Chapter Text
Daniel has been on the hunt for his maker for years now but the trail, as always, is ice cold. Louis calls it a lost cause. He tells Daniel time and time again that if Armand doesn’t want to be found, he simply will cannot be found. Daniel had secretly hoped the publishing of the book would draw him out of hiding, but so far, no such luck.
Devoid of any thread to follow, Daniel finds himself on a tour of all of the locations from Louis story, which is how he finds himself in Paris. He pushes away intrusive thoughts of the last time he was in Paris, avoiding any streets he had visited with Alice on their ill-fated trip.
During a dark snow storm, Daniel slips into the louvre, grateful for their late opening times. There’s a sign saying something about the “night at the museum” event that’s happening, but he doesn’t pay it much notice. He idly thinks about getting something from the gift shop for his daughters as he stalks the halls.
As expected, the tourists all gather around the Mona Lisa, gawking at her importance without knowing what exactly it is that makes this painting more worthy than any other hanging in the same room. People gather, get close enough to take a selfie and move on.
Daniel isn’t particularly impressed by Mona Lisa’s fabled smile. Instead he loops around the room, freezing when a familiar face catches his attention. He searches for a plaque with the paintings information, confirming his suspicions.
Marius De Romanus.
The name is seared into his memory from the months spent researching his makers maker (his grand-maker? He really needs to get the hang of more vampire specific terminology). He bends down to get a closer look a the name of the painting “The adoration of the shepherd.”
The kneeling figure is undoubtedly modelled on Armand. Daniel squints his eyes as he scrutinises the painting. It’s an uncanny likeness with one jarring difference, this version of Armand with his pleading doe eyes, is far too pale.
For an artist so diligent in his realism, it has to be a deliberate choice. To be worthy of his place, little Amadeo has to be whiter. Daniel can’t help but be revolted on behalf of his maker. He’s considering setting the wing on fire. Mona Lisa be damned.
He thinks back to his recordings, Louis repeating what Armand told him when they saw this painting.
This is Amadeo. My makers purchase...
Am I my history I have endured? Am I the job I do not want? I do not know anymore. Who am I?
As annoying as it is, Daniel can’t help but feel sorry for his bastard of a maker. It sounds like De Romanus really fucked him up.
He’s pulled from the depressing thought when a pair of children pointing at the painting excitedly catches his attention. At first, he doesn’t know why he’s watching the kids, a teen girl and a younger boy, walking hand in hand. Then they walk towards the painting and Daniel realises what is wrong with the scene in front of him. They don’t have heartbeats.
Over the past few years, Daniel has gotten a hang of the whole vampire thing. But no matter what he tries, he hasn’t quite learned how to block out the noise of the mortals around him. In a crowd like this, they all blend together a dull drumbeat that vibrates through the air, tempting him with every beat. But when he focuses his attention, he can’t single out the hearts of these children. Which can only mean one thing. They’re like him. Vampires.
The boy grins excitedly as he points up at the painting, pulling the girl along with him. It takes Daniel a second, but it dawns on Daniel that the boy isn’t pointing at the painting. He’s pointing the the shepherd. To Armand.
‘Hey kid, you know him?’
Their eyes snap up to him, two deers trapped in the headlights.
Daniel can see the second the recognise him as a vampire. They bolt and Daniel does his best not to look like a kidnapper as he chases after them. The kids have a clear advantage of knowing the area well. They snake through the gift shop, out of the museum and into the open air of the Parisian streets. He thinks he’s lost them for a second but his keen ears pick up the sound of their footsteps, just barely muffled by the falling snow.
‘I’m not going to hurt you dammit! I just want to talk!’ He calls, both out loud and psychically as he chases them.
Daniel gets lucky and the kids make a mistake, running into a dead end.
‘Alright.’ He holds his hands up, trying to look as non threatening as possible. ‘Let’s talk.’
The girl pulls the boy behind her, shielding him from Daniel. The pair look so small and timid, just frail children shivering in the snow.
Daniel takes a slow step forwards and they instinctively back up into the wall.
‘Help!’ The girl screams into the night.
There’s a sudden frantic blur of movement and a dark figure blocks his path, faster than Daniel can process. The snowflakes whip around with the sudden movement, blinding Daniel for a moment before the air settles. Fierce amber eyes glare at him and fangs are exposed with a growl. The predatory expression suddenly drops into confusion as the vampire Armand recognises his fledgling.
‘Daniel…?’
Daniel laughs under his breath, shaking his head. ‘Figures I’d find you in Paris. Wallowing in your misery?’
‘You…’ Any sign of genuine emotion is quickly removed from Armands expression. A comforting mask covers his face as he turns to the children. ‘It’s alright. This man won’t hurt you.’ He promises.
‘Armand…’ Daniel looses all sense of amusement at the situation. ‘Tell me you didn’t. After all the shit that happened with Claudia, tell me you didn’t go and make your own vampire kids.’
Armands head snaps up, he looks offended at the suggestion. ‘Of course not! This is just… a long story.’
‘I’ve got nothing but time.’
Armand looks between Daniel and the children, weighing his options. ‘…The sun will rise soon. We need to get the children home. Join me and we can talk.’ Armand promises.
Daniel has daydreamed about this moment so many times. How he would chase Armand down, confront the bastard and curse him out for turning and then abandoning him on the same night. But, for the sake of the kids, Daniel bites his tongue.
‘Alright.’ He says simply.
A grateful smile flashes across Armands face as he turns to pick up the boy. He carries him on his hip, supporting him with one hand while he holds the girls hand with the other. ‘This is Daniel.’ He explains to them as they walk. ‘My only fledgling.’
‘Nephew.’ The girl says, nodding her head.
Armand looks like he’s trying to hide how amused he is. ‘In a way, yes.’
Daniel raises an eyebrow but Armand just gives him a look that says “later”, so Daniel lets his questions lie for now. There’ll be time to press Armand for answers later. While he lines up all of the questions in his head, trying to work out which is the most important, he silently follows Armand through the snow covered streets.
‘I told you not to go too far.’ Armand chides softly.
‘We wanted to see the paintings… I’m sorry.’
‘It’s okay Sybelle.. You just need to be careful going so far out when it’s close to sunrise.’
‘Sorry…’ The girl, Sybelle, repeats.
The boy says nothing. He just stares at Daniel as he clings to Armand. Daniel waves a hand but the boy just buries his head in Armands shoulder.
Armand leads them to a quiet apartment building. Daniel isn’t quite sure what he was expecting. He’d imagined Armand holed up in the same kind of oversized, minimalist pad he’d found him in in Dubai. But instead, he opens the door to a fairly understated apartment, decorated sparsely but homely.
Armand puts the boy back on the ground, locking the door behind them. ‘Alright, have you eaten?’
The pair share a guilty look. Armand shakes his head with a fond smile. He takes off his jacket, hanging it up on the wall before rolling the sleeves of his white jumper. The children bite into each wrist, Armand doesn’t seem to mind when their messy meal stains the pristine wool.
It’s odd, how familiar the scent of Armands blood is. The smell sends him back to Dubai, at the moment his heart gave up on him and Armand swooped in to steady it, well, stop it for good. Daniel has to look away before the temptation gets the better of him. He’s never been good at keeping a lid on his addictions.
The children drink their fill and Armand softly ushers them off to bed. ‘Daniel and I need to talk. Rest well.’
Once the kids leave, the pair stare at each other, neither wanting to be the first to break the silence. Armand goes dangerously still. Daniel finally decides to move first, sitting down on a run down grey couch in front of the fireplace. The fire lights and Daniel chuckles.
‘Still haven’t figured that one out yet.’
‘It will come in time. You’re still young.’
‘Been a long time since anyone called me young.’
'The more vampires you meet, the more you perspective of your age will change.’
‘Speaking of other vampires-’ Daniel gestures to the children's room.
‘Yes, I had assumed that is where you would want to begin.’
‘Seems like the headline of the evening.’
‘Things have… changed since our last meeting.’
‘Yeah, figured that one out myself. Who the hell are they?’
‘In short… My siblings I suppose.’
‘Wait, that would mean…’
Armand nods. ‘I was regrettably mistaken. I thought my maker long dead. I was wrong. He had not died. He had simply abandoned me.’ Armand explains, voice chillingly devoid of emotion. ‘Your cursed book changed all that. It brought him out of his hiding. I was… keeping an idle eye on the children. Benji tried to pick-pocket me. I recognised the hunger in him and gave what I could. He and Sybelle had been alone for some time, abandoned by the world. It was a mistake, to get so involved in mortal affairs. But I think I wanted to help someone for once. Of course, I made it so much worse for them.’ He sighs. ‘It was intended as a temporary charity.’
‘Why now?’ Daniel interrupts. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you Armand. Charitable isn’t a word anyone would use to describe you.’
‘I have been… reflective, I suppose, in my isolation. I had spent the days leading up to this meeting tying together my patchwork of memories. I saw Benji and I could see back… remember myself young and starved. My plan was simple. Feed them, get them healthy again, and set them up for an easy life.’
‘So killing them wasn’t part of the plan?’
‘Far from it. The timing was poor. Marius saw me caring for them… He argued with me endlessly. Said I was dangerous and destructive when alone. He thought I needed companions. When he pushed for me to turn them… to keep them… I wanted nothing to do with it. I told him to leave. But Marius always did need the last word… He took the children. Turned them and left them.’
‘Like maker, like fledgling.’ Daniel can’t help but comment. It’s a sad story sure, but the simmering resentment of being left alone as a newborn vampire won’t settle easily.
‘… I have not apologised for leaving you in Dubai.’
‘No, you haven’t. But lets stay on track.’
‘There’s not much else to say on the matter. That was a few months ago and we’ve been travelling together since.’
‘Better hope Louis never finds out. The hypocrisy is blinding’
‘I know. Cosmic punishment for Claudias fate. I’m sure she would laugh at me.’ Armand chuckles weakly. ‘I would appreciate you discretion. If not Louis hunting them for revenge, I’m sure other vampires would seek to destroy them for their young age.’
Daniel nods in agreement. ‘So what’s the plan?’
‘No different than before. Care for them. Keep them alive. Let them live their lives when they are ready to move on.’
‘That easy, huh?’
Armand sighs. ‘Far from easy. I…’
Daniel waits patiently for Armand to collect this thoughts.
‘You raised children. Your daughters.’
‘Yes…’ Daniel replies, immediately apprehensive at the mention of his girls.
‘Parenthood is… difficult.’ Armand manages to spit out. ‘I do not necessarily understand children.’
Daniel shrugs. ‘Just think back to your own childhood. Figure out what worked and what didn’t.’
Armand freezes, looking oddly pale. He doesn’t meet Daniels eyes, too lost in thought.
Wincing, Daniel tries not to think about what Armand is imagining right now. ‘Maybe not your childhood specifically…’
‘No.’ Armand says quietly, shaking the thoughts away. ‘I worry… that I am doing this wrong. That I am hindering when I should be helping. Making them worse for my intervention.’ He bites his lip. ‘I need help, Daniel.’
‘Shit, it must be bad. I didn’t think I’d ever hear you admit you needed some elses help.’ Daniel tilts his head, thinking it over. ‘How about… I stick around for a while. Help you with the kids. If…’
‘If?’
‘If you tell me everything. Your side of the whole story.’
‘Another interview? Why would I do that?’
‘Because I can help you out.’ Daniel grins. ‘And I have an appointment with Lestat after his tour to write down his side of the story. I figure it’ll piss him off if you get to tell yours first.’
A small smile pricks at the edges of Armands lips. ‘You should have lead with that.’
‘One condition. You tell me the truth this time. No more bullshit.’
‘You will not like the truth.’ Armand warns.
‘Tell me it anyway.’
Armand seems to finally relax, nodding his head. ‘Alright. No more bullshit.’ He gestures down the hall, to one of the doors. ‘The sun will rise soon. Take my room.’
As much as Daniel wants to get started with the interview, he can’t deny the now familiar tug in the back of his mind, lulling him to sleep. ‘Alright. Tomorrow then.’
‘Tomorrow.’ Armand promises.