Memories of Le Th��tre des Vampires

It was, for the most part, great fun. Despite Armand�s petty jealousies and manipulations, Santiago and I found enchantment in each others� embrace many times. While we often argued as well, our affection for one another never dimmed nor waned. Many nights after the performance we stole away together to hunt, to talk or simply to be near each other beneath the sultry glow of the Paris moon. We played games with our prey. We took mortals by violence and by seduction. We killed without regard, without regret.

Sometimes we took a particularly lovely youth or maid back to the theater. These we would ply with sweets or liquor, with kisses and caresses, only to imprison the for a �starring role� in the next night�s performance. Occasionally we would gift Armand with a pretty boy as this could generally be counted on to keep him out of our hair for a few nights.

I never hated Armand, even when I learned of his attempt to destroy my bond with Santiago, for such a thing is impossible. I understood that he too loved Santiago, even though he was truly incapable of expressing it. I was shocked that he didn�t warn Santiago, if none of the rest of us, when he knew Louis de Pointe du Lac would destroy the theater -- but then again, he was under the spell of the green-eyed vampire.

There were a few nights that Armand and I passed together, entirely in each others� company, but somehow I hesitate to speak of what passed between us. I knew that I could have loved him deeply, but when anyone drew too near he pushed them away. I tried to remember that those few times he summoned me to him. I tried to remind myself that no matter how sweet those nights were, Armand always had an ulterior motive.

Perhaps this helped make it easier for Santiago and I to sneak around together behind Armand�s back, to play the games of love he had forbidden us.

I had other friends among the theater vampires, but the only one I felt any semblance of closeness to was Estelle. She had been in the theater for some time before I arrived, and at first I hated her for making fun of me in that awful play of Santiago�s, a play that Armand had masterminded to humiliate me. I remember railing at her, berating her furiously. She simply laughed and told me I didn�t have the first clue about what was going on. She was right, of course.

Estelle took me under her wing and became the first female friend I had ever had, as an immortal or otherwise. I thought she was lost to me in the fire, but eventually we found each other once more, after I awakened from my thirty year sleep. We come together and part again often, but the bond of friendship forged between us has never wavered.

I shall never forget my years in the theater, where I learned that the art of the dramatic and the wearing of masks was what I was born for...and what I died for. My eternal fate is to wander with Death ad the Dark Starlet, always seeking a new venue, a new role, a new show...