threw some scissors on the blanket, staring at me intently.

'Your hair will stay as it is at the moment of transformation. Cut it how you like it.'

Then he left again, leaving me alone to stare at the instrument.
I wouldn't touch it. I had groomed myself the morning of the attack, and my hair, grown out, a hint of the tonsure ceremony still visible if one looked closely, should stay as it was. For a moment I considered taking the scissors and ending my life - but I thought twice about it. The sin of suicide would burden my soul, whilst being turned into something not human would be against my will. On which would God look with more kindness? Forgiveness?
The boyish monster must have listened to my thoughts, because he returned, and shrugged.

'Then let it be as it is. What does it matter to me. The moment has almost come-'

'Wait,' I said, following an impulse, 'I still don't know your name. You bestow this…. whatever this is, on me, but I don't even get to know your name? Where you come from? Why you're doing this? This is hardly fair.'

To my surprise, this made him think. He even smiled, although it looked sad, or broken. He came to me and sat down on the edge of the bed, leaving a respectful distance and he let out a sigh.

'If I tell you, will you submit to your changed fate?'

'No,' I said with a smile because I couldn't lie about that. I was powerless against what he was going to do to me, but I had the power over my feelings, about my morals.

I thought he would get angry, but instead, my captor laughed - full heartedly, laughed. It sounded just like any other boy that age, and it made me almost forget that he wasn't just that, a human boy.

'I cannot blame you for that.' His gaze wandered off until he was looking out of the window, and that was when he started to tell me his story.

'I don't wish to talk much about my human life. As you can see, it was short - it was slavery. I was born into it, and I suffered under a cruel Master. Until she bought me, took me in. It was the year 496, and I was fifteen years old. Older than the other boys and girls serving in her home. I loved my Mistress, she was always kind to me, to everyone of us. To other people she could be cruel - it made me fear her sometimes, although she told us that she would not bestow such violence on us.
Some of the boys who were younger - I only saw them at night. Like it was with my Mistress. After two week I learned the secret - blood drinkers, eternal youth, being more powerful than humans - what more to tell a boy that age to prepare him for the inevitable?

She made me a vampire. It was horrifying, but afterwards she helped me clean myself and then taught me the essentials. But she had no time to deal with me any further, so the other boys took over my education, helping me to navigate the night.

But just a few years later a great tragedy befell us all. My Mistress, she got into a feud with another blood drinker and couldn't give in, so there began a terrible series of action and reaction, leading to him, one night, to come into my Mistress's home, burning everything and everyone in his way. My brothers, they all perished, but I could escape. Later I heard that she died too, the details unknown to me to this day. I can hear her name in my dreams at night… She is calling me to her.'

'What was her name?' I asked, doing anything I could to buy myself more of my precious mortal time

'Eudoxia,' he answered, his eyes glazed over with a red tint. I looked at-"

"Hold on. Sorry—Eudoxia? This vampire, he was the fledgling of Eudoxia? Marius wrote about her- That makes you her…grandfledgling? Is there such a word?" Benji interrupted Efthymios just a second before Daniel would said the same thing.

"And so the common thread appears once again…" Armand mumbled, shaking his head a little, seemingly in thought.

Connected. Like motifs, reappearing throughout the score, Sybelle projected into Daniel's mind and he looked at her, giving her a nod. Of course all vampires were connected, all dated back to Akasha, but in the common understanding of it it was strange, how they could meet fellow vampires, of which they'd never heard before, and still find a more recent connection than just to the origin.

Efthymios looked slightly puzzled by this, and Daniel wondered why. It had happened so long ago, and with over 200 years in the blood, had he never bothered to find out the details?
This time, Daniel managed to keep his thoughts shielded. That, or their guests just chose not to react to that particular sentence.

"So, you know of my Maker's Maker?"

"Yes," Daniel said, "as Benji has just stated, her story gets told by Marius in the book about his biography. There was no mention of a survivor - Marius must have forgotten."

"Memory is a monster, wasn't there something like this in Louis' book?" Benji asked and Daniel and Armand exchanged amused glances.
"Yeah, kid. Something like that."

"It seems that there is a lot I want to ask you. But first, let me finish my tale."

Everyone nodded and so Efthymios continued.

"After my abductor had spoken her name, he stopped talking as if the weight of her memory was too heavy to let anything else follow. Minutes we sat there in silence, before he turned to me, slowly.
'My name… is Eutyches. It's what Eudoxia renamed me to. After an ancient mummy portrait of a freed slave boy. Because in her eyes, I was freed. Freed from mortality and the ills of humanity. And at first, it really felt like it… But when I was on my own for the first time, all of this started to feel like a curse. And throughout the many centuries I kept changing my views about whether being a blood drinker was a good or a bad thing… It was only recently, that I grew tired of that question. I am so tired… Nobody should live that long. And yet, there are those far older than me. But I cannot go on.'

'What do you mean by this?' I asked him, battling my conflicting emotions. I felt pity for him - yet I didn't want to allow myself that. I wanted to stay strong, to defy my captor until the last moment.

His eyes flashed dangerously and suddenly he was on me, pressing me into the bed, with a speed and strength so great that I couldn't fight him, not even had I not been injured.

'You will find out soon. Very soon.'

And then he bit me. Drained me. I protested but he wouldn't stop, wouldn't hear my pleas. And finally, when I thought I was dying, Eutyches fed me his blood and this time I drank and drank, seeing images of what he had told me rushing through my mind. Names, places, events, it all went so fast that it all blended together, and my heart beat faster and faster, until I feared it would burst into pieces. I felt wonderful and like nothing could hurt me - even after he ripped away his wrist, staring down at me out of sad eyes. I didn't understand why looked this way, I couldn't - and I still couldn't, when the pain set in, through which he held me and afterwards helped me to the bathroom, pouring warm water into the tub.
'Clean yourself. I will change the sheets.'

I did, and it was a relief. All physical pain was finally gone from me but my mental turmoil about what had happened to me was not stilled.
My robe got sullied, so I had to resort to what he laid out for me - simple clothes, they would do, but it was strange to wear them again.
When I got back to the bedchamber, he explained to me the most important rules - what blood to consume, the danger of sunlight, and all that would secure my survival in eternity.

'Why are you telling me all of this now?' I asked, staring at him with a mixture of contempt but also helplessness.
'I will not get another chance. The sun will rise, soon… Look into the nighstand drawer. There is everything you will need to find the money I set aside for you. That is all that matters now. Live long, Efthymios.'
His answer felt like daggers to my heart. It sounded like words of farewell, and I thought back to how I thought about ending my life… I was not naive. I knew, that he planned to end his although I had to deny that inner knowledge, to stay sane. I never understood why, and why he did it in this manner … Ah, yes, I will tell you. Apologies, this moment is… hard to remember. Which words should one use to describe the panic roaming through me in that final hour?
He wouldn't talk to me, he wouldn't answer my questions unless they were regarding the quick lesson he had given me already. And when the sun began to rise, he stood up, and I tried to follow him, but newly turned as I was, my body already began to weaken and the last I saw of him alive, before the paralysis took over, was him laying his hand over his heart, and then looking to me, as if in apology.
The next evening I woke up thirsty, disoriented… And when suddenly a human - maybe a neighbour? Or a worker? I didn't even know in what sort of building I was - walked into the room, my urges took over. I killed the old man, seeing his life with every drop I drank, and when he finally slumped to the ground, I wanted to join him. But what I wanted more was to seek my Maker. And, I found him.
In the courtyard of what looked like some sort of tavern, against a wall, sat a pile of ash which still had some of his shape, a third of it carried away by the wind.
I couldn't believe it. Back upstairs, I opened the drawer and found a letter as well as a key, and a piece of paper with instructions. The letter wasn't an apology, or an explanation - but in it, Eutyches talked about religion, about God and that I would need to set it all aside, should I want to survive eternity with dignity. I swore to myself that I would never do that - yet, with the years to come, I thought about it all. I talked to atheistic scholars, I wondered why an all loving, all powerful and all knowing God would let my mortality be ripped away from me like that. Why he would push me away, after all my years of devotion.
Accepting that likely, he didn't exist, was easier than to deal with the disappointment.
So I took another oath, just by myself. I would not let my humanity die as well - and I would not let others die senselessly. I could not save my Maker, but maybe I could save others. If not by the grace of a God, then maybe through my own actions."

"And that's what he did," Dionysus took over the narration, while Eftyhmios leaned back into the couch, looking quite exhausted

Admittedly, it took Daniel a bit to shift his attention to Dionysus, having been lulled in by the tale of Efthymios' entrance into their world.

And… The journalist side of him was already making connections, tying knots between strings of events, seeing the parallels that where so clear to him, reminding him of the biographies of those he loved.

Eutyches… knowing nothing else than slavery and cruelty as a boy, so the kindness of his new Mistress must have felt like freedom to him, of course. Making another vampire, before ending it all … As if to ensure that a piece of him would go on, that he would not be forgotten.

Efthymios, wanting to be close to God, only to be ripped away from his faith by what was essentially rape. Getting turned only to find his Maker having walked into the sun… Abandoned. Taking that vulnerability and turning it around to have something to live for.

Armand, Magnus, Lestat … And of course this was connected to Marius. The Savage Garden was a wondrous thing, as Lestat would say. Roots running everywhere under the earth, unseen but still there. Life blooming and wilting before their eyes.

Daniel forced himself to listen to Dionysus now.

"You remember, Sam left me and all on my own - I didn't dare to go back to my family, in case I would hurt them, or they me - and I slowly began to fall in despair. The depression I felt while I was alive hadn't just gone, of course, and the pain of everything I experienced grew larger than I could endure. So, one night when I passed a house fire, something inside of me snapped. And I began to run, towards the flames, ready to end myself. But something hit me with full force, before I could reach the house. Or rather someone - yes, it was Efthymios. He grabbed me and dragged me away, and when we were hidden from mortal eyes, in an abandoned shed, he yelled at me - but only until I stopped wailing. Then he spoke softly, using kind words, telling me that I was so young, that even as a vampire I had much to live for. That I mustn't feel alone because he understood me, he was also alone, and maybe we could be together for a while."

"And we have been together ever since…" Efthymios said,grabbing Dionysus' hand and leaning in to kiss his cheek. Adorable, Daniel thought.

They took a little break, Benji and Armand had a cigarette while Daniel tried to order the recordings and notes in a manner that was sensible. Sybelle played piano, a tragic sounding piece, which got more uplifting and even happy towards the end.

When everyone was ready to continue, Daniel asked the first few questions that came to mind.

"It's been great listening to both of your stories, truly. You seem like cool guys and it's nice to hear some other perspectives. What interests me now: Why the hacking group? Are you both part of it? Are they all vampires? How many are you?"

Dionysus laughed and exchanged amused glances with his companion.

"Life gets boring if you have nothing to do. You of all people are a prime example, no? Travelling the world to meet more of our kind, isn't that better than sitting at home staring at the wall? Yes, the others are also vampires, young ones, all three of them born to the world and then to the night in this millenium. Their stories are not ours to tell, but let us just say that we prefer this city to be in order and keeping the fledglings under our wing will achieve that. The hacking… I told you how I've always been interested in computer science. In programming, coding all kinds of things. If I have a skill and can use it to do good in the world, why shouldn't I? Those companies had it coming!"

He laughed, and Daniel grinned at him. A vampire vigilante, using the digital world to fight back against injustice. It was the picture of absurdity, yet he understood it. Anonymous Vampyrus.

"I have an idea," Benji said, and everyone turned to him, waiting for what he had to say.

"At Prince Lestat's court we noticed, that many of our kind, who are older, have trouble to use technology that goes beyond a landline or turning on a radio or TV. You seem to have more understanding of it… Would you be willing to teach those in need? Sometimes? We'd have to run it by the court first, but I think it would be smart to not only do a census where we get numbers and locations, but also what everyone could contribute."

"Benji, you are a genius," Armand said and Daniel saw the very quick motion of his hand darting towards the boy vampire's head, probably to ruffle his hair - something Benji hated. Armand pulled his hand back and shrugged at Daniel, before returning his focus to the pair on the couch.

"You do not have an obligation to do that. The only duty present is to follow the rules, which are as follows…."

As Armand explained what was basically the constitution of vampire nation - joking, of course - Daniel's thoughts trailed off, to a future where he didn't have to keep supplying Lestat with phones because he kept throwing them against walls in rage when something didn't work out as he'd wanted it to.

A future where the vampnet wasn't just as silly thing that Daniel called their telepathic ability to communicate, but maybe a digital space, a kind of Darknet without the absolute scum of humanity using it for their evil plans and actions.

At the end of the night, when Dionysus and Efthymios exited their rented house, only after the promise to stay in touch, Daniel was eager for some alone time, or better yet, some private time with Armand, because listening to the stories had made him sentimental, his mind whirling with thoughts. And somehow, his companion often knew just the right thing to do or say to get Daniel's brain to shut the fuck up and take some love, fun or pleasure instead.

They stayed in Athens for a week, doing some nightly sightseeing with morally questionable mindfucking of the guards to get in without trouble.
In their last night, it was just Daniel and Armand, enjoying the view from the roof of the Acropolis. Having a companion with the cloud gift was so practical, although it terrified Daniel each time he was carried through the air.
From up here, they could see the lights of the city below, and the stars above and in between it was just them, holding hands, Armand leaning his head against Daniel's shoulder.

"I am glad you suggested this," Armand said, pulling a surprised noise from Daniel.
"Really? You were hesitant at first."
"Yes, of course I was, you know me. I would not want anything bad to happen to you. Or to the young ones."
Daniel let out a little laugh, before gently cupping Armand's jaw to turn his head towards him. Looking into his eyes was like sinking into an ocean of amber crystals and he could feel his own eyes changing to match those of his Maker.
"Are you the same guy, who mind-slammed me down onto the floor until I was bleeding in the 70s?"
That had been a sore subject, until a few years ago when Daniel returned from Marius. Their reunion had involved a lot of fighting, screaming, crying, kissing, …and talking, of course.

Armand smiled and brought his own hand up to Daniel's cheek, which made Daniel's heart flutter. Yup, he was in love still, definitely. As much as he'd been back then, if not more.

"No, my beautiful boy, I am not. Because of you. I have changed…haven't I?"

Armand suddenly looked so vulnerable that Daniel just had to bow down and kiss him.

"Yeah, in a way. I'd say you finally allowed yourself to heal somewhat. But you should know that I quickly learned to love that gremlin within you, that I fell in love with you because you can be a scary ass motherfucker, or a monster, not despite it, and that is still true. I love all parts of you, boss."

A single streak of red ran down Armand's cheek.

"You are the one who taught me pure love, Daniel. You know I loved and love others, and with them it was always love mixed with hate, love mixed with fear, love mixed with disappointment. But not with you. You I have only ever loved, even when you were with Marius. Even when we were apart for so many of your mortal years. And…after I made you, and then ran like a coward. I've never stopped loving you."

Daniel choked on the words he wanted to answer, because he started crying too. He hadn't thought this night would bring such emotions - but he wasn't sorry about it. He knew there would be other nights in all the months to follow - fun nights, nights filled with listening to the stories of others, probably some bad nights too. And he was here for it all. They all were.

I can't draw, but I wanted pictures of the characters, so I created two of them in the Sims while @bee_named_alex created Dionysus(Thank you!) :D

Left to right/Top to bottom: Dionysus, Efthymios, Eutyches

Chapter Text

After packing up their things in Athens, Sybelle said she wanted to go and see the Swiss Alps - so that's where they went next.

Besides hiking through the landscape and visiting a few cities, they didn't do much there - either no vampires were living in Switzerland, which Daniel doubted, or they concealed themselves so well that they didn't want to be found, which counterfeited the purpose of looking for them in the first place.
They travelled to the capital and rented hotel rooms, planning to stay for a few weeks. A few days of remote working for all of their separate occupations, a bit of a vacation, and then back to the task of locating vampires with stories to tell.

One evening, Daniel was alone at the hotel, answering some fan e-mails. Yes, those were still coming in, although the human book fans who took it for fiction would have to think that Daniel was in his nineties by now.
Benji and Sybelle had gone out to hunt and Armand… Yeah. No. He had no idea where his companion was. Certainly, whatever he was doing, wouldn't be too unhinged for them to get kicked out of the-

"Daniel!"
The door flung open, and in came Armand, a huge grin on his face.

"Beloved! Get ready, we have to go out!"

"Why?" Daniel asked, raising a brow in question. "What is it this time? Found a murderer to hunt down? Or a computer museum? …A public viewing of Blade Runner?"

Armand did his pouty face and Daniel smiled, gesturing for him to come nearer, until Armand unceremoniously climbed into his lap, arms wrapping around Daniel's neck.

"Your attempts at humour will not deflect the joy I feel about my discovery. Although you are very cute when you are like this."

Daniel blushed a bit, although he wanted to say something witty and brat the fuck out just for fun's sake, he couldn't flee the effect of Armand's sweet words.

"I am not cute… "

"You are and there is nothing you can say or do to convince me otherwise."

Daniel hid his face in Armand's chest and wrapped his arms around his companion in return.

"If you say so, boss… But, tell me, what is the grand, exciting thing that you found?"

Suddenly, Armand wiggled himself out of Daniel's hold and jumped back to the floor, only to then dart to the door to grab a paper bag.

"Please don't tell me you've collected dead rats again." His tone was light, but he meant it - Daniel could still remember the smell of this particular 'experiment' as if it had happened yesterday, and not in the 70s.

"Very funny, Mr. Molloy," Armand shot back and it made Daniel grin impossibly wide, while he waited for the big reveal.

"No dead rats, no birds, in fact, there is nothing alive or not-so-alive in this bag. Put on your shoes now, because…" A dramatic pause, then Armand reached into the bag and pulled out something that looked like- No fucking way-

"We are going roller skating!"

"Really?" Daniel asked, exasperation not hidden, but when he saw the disappointment threatening to overtake Armand's features, he shook off the bad attitude.

"Okay. Alright. Roller Skating - where?"

"That is the best part!" Armand said, quickly flipping back to being a bouncing ball as he rushed to Daniel's side, placing down the two pair of roller skates he'd obviously bought.

"There is a club, a … disco, that has a roller skate event. And it's today! We have to go!"

Daniel sighed - but then he smiled, and nodded.

"At least give me ten minutes to finish what I've started here - then we'll go."

"Fine," Armand said with the biggest eye roll he'd done this year so far.

It was only the biting of his lips to prevent a chuckle that saved Daniel's skin so he could write his current reply in peace.

It had been a while since Daniel had frequented discos or any kinds of clubs, really. Perhaps decades, since he'd gone on tour with Lestat in his rock star era. Of course, he was often lurking near clubs, outside… Easy prey for practicing the little drink. And sometimes he liked to get a bit tipsy by savouring the blood of wrecked party goers.

Armand paid for both of them, communicating in broken German only to get his answer in almost perfect English, and then pulled Daniel along, so excited that he almost rushed past the personnel giving out the stamps and it was Daniel who had to stop him and remind him of it.

A few minutes and an image of roller skates shaped ink blotches later, they ignored the booth where they gave out the skates, because they had their own after all, which Armand nagged Daniel about to put them on as soon as they were in the hall and seated at a little table in the corner of the bar area.

The room was packed, a wild mix of generations flooding the bar and the normal dance floor, moving to the beat of 80's-Best-Of Hits — or, what the Gen Alpha looking DJ considered as such, anyway. The other floor was designed as an indoor roller rink, a huge disco ball casting colourful reflections onto the ground. Only a few people were skating their rounds, a few watched from the side rails.

"You really want us to go there and -" Daniel started and stopped talking when Armand narrowed his eyes in a manner somewhere between playful and serious.

"Not go, roll… But yes."

Daniel snorted.

"I'm still bad at it, boss. Prepare for me to ridicule you, I don't have anything compared to your grace."

"Nonsense," Armand snapped and then stood up without so much as being moved an inch by the skates, and he held out his hand for Daniel.

"Come now, my boy."

"Come now, my boy," Armand encouraged Daniel, who gripped the railing tightly, his legs wobbly like a deer on ice - or at least the Bambi version of that. Daniel shook his head, wondering why he'd agreed to this. It was one thing to have a roller rink available at Night Island to pull more tourists in, the other was having to embarrass himself trying to use it.
Then, again, it wasn't that he'd really 'agreed' - Armand had told him to do so and who was Daniel to refute the wish of his lover?
"I will fall," he said, regretting that in his childhood he had never tried such things. Even learning to ride a bike had taken him longer than it should have had.
"You will not fall. I am at your side."
This whole situation was humiliating, and he was glad that Armand had ushered every other person away. It was only them, under the glass roof of the rink, illuminated by colourful fairy lights.
"Let go and come to me, you want to be good for me, no?"
Daniel swallowed and nodded, his face heating with the reality that yes, he was Armand's, and he wanted to belong to him, forever… No, he could not think about that last part. No arguments tonight.
He held intense eye contact with Armand and let go of the railing.

It wasn't so bad. Becoming a vampire had made his coordination better, he wasn't looking like a string puppet on wheels. And after a few minutes of acclimatisation, not really having a chance to escape it because Armand held his hand in an iron grip, Daniel even started to enjoy the experience. Skating along to the beat of the music was something else entirely, he felt transported back into his thirties with the songs that were playing. That was sixty years ago, a fact that made his mind spin for a second, before he pulled himself together.
Video killed the Radio Star roared from the speakers and Daniel had to grin. That came out in '79, not in the 80s. Kids these days…
Suddenly, Armand stopped - causing Daniel to almost tumble over but he caught himself by holding onto his companion's jacket.

"There is someone here."

Daniel blinked at Armand, unimpressed by that information.

"No shit. We're in a public club, of course there are people here. What do you mean, boss?"

Armand closed his eyes for a few seconds, and then turned his head sharply towards the entrance of the hall, where a young woman with teased, dark purple hair had just come through the door.

"We have company. One of our kind."

Finally, Daniel thought.
"Oh," was what he said.

They laid on their back, next to the rink, staring up into the night's sky. The stars were cloaked by the light pollution from the city, but it didn't matter to Daniel. He was cradled by Armand's arm that pulled him against his chest, and he could listen to the slow heartbeat of the vampire. Funny, growing up he'd thought vampires wouldn't have a beating heart. Well, okay, growing up he thought vampires were fiction. But they weren't and this was real, Armand was real. A monster, right next to him, who had tortured him and chased him, and who now loved him. He couldn't imagine a more perfect lover.

Daniel's feet ached from the hours of skating, and his stomach began to grumble…
How much easier it would be, to be ridden of his mortality, to join Armand in eternity.
"You are thinking very loud. And no, it would not be 'easier'. You haven't been with me for long enough to understand the damnation of immortality, it seems then. You have a privilege that I was never granted. To live a full, human life. Not tainted by the memories of what came before that, not tainted by the fear of what change will come to the world after the next one hundred years."

Daniel listened. And a part of him tried really hard to understand, but overall, he just couldn't. He didn't understand why Louis, why Armand, brought so much mental suffering onto themselves instead of being glad where they were now. That they still were somewhere. Daniel didn't want to die - not ever. He didn't want to grow old and get sick. Although he probably wouldn't. He was living life hard and fast, and with Armand it had only become more extreme. More exhausting. Better, too.

"Your blood," he said, tilting his head to stare up at Armand.
"Can you give me your blood?"

Armand stopped breathing for a moment, going rigid - but then slowly, he let out a sigh.

"Yes," he answered, bringing one of his nails to his neck, ready to make a cut for Daniel.
"Drink, my beautiful boy. And then just stay with me. Here. Where nothing else matters."
Daniel didn't need to be told twice.