Lay Me To Sleep

Chapter Twenty Four - A Crime Committed Against You

Thankfully I was able to give Nina some of my blood to heal her wounds from Louis. She was concussed, and lost much blood. I was ever hopeful that she'd remember nothing of the past nights occurrences.

As I tilted her head up to allow her to feed from me, she moaned. This time it was out of pain. The wound at the base of her neck was a lot to take in, it looked as if an animal had attacked her- well, one had. Louis tore her flesh from bone when he bit into her. I could see most of her sinews that attached the skin, the vessels. The sight of which made me feel ill, it wasn't the gore of it but because this was Nina it had happened to. He ravaged her throat with complete abandon. I pondered... Had I not bashed his skull into the floor when I had, Nina would be dead. I was so very lucky he stabbed me, he gave me the tool to stop him. I know he was grateful I did. Louis was not himself when he drank, none of that excuses what was done tonight. He would pay dearly.

After I finished feeding her, I held her in my arms. She was asleep and knew no different. I had this angel to take care of now. Though she gave me the same in return, it was different because she was a fragile creature, I wasn't. I had failed her. I found myself praying to whatever God had gifted me this beautiful creature, would allow me to keep her. I loved her.

-----------------------------------------------Louis.

I was awestruck. My confusion had the room spinning in front of me. Surely this couldn't be the same mans journal? To my knowledge Louis didn't even keep a journal. But I could never be sure. But the date... The date published would suggest the author would be dead by now. The work is centuries old. My blood ran cold, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"L-Lestat.."

"Good night, Nina. How are you this evening?" He looked at me the way any woman should like to be looked at- with love in his eyes. Those blue eyes changed the second he looked down at what lie beneath my fingers- the journal. He looked deathly afraid, in shock.

"Where?"

"W-where what, Lestat?"

"From where did you find this wretched thing?!" He seemed angered by my having it.

"The bookshelf, in the library." I was afraid now, I knew not why this small journal had such profound affect on his person. This Lestat, I feared.

"You must come with me... Now.... We have much to discuss." He spoke to me with seriousness, a foreboding in his words.

"No, Lestat. You're scaring me, I-" he picked me up by my waist and put me over his shoulder.

"Let me go! Lestat!  I'm sorry, please just-"

"Don't you see?! I am bound by this, it's our law, Nina. You must answer for this, a crime that wasn't yours... You will come with me, discuss this. In private." He continued on toward the door at the end of the hall. The one I was not allowed to enter, the locked one.