Vampire King

There was pure disgust on Louis's face. He didn't want to be the Vampire King. He just wanted Giselle safe.

"So do we have to go to Memphis, then?"

He looked at her.

"No," he snarled. "We're not going anywhere."

"But what about tradition? Any new Vampire King is always heralded on the old Sun Throne in Memphis."

"That's more legend than tradition. Gabriel Le Monde didn't do it. Neither did the five Kings before him. So I'm not going to resume the old practice. It's a modern age, Giselle. We're not in the Middle Ages anymore," he snapped at her.

She reeled back and lowered her head submissively.

"Of course, Louis," she said meekly. "I'll go check in on Adelene and René."

She turned around and quickly fled from the cellar, not wanting her love to see the tears that threatened to fall.

Back upstairs, she found the Noirs out back in the garden. They chatted for a while.

"We're going to be headed to the airport soon." René said. "The flight's in a couple hours."

"I understand. And I hope that Louis and I didn't upset you guys. We were just having a domestic, or two."

"We get it, but take our advice, mon amie," Adelene said. "If he doesn't treat you right, then leave him. He's not worth it then and you deserve better at that point."

"You don't get it. And I'm afraid I can't explain, but Louis is good to me. I love him. I can't just turn my back on all he's done for me. Excuse me for a moment."

Giselle got up and went back inside the house. She had heard Louis yelling at someone and went to go make sure everything was okay. She stopped outside his office.

"No, you don't get it!" Louis roared. "Paris is behind us! If anything, we're going to move to Los Angeles. Which is further away from you!"

On the other line, someone was ranting, but Giselle couldn't make anything out.

"I'm the King now, so I can do whatever the fuck I want! Which means, bye-bye Paris! And there's no way in hell I'm going to Memphis. Giselle already mentioned that and I told her no. After what happened there, I'm never stepping foot in that damned city ever again!"

She heard him angrily curse and then hang up.

Why won't Louis confide in me? Giselle thought miserably. And what happened in Memphis, Egypt that made Louis never want to go there again?

After a moment, she gently knocked on his door.

"Louis? May I come in?"

"Yes."

She opened the door and stepped into his office. He was standing in front of the desk, leaning against it.

"What, Giselle?" he asked gruffly.

"What happened in Memphis?" Her tone was gentle and soft. She didn't want to provoke him. Giselle knew he had a bad temper and when he was angry, well... it wouldn't be good.

Louis instead groaned and put his head in his hands.

"Can we not talk about this later?"

"No. I think we need to talk about it now."

He sighed, "Where are René and Adelene?"

"Out back in the garden."

"Okay."

Silence ensued. Finally Louis spoke again.

"You know that I have a sister."

Giselle nodded.

"But I used to have an older brother. And he was the Vampire King."