All rights to the characters here are the property of Anne Rice, Knopf and anybody else who profits from what she does. Except for Astral of course. This is for the sole purpose of entertainment.
Spoilers up to TOBF
Astral (19/?)
By: Emily Jorrey
The Prayer of Erzsebet
[adapted from McNally's translation]
Help me, O Clouds.
O Clouds, stay by me.
Let no harm come to me.
Let me remain healthy and invincible.
Send, O send, you powerful Clouds, ninety cats.
I command you, O King of the Cats, I pray you.
May you gather them together,
even if you are in the mountains,
or on the waters,
or on the roofs,
or on the other side of the ocean.
May these ninety cats appear to tear and destroy
the hearts
of kings and princes,
And in the same way
the hearts
of teachers and judges,
so they shall harm me not.
Holy Trinity, protect me.
"Do it." Lizbetha hissed. "You've finally found a vampire weaker than you. He won't fight you and he won't hurt you."
Louis felt the whip in his hand. It was smooth and hard, it was sexual. He could smell the old blood on it. Astral's blood and the blood of many others. Taking a deep breath, he brought the whip down.
Astral made no sound he didn't even move. Louis continued to strike him, a one point the whip ripped the fabric open. Louis felt the blood hit his face and he moaned. "I shouldn't be able to hurt him like this," he thought "she must be working through me somehow. Providing the power." It was wonderful. The only problem was Astral had yet to make a sound.
"Come on!" Louis demanded, tearing what was left of the shirt off Astral's body. "Show me you're in pain my pretty one!" He grabbed Astral hair and hit it against the wall. A shuddering sob escaped Astral's lips.
Louis resumed his use of the whip. Astral was beginning to lose his resolve. His whimpers began to turn into loud cries then finally screams. Louis could hear Lizbetha's laugher in his ears, dark and musical. She was right, this was the ultimate pleasure, the pain, the torture, the blood, spurting on him. Louis wonder what it would be like to torture a mortal in such a fashion.
Astral collapsed on the floor, but Louis continued to strike him. "You won't get away from me that easily!" He then felt Lizbetha's arms around his waist.
"You can stop for now." She whispered, taking the whip from him. "You'll have all the time you want to play with him."
Louis turned around and gripped her hips tightly. Lizbetha lifted herself off the ground and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh my love," she whispered, "are you my Erzsébet come back to me?" They kissed, her mouth was so sweet, like nothing he ever kissed before, it was the evil, pure sweet evil. "Erzsébet, you where hidden under the guise of a weakling. You are truly immortal now."
"Yes . . ." Louis buried his head in her breast, Lizbetha was moaning. Louis looked up, a white mist was swirling in her dark eyes.
"Do you want me Beautiful one?"
"Oui."
"Do you want my Astral?"
"Oui."
Lizbetha lowered herself down, she scraped one of her nails across her chest, making a deep cut. "Then drink."
Astral was sobbing, "She's going to steal you too."
Louis knelt down and licked at the blood. It was like an electric shock. He moaned, and the turned his head slightly, and what he saw almost made him scream.
The mirror! Lizbetha of course had made in proportional to her height, and his image stared back at him, but it was not his. The blood splattered face, the soulless green eyes, the face contorted in an expression he had even seen before. It was a monster.
"No!" Louis screamed shoving Lizbetha away from him the best he could. "I'll never be like you! You beast! You animal! I curse you!"
Lizbetha smiled, "Oh do you really?"
"Yes! And I curse your lover who taught you these tortures!"
Lizbetha gasped, her face became contorted in rage. "You bastard! How dare you insult my Erzsébet!" Lizbetha grabbed the whip off the floor and struck him with it. Louis backed up. Behind him he heard a laugh, one he had not heard for a while. It was Astral's.
"You thought you could have him dear mistress, dear mother." Astral said pulling himself up the best he could. "But he was far to strong. You have lost you cold hearted bitch!"
Lizbetha hissed, "Oh really? Louis since you have cursed my lover, you and Astral will suffer her fate. Locked in a tomb of stone and steal. Except your suffering will last far longer."
"Lestat is coming!" Astral proclaimed, "I have called him! He is coming and you will be destroyed!"
Lizbetha laughed, "Oh he will?"
"Damit Marius!" Lestat raged "He said in the country! There's so much country that we'll never find the house!"
"Yes we will Lestat. Yes we will."
"When I get my hand on that bitch I'll . . ." Lestat couldn't even find the words. "We have to find them. We have to find Louis." A voice began to ring in Lestat's ears. It was the sound of singing, of a woman singing. "Marius? Do you hear it?"
"Yes. Singing, very beautiful singing."
The woman was wearing a nun's habit and walking around in a fine mist, her face covered in shadow. Her voice was deep and full, it almost made Lestat weep, it was beautiful. It was part of a Latin mass. He wished he still held faith in those things.
Et in terra pax hominibus bonae
voluntatis. Laudamus te.
Benedicimus te. Adoramus te.
Glorificamus te. Gratiam
agimus tibi propter magnam
gloriam tuam.
Domine Deus, Rex
coelestis, Deus Pater
omnipotens. Domine Fili
unigenite, Jesu Christe.
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius
Patris.
Qui tollis peccata
mundi, miserere nobis. Qui
tollis peccata mundi, suscipe
deprecationem nostram. Qui
sedes ad dexteram Patris,
miserere nobis. Quoniam tu
solus Sanctus.
Tu solus
Dominus. To solus Altissimus,
Jesu Christe. Cum Sancto
Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris.
Amen.
"It beckons us." Marius whispered
"I don't think we should." Said Lestat, "It could be one of Lizbetha's tricks."
Marius shook his head. "I don't think so."
The woman stood there for a moment, then she waved at them. Lestat could see she was smiling now, but it was a sad smile. The smile of someone in pain. Then she began to walk. Lestat and Marius followed, at first slowly, but soon they quickened their pace. The woman never once spoke to them but she sang. They songs she sang where ones of a long time ago. Then all at once she stopped and pointed to a large old house.
"Lizbetha." She whispered.
Lestat nodded and ran up to the house with Marius following close behind. When he turned to thank the woman she was gone. He felt a chill run through his spine. Who was she? Where did she come from? Why did she assist him. Well there was no time to worry about that now. Lestat kicked down the heavy door, it fell to the floor with a mighty crash. The overwhelming stench of rotting flesh filled his nose and he stepped back.
"Gods . . ." Marius whispered.
Body parts where everywhere, blood splattered what would have been a grand house, a human head sat on top of a desk as if someone had placed it there very carefully. What kind of creature was this woman?
"Lizbetha!" Lestat howled, "if you value your precious life I suggest you turn over what is rightfully mine!"
"Rightfully yours? Come now Lestat you sound like you're talking about a necklace or something." The voice had come from upstairs.
There she sat, dressed in red. In a large chair, a chair so large that it almost made her look like a child. A child playing dress up. Her blond hair reminded him off . . .no.
Lizbetha smiled, "Welcome. Is there something you would like to discuss?
Astral (20/?)
Since I was no bigger than a weevil
they've been saying I was evil
If bad was a boot then I'd fit it
That I'm a wicked young lady
But I've been trying hard lately
Oh fuck it! I'm a monster! I admit it!
- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds "The Curse of Millhaven"
Louis sat on the floor cradling Astral's head in his lap. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry my lord. In the end you didn't give into her. You beat her."
"No I didn't." Louis looked around at their prison. "We'll die in here. We'll suffer and then we will die."
"Lestat . . ." Astral whispered softly.
"No. He'll never find us."
"He's here."
"What?"
Astral lifted his head, "He's here. Him and someone else. Can't you feel it? I can feel their presence."
Louis closed his eyes, yes he could feel something, a feeling of enormous strength. "Marius. Marius is with him."
Lestat growled "You sick twisted creature. You fooled me once, you're not going to fool me again."
Lizbetha yawned mockingly "Okay. Now what do you want?"
"What do you think?"
"Oh. Of course you came looking for that little tart of yours."
"Don't you dare talk about him like that!" Lestat moved closer, "I could incinerate you right now!"
"Then you wouldn't find out where they are." Lizbetha pulled herself out of the chair.
Marius came up from behind, "We would find him."
Lizbetha smiled, "Marius! I haven't seen you for so long! How are you?"
"You can't play games with me." Said Marius calmly, "You will tell us where he . . .where they are."
"They?" Lestat hissed.
"We are not leaving Astral." Marius turned back to Lizbetha, "show us where they are. Now."
She rolled her eyes and gracefully pulled herself out of her chair "Fine, follow me."
The house was a mass of gore. Lestat couldn't believe that such a small creature could have done such a thing. But she had. The little bitch was hiding her thoughts from him too. How?
They where led down a darkened staircase. Lestat could smell the mold and rotting flesh. There was also a strong smell of gas. When they got to the end of it, he could not believe what he saw.
He heard Marius' urgent voice in his ear, "It's some kind of medieval dungeon!"
Lizbetha laughed "Why yes! I built it with my own two hands! I'm so glad you're impressed!"
"Where are they!" Lestat demanded.
Lizbetha stepped back. "They're very close . . ." she walked over a door. "They're very, very close . . ." She reached for a small bucket and poured the contents on herself.
Gas. It was gas. She had poured gas on herself! Not only that but the dungeon was drenched in it. Lestat knew what she meant to do. Her cold hard laugh filled the room.
"What can you do Lestat? You burn me you set this whole place on fire! Are you sure you can find them in time? Or maybe I'll just kill myself? What do you think?"
Lestat roared and ran at Lizbetha he shoved her to the ground with on pushed and leapt on top of her. "You bitch!" He slapped her hard across the face. "Tell me where they are! I'll crush you right now! I'll rip your heart out of your chest!"
Then Lizbetha began to cry, it was soft, girlish, and gentle. "Why did you to that? I'm a woman! Why did you hurt me like that? Why?"
"I'm sorry . . ." Lestat began, but something threw him off with amazing force, he flew into a wall. Marius attacked but he too was thrown back.
Lizbetha laughed pulling herself off the ground, "Sucker," she hissed.
Lestat tried to run at her again but an invisible wall held him back. "How in the hell did you . . .?
"When I was a young mortal, I believed in the Trinity. I believed in the Virgin Mary. I believed in the angel and the Saints. Even when a cruel lord took my innocence, took my lover, I still believed!" Lizbetha smiled gently. "Then a dark stranger came to my house. He killed my cruel evil lord. I thought he was an angel. But he wasn't." Lizbetha threw her head back and moaned, "When he sank his teeth into my neck, I knew it was all a lie. After it was over, I believed in nothing."
"Who made you?" Asked Marius softly. "What was his name?"
"I don't remember. It isn't important. What is, is that after many years, I believed again. But not in the same way I had in my youth. There are spirits Lestat. They exist and they have powers. But they're not really all that concerned with us. They're not into giving punishments or rewards. If you want them to help you, you have to please them." A wind began to howl through the dungeon and accompanied by a soft moaning. Hundreds of voice whispering and crying.
"She coming!" Astral cried out. "Erzsébet!"
"She's dead!" Said Louis, "How could she?"
"My mistress is calling her. Can't you hear the noise? She's going kill them if we don't save them!"
"Us save them? Astral, you and I, we're weak. There is nothing we can do. Besides. Lestat and Marius, they're invincible. Especially Lestat. Nothing can kill him. Nothing!"
Astral felt along the metal door, "We have to get out of here."
"We can't the door is locked and it's far too strong for us to break . . ." Louis voice trailed off as the door opened. There stood a nun. A strange light seemed to come out of her and her smile was warm.
"Hello. I'm Sister Agatha." She said.
Astral gasped, "I know you, you're . . ."
Agatha nodded, "Yes. But you must follow me I don't think we have that much time."
Lestat watch in horror as a mist began to form in the middle of the room, it was thick and dark.
"Yes. Yes." Lizbetha whispered, "He's perfect isn't he? But you must be strong."
"What am I perfect for?" Lestat hissed, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Why Lestat, you're experiences with James must have taught you something! Look at the mist! Can't you see something?"
The mist was taking shape, in it Lestat could see the outline of a woman. Features began to form, her lips, her eyes, her mouth. Long dark hair flowed past her shoulders, and her dress was lined with jewels. Soon she stood her before him.
"Take his body." Lizbetha whispered, "You must do it fast my lovely. I can't fight him forever."
Lestat screamed as the woman, wrapped her arms tightly around him. Everything became dark, and his mind roared. He had to fight her, but she was so strong. He wasn't going to make it! She was becoming a part of him. In his head he could hear screaming, the screams of the ones she had tortured, and her own screams. Scenes of violence flashed, dead rotting corpses, their genitals mutilated, and their eyes ripped out. His mind was fading, dissolving, dying.
Astral (21/?)
Can you see me going down
I am screaming out loud
And the fear of god is in me now
Dissolve
- "Dissolve" Switchblade Symphony
All the lilies bloomed and blossomed
Wilted and they're shivering
I can't stop, they're withering
Oh, this world is a war
- "Petals" Hole
Lizbetha was laughing. "He's perfect. His body is very strong. And he's so beautiful. It's what you always wanted. You be forever young and have all the blood you desire. And we shall be happy."
Lestat's strength was fading. He had no hope of getting out of this all was lost.
"No!" Came a wild cry. It was Astral! Lizbetha was distracted! With all his might Lestat took a deep breath and thrust the spirit out of him. He heard Lizbetha wail. Lestat lifted his head up. The spirit was gone. Lizbetha was on the floor sobbing softly.
Marius pulled him to his feet. "Are you alright?"
Lestat nodded pushing Marius away. "I'm fine! Where is he? Where's Louis?"
"I'm right here Lestat" Louis touched his shoulder gently.
"Louis!" Lestat cried, embracing his child tightly. "I'm so sorry this happened! I'm never going to let something like this happen again!"
Louis pulled away from him gently. He went to Astral and gently kissed him on the forehead. Lestat could see the red streaks flowing down both their cheeks.
"This isn't how it was supposed to turn out." Astral said, "Forgive me my lord."
"Well isn't this a lovely little scene." Lizbetha snarled. "Too bad it's gotta end now."
"Lizbetha." Marius whispered, "It doesn't have to be like this."
"There is still enough gas. I'll burn you all. And if not you and Lestat, the other two will certainly perish."
Then through the dungeon came the voice of the nun. Clear and beautiful. Lizbetha's face went blank. "Agatha?" She whispered. "Agatha. Oh no . . .she's come for me." Lizbetha's body seemed frozen in terror. "I can hear them crying . . .Hail Mary full of grace . . .the flesh fell off her face and she wall still screaming ! The lord is with thee . . .the soliders they where laughing . . .blessed are thou among women . . .they mocked a child of God . . .and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death . . . the hour of our death. A-fucking-men!"
The singing was growing louder, and Lizbetha was growing more terrified. What she was hearing in the song, wasn't what they where hearing. "The damn thing grew . . .it was in me. I didn't want it there. It fell out . . .I didn't mean to hate it . . .when he made me into a vampire it fell out . . .it was dead. The flesh fell off her face and she was still screaming. Astral was such a beautiful baby. Mother was beautiful too. She died slowly, trying to protect him." It was as if her memories where coming back to her in a jumbled up mess. "The Priest didn't care that I had taken my vows. He married us anyway. He married us for gold." Lizbetha put her hands to her ears, "Stop singing! I can't bare to hear you singing!" But the voice didn't stop.
The nun entered the room, surrounded by a golden light. Her smile was one of total beauty. The beauty of one who is at peace. Lestat heard the asonished gasps which included his own. But Lizbetha screamed.
"Oh God! I can see them! I can see their eyes! They cry! They cry!" Lizbetha huddled on the floor. "Knives are cutting . . ." another scream. "Please! I'm supposed to be a virgin! I want my Agatha! I don't want this!" Lizbetha clasped her hands as if in prayer. "Stop please! It hurts oh god it hurts." She was flung to the floor, her body began to jerk with unnatural movements. Both arms where flung to either side of her by invisible hands and her head was slammed against the floor. The invisable hands tore her dress from her body. She attempted to cover herself but it was like her hands where tied in place. "It hurts!" She wailed, "it hurts!" Her body thrashed and jerked. Lestat realized with horror that her movements where one of a woman who was being raped.
Then it stopped, they watched in horror as blood poured down Lizbetha's legs and out of her mouth. She sat up, her face was tear stained and her eyes seemed to see nothing. "Hurt. Hurt. He hurt me so bad." She cried, "Hate him. Hate those sweet little girls, they never have to feel pain. No one is ever going to control me again. Never, never, never!"
"Mistress?" Astral whisped.
She turned to him, "I don't know your real name. She never spoke it. She was deaf. She was beautiful." Lizbetha began sobbing again. "I don't want to be here anymore. I can still hear them crying. I can hear them screaming. I want my Agatha. I want to be Sister Lizbetha again. I couldn't sing like her, but I could write and I could sew. " Her voice faded into a sing-song state, "The sisters used to tell me I was good, but often. I understood because, pride is a sin. My lord he made me sew gaudy cloaks. He beat me when I didn't get finished in time. Agatha, Agatha, I don't want to be here anymore."
The nun approced Lizbetha's trembling form and embraced her, whisper something to her in a voice that was even too soft for Marius' and Lestat's well trained ears. Lizbetha was nodding.
"Yes. Yes." She whispered. Taking Agatha's hand Lizbetha began to walk up the stairs.
"Wait!" Astral cried, "Mistress!"
Lizbetha turned, "Forgive me my love. I should have left you in Nathaniel's arms."
They all followed, Lizbetha walked up the stairs, through the hall and outside the house. "The sun is coming in about two hours" she whispered, "Follow me no further." Her eyes where no longer dark, her hair blew slightly in the breeze, she was beautiful.
Lizbetha walked out into the fields still holding Agatha's hand, the glow seemed to over take them both. Lizbetha closed her eyes. Everything was warm. She saw Agatha's smiling face, she felt warm kisses all over her body. And she heard Agatha's voice, a voice that no longer tormented her. Ahh yes. This was love. She turned to her lover and whispered, "I want to go now."
Lizbetha's body exploded in the fading night. She was there and then she wasn't. It was quick and it was final.
Astral let out a soft cry, "Mistress . . ." Louis held him, stroking his hair, comforting him.
"It's all over," Louis whispered, "You don't have to be afraid any more."
"I never knew she was in so much pain . . ."
Astral (22/22)
"If you live through this with me I swear that I will die for you."
- "Asking for It", Hole."
"No!" Astral screamed, practically falling out of the bed. He hadn't wanted to stay in this house, but he had no choice. The sun had been coming up. Louis lay beside him, still in the death sleep, and he could hear footsteps coming toward his room.
"Astral?" It was Marius.
"Are you alright? I heard you shout."
"Nightmare. Just a nightmare. Don't enter. Louis is still asleep."
"Yes. Don't fear child, tonight we leave this house."
"Leave this house . . ." Astral whispered to himself. For the first time in his life he was free, and very frightened. How could he stay with Louis after all this? No, that was impossible, at least for now.
Louis eyes fluttered opened, "Hello my love."
Astral nodded, "hello."
"Are you ready to go back home?
"Of course." Home? Astral had no idea where his home was, and it was tearing him up inside. Maybe home wasn't with Louis. Maybe it was with someone else, maybe it wasn't with anyone at all.
Lestat carefully looked through Lizbetha's old things. A lot of clothes some odd book and of course items that where used during her 'games'.
On the dressed there was a large jewelry box. It was sliver and jewels where careful imbedded into it. Lestat cracked it open, he smiled, "Jackpot."
Jewels, old papers, lockets, keys, and many other interesting things. There was a rosary, bloodstained and aged, yet there still was a slight sent of roses on it.
"Do you think that's really necessary?" Marius asked.
"She's dead, it won't bother her." Lestat picked up a locket and opened it, a dark piece of hair fell out. "Erzsébet." He whispered "It's too bad you never where made into a vampire. You might have been strong enough to overcome even me." There was a crumpled piece of paper, yellowed and tearing. Lestat carefully unfolded it.
Dear Ma'am
Here is a little something I wrote for you, I hope you will be pleased.
The Lilies Wept.
Aye! I thought I saw blood tears!
Blood tears on petals of white.
"What for do you weep?" I asked.
"We weep for the little child." They replied.
"For he's lost, and never to return."
"What little child? I see none!"
"No? He's standing right behind you."
I turned. Aye! I saw no child!
Only the beaten path that I had walked.
Oh! But then I realized! The child was me.
Cursed damn flowers! Flowers of sorrow!
Your funeral scent lingers in my mind.
Your sick tears. They haunt my brain.
Red on white. Like blood on holy vestments
I am truly lost. The child is dead.
- Malice
"Malice?" Lestat whispered, "Now who in the hell is that?" He shook his head, whoever it was, they where probably dead. Lizbetha probably had thousands of secrets, ones that would never be known. There was another piece of paper, that was so old it was practically falling apart, although some one had gone through great lengths to preserve it. By the writing he could tell it had been written by a child:
My mama is pretty.
My mama is sweet.
I love her.
- Astral
Lestat sighed, wiping away a tear. Astral. That poor lost child. Had she meant to betray him in such away? Had something happened to make her go back to her cruel ways? They would never know.
Astral listened to the noise outside as he wrapped a clock around his body. They where getting ready to go. Lestat was talking loudly, but yet talking nothing. Marius was scolding and Louis was too. He couldn't go with them.
The smile Louis gave him when he walked out almost made Astral cry. "My lord?"
"Are you ready?" Another smile, Astral felt like his heart was going to rip in two. "Astral?"
"My lord. Please forgive me for what I must do."
"What? Astral, what is it?"
"For the first time in my life, I'm free. I want to . . ."
"Find yourself?" Louis said softly
Astral nodded, "I guess."
"Then go." Astral could see the tears running down Louis face. Those green eyes, those jewels, they would haunt is dreams. "Go."
Astral turned and began to walk, where he did not know, he felt the wind brush against him as the others took off. Back to America, back to their normal lives. Well as normal as a vampire could live anyway. He turned, they where becoming little specks in the sky, soon he couldn't see them anymore.
The only sound was the wind and the occasional chirping of birds. Astral was free, but he was alone. He had no idea where to go or what to do. Then a thought came to him.
"Italy." He whispered, "Isn't that where they buried you? Yes, that's where I'll go first."
Louis sat in his room sobbing softly in the dark. He didn't want anyone to see his tears, he didn't want anyone to know. "Astral. I hope you find what you're looking for. Blessed creature, you've made changed me in a way I can never undo. Thank you. I hope someday you come back. Please." The door opened, and a figure walked in, Louis knew very well who it was. "Lestat. Go away."
"Please Louis, don't brush me away," Lestat sat down on the bed beside him. "He must have had his reasons."
"I know. But it still hurts."
"Beautiful one." Lestat whispered stroking Louis hair. "Forgive me."
"I already have."
Astral wearily stumbled into the empty cemetery. How long had he been walking? Days months? It didn't matter, he was here. He searched through the cemetery without fear. Where was it? He came upon a large crypt, it was like a small house. One the door was the name that had been on the tip of his tongue for so many years. He jumped over the crypt. The door, worn with age was easy to open. Inside was a large stone tomb. Astral pushed the stone covering it.
Bones. That all that remain of his beloved. Astral picked up the skull and kissed it. "My love." He whispered, "I want to stay with you for a while. Is that okay?" The grave was large enough for two people, it was perfect. Astral placed the skull back inside and crawled in along with the bones. Carefully he pulled the stone back over.
"I just want to sleep for a while master. I know you will not mind me." Astral sighed, it would be so wonderful. He could sleep forever in the tomb. Astral closed his eyes, everything was so warm and beautiful. He was safe.
End.