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Lestat the Lil Thief

Chapter Text

On one street of San Francisco, California, sits an abandoned warehouse. A shadowy figure steps onto the curb next to it. The person stuffs his hands into his pocket as a wind blows, fluttering the cape he’s wearing. “Now let’s see, it’s isolated.” The person’s voice is thick with a Transylvanian accent.

He looks around. “And it’s in a neighborhood that you can make people not mess with you and not get a police call.” The guy looks back at the building and smiles, revealing teeth with very sharp canines. “Perfect.”

A couple of days later, all the windows are fixed, as well as the broken door. People passing by look at the warehouse with a sense of awe and fear; someone has just moved in.

Captain Black is sitting at his desk typing up a report when his screen suddenly opens up a video feed. On the video nothing can be seen but a blurred shadow. “What the?”

“Yes, ‘what the’, indeed. Hello, Captain Black. This is the criminal Lestat. You may know me by the name Dracula, which the media has given me.”

“How’d you hack into my computer, and what do you want?” Black narrows his eyes at the screen.

“Oh, hacking is easy for me. As for what I want, this is a message of intent.” Black raises an eyebrow. “I intend to break into your vault and steal the twelve talismans. I have heard of them, and they pique my interest.”

Despite being the figure being only a shadow, Black is surprised as the figure apparently smiles, his teeth becoming visible.

“You have until midnight tonight to get your men ready for my arrival. Good day to you.”

At midnight, everything is ready, and the Chan group is waiting near the vault, Jade included.

“Okay, Jackie. You must be alert. This Lestat is supposed to be pretty quick and slippery,” said Captain Black.

Jackie nods his head in agreement. “Yes, I’ve heard about him on the news. No camera has ever been able to capture his image, despite him walking up to and turning some off.”

Black looks down at Jade as she walks back and forth with her hands behind her head, obviously bored, but not wanting to go to sleep and miss the action. “On the video we received, all we saw was shadow, despite the room being well lit.”

Their conversation stops as shouts and gunfire emit from the rest of the complex. “He’s here.”

They come to attention and move their heads slightly as the sounds of battle get closer. The door suddenly flies open as an agent is knocked through it. Standing in the doorway is a boy. His clothes are the sleek clothes of the thief with a cape added.

“That’s Lestat? But he’s just a kid,” Jackie says, shocked.

Lestat bows to the ones in front of him. “Ah, the Chan family. Nice to finally meet you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must break in.”

Lestat smiles, showing his sharp fangs, and causing Jade to suck in her breath in shock upon seeing them. He dashes at the group. But instead of engaging the fighters, he dodges their attack by twisting his body inhumanly, and gets past.

The Chans blink before they turn around and dash after him, only to find the vault already open. Inside, a blur spins around the room, stopping to reveal Lestat, now holding all the talismans.

Lestat glances up and dodges as Jackie jumps over. The skilled fighter looks around in confusion. “Heh, you guys may be great fighters, but apparently you can’t deal with a quick thief with no wish to fight – especially people of your caliber.”

Jade tenses up and moves her head slightly to see Lestat is behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder. She stares at him as he shifts his eyes to look back at her.

“You’re quite cute. You know, I would even say beautiful.” Jade blushes, but continues to stare at him in surprise. “Of course, though, you’re a good guy intent on catching me. So I’ll see you later.”

Jade blinks and turns quickly in surprise as he vanishes; she blinks in confusion as a small slip of paper slowly floats down into her line of sight.

She grabs it and looks at it. It says,
‛And I do mean later, ‛cause if you want, I can take you on a little adventure, since I know you like adventures. I’ve done some research on other things and found some other criminals who really need to be stopped. I only steal, whereas they actually harm living things. If you’re interested in helping out then call this number.’

Underneath that is a phone number and the closing of the letter.

Back home, Jackie divulges everything that happened to Uncle as Jade sits in a chair, staring at the note, and then glancing at the nearby phone. She shifts her eyes back and forth a few times before glancing in the direction of Jackie and Uncle. With a determined look she gets up and picks up the phone.

Meanwhile, back at the warehouse, the boy cloaked in shadows tosses a talisman into the air and catches it. “Hmm, 12 talismans. How neat. But the only useful ones I prefer are super-strength, speed, flight, hand and eye blast. I have no need for invisibility, since I’m not seen on cameras.”

He glances briefly at a TV in the room to see the latest news about him on it, smiles, and then looks back at the talismans. “No need for astro-projection. Why would I need that?” he asks himself as he picks up the Sheep talisman, and then puts it down.

He holds up the Rat talisman. “Bring life to the lifeless. Well, there’s a couple things I could do with that, but not much.” He looks at the Monkey talisman. “Shapeshifting. Now that’s a neat power I could use, especially on these villains I want to stop.” Next he picks up the Tiger talisman. “Balance, or to be more precise, ying/yang. Now I could also use that on them, make ‘em turn themselves in.” He chuckles to himself slightly at this thought going through his mind.

Then he looked at the Dog and Horse talismans. “Immortality and healer – well, I’m already immortal and therefore no need for healing. There’s only one thing I need to watch out for, and I avoid running into them – the blasted nocturnum hunters. They can be such a nuisance if one does get wind of me, despite the fact that I don’t…”

The toothy smile is quickly placed on his face as he hears a phone ringing.

“So, she’s calling. Time to arrange a meeting to begin our crime hunt.” Lestat walks over to a desk and picks up a cell phone.

Chapter Text

The next day, Jade walks into a park and, looking around, spots Lestat, who is currently leaning against a light post and slightly bobbing his head. She gets closer and stops upon getting close enough to hear him singing softly to himself, and then stands transfixed as if in a trance.


The hunger inside given to me makes me what I am
Always it is calling me, for the blood of man
They say I cannot be this I am jaded
Hiding from the day
I can bear, I cannot tame the hunger in me
Oh I say I did it, always searching
You can’t mess with fate
So, instead you’ll taste my pain

The hunger inside given to me makes me feel alive
Always out stalking prey
In the dark I hide
Feeling
Falling
Hating
Feel like
I am fading
hating LIFE

Lestat chuckles to himself as he stops singing and notices Jade. He reaches up to his ear and removes a headphone.

“Good, you’re on time. And alone, too. I can tell you’re slightly worried you’d have told your uncle about this meeting.”

Lestat smirks as she blinks and shakes her head.

Then Jade says,
“Okay then, you said we’d be stopping some other criminals. However, despite it being my duty to stop them, I’m gonna want something in return.”

Lestat resumes his chuckling at this. “Of course. Don’t worry, you will receive a most valuable prize. Now our first stop is on a boat near the Amazon. So grab on. We have to use the Rabbit talisman.”

Seconds later they arrive on the boat. “Okay, we’re going to split up. You check the upper decks, and I’ll check the lower deck. Use these talismans.” Lestat hands Jade some talismans, and then takes off. She opens her hand and looks over what she was given.

“Snake, Ox, and Dog.”

She blinks, then passes one of the talismans into her other hand, while pocketing the third. She activates the Snake and disappears.

Downstairs, Lestat smiles as he opens a door and enters to see his prey stand up and, upon seeing who entered the room, become fearful.

“Who dares – Lestat? How’d you find me?”

The thief puts his hands in his pockets and looks very much like he’d have been a boss just finding his henchmen goofing off.

“Thought you could get away from me, did you, Nivor? In our last encounter, your cook surprised me and knocked me out.”

He enters the room and, after closing the door, looks around, surveying the room. He spots some jewelry on the wall next to him.

“This time around, he’ll have his own concerns. Right now I’ve come to collect on the blood you owe me.” Nivor unsheathes a sword that was next to the chair he was in and points it at his intruder. Lestat only laughs and jumps onto the table next to Nivor, the sword following him.

“Didn’t you learn anything from the last time, Nivor? I am going to stop your little eating reign of terror.”

Lestat lifts up a part of his cape. “You did make a meal out of one of my brethren, after all.”

Nivor growls as a bat flies out from under the cape.

“You have no chance to stop me, remember?”

Lestat smirks his toothy smile. “As Dracula said in the film ‛Van Helsing’, you can’t kill me.”

He then walks toward the sword and pushes himself onto it until he’s face to face with the man. “I’m already dead.”

Lestat’s eyes suddenly blaze up as he opens his mouth and lets out a catlike hiss, showing his fangs, and causing Nivor to let go of the weapon.

Nivor then backs up, and trips over a footstool. Lestat leaps into the air and lands on Nivor, effectively pinning him to the ground. “You see, I’ve bled twice because of you. It’d been easier on you if you just turned yourself in and let me hand you to the cops. Now I’m afraid,” said Lestat, pausing to pinch Nivor’s nose and move his head from side to side, “you must provide some blood in return.”

Before Nivor can ask what he means, he cries out briefly as his arm is stuck with a needle, his blood flowing into a blood bag.

“I’ve been meaning to break into a blood bank, but this’ll work out just as well.”

Jade sighs as she walks down the stairs to the lower decks, the Ox talisman allowing her to drag the large cook behind her. She stops as she notices Nivor leave a room down there, only to hum to himself as he walks by her.

“Hmm... now I wonder where the nearest police station is so I can turn myself in.” Jade stares at him in confusion as he walks by, not noticing her. She walks over to and looks in the room to see a second Nivor get turned into a fly.

She gasps when she spots Lestat, the sword still sticking out of his chest. Her eyes widen as he grabs the hilt and pulls it from his body. “Hey there, Jade. I’ll be with you in a second. OK?”

She blinks as now he brings a bag of red liquid to his face and bites into it. Once the bag has been emptied, he drops it and lets out a satisfied hissing sound before looking at his partner, his eyes returned to normal. He walks over to her and, passing by her ear, stops.

“We’re through here. Nivor has been ‛ying/yanged’ and the evil half turned into a fly. So let’s go; we got a couple more stops.”

Jade turns to stare at him a moment longer before she follows behind him. The wound was healed, and only the clothes left evidence of the sword’s presence.

“Wait, how could you do that? And what was that red stuff you drank?” Jade asks.

Lestat chuckles darkly as he lowers his head. The bat from earlier flies out of the room and grabs onto the bottom of Lestat’s arm that he held out.

“The hunger inside given to me, makes me what I am. Always it is calling me, for the blood of man.”

Lestat looks back up into the eyes of Jade, who is now staring with a range of emotions. Fear, worry, and last excitement.

“You mean you’re a real bloodsucking vampire? Uncle said the bloodsucking ones didn’t exist, though some chi-sucking ones do.”

Amused laughter emits from Lestat as he puts the arm with the bat underneath the cape and extracts it bat free. “Yes. The one who turned me spoke of those guys; they sound pathetic. But for your info, I’m only half. Otherwise this adventure would’ve taken place at night and not the day time. But that’s a different story. Now, come, our next target is in Africa. I can sense looking to gain back something lost to him.”

Flashback

Lestat, about 2 years younger, darts in between people. All around, people are partying. Once he makes it out of the crowd, the little boy reaches into a purse he snatched and pulls out several wallets. “Party people are so easy to target. With this, my family can eat for a good while.”

The kid freezes as someone speaks up behind him. “You know, I can help you make that money last longer for them.”

Lestat spins around to stare at a well-dressed gentleman with a cape. “I can make it where you won’t need the money and your family can use every cent. All I ask is that you obey me. Your talents could help me quite a bit.”

Young Lestat looks down at the money he stole, and then back at the man. “Don’t know what’d you want me to do, though.”

The man smiles, revealing his sharp teeth. “You’re just going to help me get inside some houses and take some things that rightly belong to me.”

Lestat lowers his gaze for a second, and then looks back up. “All right, that sounds good so long as I don’t have to hurt anybody. I just want money.”

The stranger chuckles as he bends down to the young boy’s height. “Don’t worry. You won’t have to harm anyone; just leave that part to me.”

End of Flashback

Start of new Flashback

Lestat stands looking out over the city. Currently he’s on top of an apartment building. “So Master, all vampires come from you, then?”

“No, young one. There are several different types, just as mortals say that no two snowflakes are alike. I just happen to be the perfect version. The others are failures. Chi vampires are limited by normal water and are blind until they have sucked sufficient chi. The other types…”

End

Lestat smiles to himself as he speeds along the water, going fast enough to stay on top but not at top speed. His headphones are blaring the music into his ear, while he’s singing the song he’s hearing and keeping Jade, who is on his back, in a trance like before.


I’m over it
You see I’m falling in a vast abyss
Clouded by memories of the past
At last I see
I hear it fading
I can’t speak it
Or else you will dig my grave
You feel them finding
Always whining
Take my hand
Now be alive

You see I cannot be forsaken
Because I’m not the only one
We walk amongst you
Feeding, raping
Must we hide from everyone?

I’m over it
Why can’t we be together?
Embrace it
Sleeping so long
Taking off the masks
At last I see
My fear is fading
I can’t speak it
Or else you will dig my grave
You fear them finding
Always whining
Take my hand
Now be alive

You see I cannot be forsaken
Because I’m not the only one
We walk amongst you
Feeding, raping
Must we hide from everyone?

You see I cannot be forsaken
Because I'm not the only one
We walk amongst you
Feeding, raping
Must we hide from everyone?
Everyone
Everyone

Chapter Text

Lestat stops as they reach their destination – which happens to be a lush forest near the African Savannah. “Okay. Now, all we need to do is find out his exact location around here.”

The thief sets Jade down and lifts up part of his cape. Jade watches as the bat flies out and flutters around.

Lestat opens his mouth and emits a sound similar to what the bat is making. The bat responds then flies off. “He’ll be back in a little bit with a report from native bats.” Jade glances at Lestat as he continues looking in the direction his pet went in.

“So what do we do until he gets back?” Jade asks.

Lestat glances at her as he reaches into his cape. “Well, I did get these from Nivor’s boat.”

The thief holds out a couple necklaces, bracelets and rings.

“I don’t normally go for these, per say, but I thought you might like them.”

Lestat lightly tosses the jewelry to Jade, who becomes wide-eyed while looking at them. “So they’re mine?”

“Yes, because, quite frankly, I don’t think Nivor’s gonna need them any more.”

Jade smiles as she puts on a necklace and looks down at it, while putting the rest in her pockets. “Thank you.”

“No sweat. It was easy for me. Besides, that necklace looks beautiful, especially on a pretty girl like yourself.”

Jade blushes a little at the ‛pretty girl’ part. Then, their attention is grabbed by the return of Lestat’s bat, who gives its report flying around in a circle above them. Lestat nods his head and sticks out his arm; the bat takes its place on the underside. Jade gasps as the bat nips Lestat’s arm, while Lestat only hisses slightly.

“Come, Jade. We must be on our way.”

Jade nods as she silently follows, still staring at the feeding bat perched on the other’s arm. Lestat stops before they come into a clearing. His bat dislodges itself and flies up to cling to a tree branch.

Jade is the first to react to who’s in the clearing. “Anti-Uncle! He’s our next target?”

Lestat raises an eyebrow and thinks for a second before nodding sagely. “Anti-Uncle. I get it, and I can see why you call him that, too. It makes sense, though. But, yeah, he’s our next target. I’ll distract him, and you grab the scepter on that shrine.” Jade nods her head in agreement, and then slips away.

Lestat smirks as he steps forward, taking his confident posture once again.

“So, Anti-Uncle, is it? Heard so much about you. It’s just a shame you had to get on my bad side, huh? We could’ve been friends and you could’ve helped me get my master back. But, no. You had to kill a bat.” Daolon turns to face him, a confused look on his face.

“What are you talking about? And you’re gonna stop me from regaining my magic just because I killed a bat? How did you hear about me and find me anyway?” Daolon asks.

Lestat only chuckles to himself. “Now, now. That would be telling, wouldn’t it?”

The wizard gasps in shock as Lestat zooms to being in front of him, and kicks him away from the shrine that was behind him. Lestat smiles as his quick glance at the shrine reveals to him Jade is quick to get her job done.

The thief turns back to the dark wizard only to blink as he holds his hand out and mutters three words.

“Gun, Ren, Chui.”

Lestat smirks. “The dark chi warriors. You got them back.”

He bends backwards to dodge a weapon, and upon completing his flip he plants his feet on the ground, only to sweep one out and trip a warrior.

He then jumps up and kicks with both feet, striking the other two. The first one gets back up and swings his weapon, with the thief dodging every strike.

With a loud hiss, Lestat lunges forward and forces the warrior’s arms to his side. Jade gasps as Lestat bites down on the summoned warrior’s neck, causing it to vanish in a puff of purple smoke.

Daolon turns and spots Jade. “Jackie’s annoying niece?” Then he sees the scepter in her hands. “The scepter! Give that to me.”

Jade sticks her tongue out and jumps away as the dark wizard rushes at her. Daolon stops chasing her as he senses something and turns to see Lestat bite into another Chi warrior’s neck.

“That boy’s being a nuisance.”

The wizard holds out his hand and becomes confused when nothing happens. Jade stops and turns to see Daolon trying again and again to re-summon his fallen warriors, as the last one falls victim to the same fate.

“Why won’t they re-summon?” he asks.

Lestat only smirks and, holding out his hand, says three words. The dark chi warriors return; only now, they’re a more pale orange.

“A handy little thing about being a vampire, Daolon Wong. If I want to, the ones I bite become my willing servants.” Daolon looks shocked.

Lestat’s smirk widens, and he then says,
“Now, my chi warriors, attack your former master.”

The three summon their weapons and charge at the dark wizard.

Later, Lestat speeds over the ocean once again, Jade riding on his back, holding onto the scepter with one hand.


You fell away
What more can I say
The feeling’s evolved
I won’t let it out
I can’t replace
Your screaming face
Feeling the sickness inside...

Why won’t you die
Your blood in mine
We’ll be fine
Then your body will be mine

So many words
Can’t describe my fate
This feeling’s evolved
So soon to break out
I can’t relate
To a happy state
Feeling the blood run inside...

Why won’t you die
Your blood in mine
We’ll be fine
Then your body will be mine

Why is everything so fucking hard for me
Keep me down to what you think I should be
Must you tempt me and provoke the ministry
Keep on trying, I’m not dying so easily (I will not die)
Why is everything so fucking hard for me (I will not die)
Why is everything so fucking hard for me (I will not die)

Why won’t you die
Your blood in mine
We’ll be fine
Then your body will be mine
Why won’t you die
Your blood in mine
We’ll be fine
Then your body will be mine

It isn’t long before they stop near Uncle’s shop. It is now nightfall.

Jade takes the opportunity to say, “Thanks, Lestat. I got to tell you – that was fun. Maybe we can do this again later?”

Lestat bows his head slightly to acknowledge her request.

“Of course. When I go stop some more criminals, I’ll give you a call.”

The thief puts his hands in his pockets, and smirks.

“Let me just give you my cell number.” Jade starts to reach towards her pocket when Lestat holds up a hand. Her phone is in his clutches.

“Already got it. Thanks for being a sport and letting me hold on to this, too,” Lestat replies.

He hands the phone back to her, and then bows before speeding off.

Jade blinks, then smiles. “Well, he still has some talismans, but he didn’t…”

Jade stops midway as she reaches around her pocket.

“Darn it. He did get those talismans back.” Jade sighs and turns to go inside when she notices something else missing from her hands.

“And he took the scepter?”

At Lestat’s

The thief laughs as he sets the scepter against a wall. There is a book shelf next to it containing some of his more prized steals.

“I love this. Jade Chan. Now, who’d have thought that Jade, the great, 12-year-old adventurer, would’ve found someone like myself? Hmm, well, at least I got my fill today. No blood bank robbery tonight.” Lestat smiles as he passes his shelves and looks at what he has: gold and silver bars from Fort Knox, some art and some museum artifacts.

But most importantly to him there was a large coffin, taking up space in the corner by the door to the room. The thief bows to the coffin before he exits. His eyes flash fire as he looks back into the room while closing the door.

“Yes, a very interesting individual indeed – and so beautiful.”

Chapter Text

Jade sits in class the next day, brooding about what happened the day before. It is then that someone enters the room. Black sweats with green flames extending from the sides, minus his cape, is Lestat.

Jade straightens as the teacher takes a slip of paper from him. The teacher looks it over before turning to the class.

“We have a new student joining our class today. Everyone, say hello to Lestat.”

Lestat smirks at the class. “It is my pleasure to be here today. After all, I have heard so much about American schools,” he replies.

Jade blinks in puzzlement as one of her classmate speaks up. “You’re not American?”

“I was born here, but my family chose to live elsewhere until returning here, which was quite recently, I might add. My interests are vampires and the creatures of the night.”

Jade feels a shiver go down her spine. Her obnoxious classmate Drew picks this as the opportunity to speak, though.

“Vampires? Ha, vampires aren’t real. They’re just made-up stories – horror tales to tell around a campfire.” He begins to laugh at his comment. But his laughter gets caught in his throat as Lestat glares at him.

“Oh, I think it would be best if you were to believe in the creatures of the night. After all, Jade here does, and I like that.” He turns to Jade and gives her a wink; she blushes a little and smiles. Then he turns back to Drew. “And you wouldn’t want one to catch you at night now, would you?”

Lestat begins to laugh, and, after handing another slip of paper to the teacher, finds a seat.

The teacher blinks at the paper, looks up at him, then, smiling, goes back to teaching. Jade watches Lestat as he writes on a piece of paper, a single headphone in an ear.

At recess, Jade looks around for him, only to hear him before she sees him. Lestat sits on top of a basketball basket, still writing on the paper only now singing out loud to himself.


I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel.
I focus on the pain,
The only thing that’s real.

Lestat stops writing and closes his eyes, remembering his past once again and why he does what he does. Everything he has given up becoming what he is, and everything he’s done to achieve it.


The needle tears a hole;
The old familiar sting,
Try to kill it all away,
But I remember everything.

His family was very poor to begin with, practically homeless and living on the streets. Lestat had taken to pick-pocketing and taking what ever he could for his family, all at a very young age. The young age saved him though. He had easily told the people who caught him that their wallet was getting ready to fall out and he was pushing it back in.


What have I become,
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know,
Goes away in the end

Jade’s eyes come into semi focus as she listens to him sing, real pain and regret in his voice as he continues to recall. He recalls meeting the vampire who made him again, learning about the creatures of darkness and how they act towards each other. The day the vampire was killed by another, this one radiating fear of the vampire master.


And you could have it all:
My empire of dirt,
I will let you down,
I will make you hurt.

Watching his family from a distance, leaving all the money he steals on their doorstep. Not wanting to involve them in his new world any more then necessary. Over the years learning how to use his abilities to break into buildings, learning how to curb his hunger for blood, and how to avoid those who would kill him.


I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar’s chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair.

All of his accomplishments and past battles with those he could not avoid. Fighting a werewolf until the moon hid itself and ran as the wolf was becoming human. Having to reunite with his family by saving them from a group of vampires. Breaking into Fort Knox, meeting someone afterwards that he learned to respect.


Beneath the stains of time,
The feelings disappear.
You are someone else,
I am still right here.

Meeting that person only a few times over the next few days, most of the time the person learning about him until one day. It happened that another werewolf had attacked him; this one didn’t last long though before the moon chose to hide. Wanting to finish it this time, chasing the person and entering an alley see it a wolf again chasing someone up the fire escape.


What have I become,
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know,
Goes away in the end

Getting to the top and running at the wolf to stop it from attacking a girl, ramming the wolf off the side of the building and falling with it. Getting up seconds later on the ground to the girl bending over him. Snarling and bounding up, glancing briefly at her before noticing the scent of vampire. Chasing the vampire, the wolf being his first kill, making his second. The person he respected letting him drink some of his blood and learning so much.


And you could have it all:
My empire of dirt.
I will let you down,
I will make you hurt.

Memories went by of a few days past, as well as untold number of years. But it was those few days that stuck out more to him as he drank. He learned of twelve magical talismans, of the famous Jackie Chan and of the place known as Section 13. Most importantly he learned of the girl he had inadvertently saved and taken a liking to – who happened to be named after a stone called jade, now that he remembered that simple fact. He was also quite impressed by her enthusiasm to learn about magic, martial arts, and her love of having adventures.


If I could start again,
A million miles away,
I will keep myself,
I would find a way.

Lestat sighs and jumps from the basket, the bell ringing signaling the end of school. Jade runs over to him and catches him before he leaves. “Lestat, that was…”

“I’ll tell you one day why I steal. Right now, though, I have something else to do.” Lestat smiles in the direction of Drew leaving, which Jade notices.

“Lestat?” she asks, half-worried, half-puzzled.

“Don’t worry, Jade. I won’t do anything permanent. Aishiteru. That’s Japanese.” Lestat winks, smiles at her, and dashes away, becoming a shadow behind the other kid.

Jade sighs and turns to leave when someone stops her, saying, “Hey, where’d you get the necklace around your neck, Jade? If I recall correctly, you weren’t wearing it earlier.”

Blinking, she looks down and gasps, lifting part of a necklace. The necklace consists of a large opal bat with various jewels embedded in its wings and rubies as its eyes and teeth.

Drew walks down the street, a shadow behind him moving from place to place. His feeling of being followed finally causes him to pause and look behind him. The shadow takes this opportunity to move in front of him. Drew turns back only to jump back in surprise. Lestat grins, revealing his teeth. “Nice to run into a non-believer.”

A couple hours later, Drew is tied up and hanging from a lamppost with a large tattoo on his forehead – the tattoo being a vampire with ‛I Believe’ written under it.

As for Lestat, he bounds from rooftop to rooftop, he stops and peers down at a sign that reads ‛Blood Bank’.

“Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have given him that tattoo. I did say it’d be nothing permanent after all.”

Thinking about it, he jumps down and walks up to the bank. Once at the glass door, he flexes his fingers. His nails lengthen a little bit and sharpen; he puts his palm against the glass and cuts it in a circle, and then puts it on the ground carefully.

Slipping inside, he soon finds his way to the storage and looks at the shelves of bags of blood.

‛Hmm... now I come to the question. Exactly how many bags do I want right now? Take just one for now; they’ll overlook the loss as a glitch on their systems. But I’ll have to come back in a few days. However, if I take too many, they’ll increase security, and hunters will become alert to something happening here. But I’ll not have to return for a while.’

Debating for a few seconds, he makes his decision and pauses as a name catches his eye. ‛Hmm Mary – almost like Bloody Mary, but different, of course.’

At the Chan residence Jade watches Uncle try to locate info on blood-sucking vampires. She stops Tohru as he walks by.

“What is it, Jade?” he asks.

“You know Japanese right?” Tohru blinks and nods his head.

“Yes, I do,” Tohru replies. “Why do you ask?”

“What does ‛Aishiteru’ mean?”

“ ‛Aishiteru’? Where’d you learn that?”

Jade blushes slightly and looks away. “Umm, nowhere important.”

Tohru sighs and shakes his head, “Aishiteru translates to ‛I love you’ in Japanese.” Jade immediately blushes as her eyes widen. “Another term that can mean that as well is adding ‛chan’ to the end of someone’s name, as it is can mean ‛Dear’ or ‛Honey’. Though that can also mean ‛little’…” He catches sight of the look on her face. “Uh, what’s wrong?”

Jackie answers, thinking the question was aimed at him, as he enters the room.

“Lestat’s been caught on tape at the blood bank, stealing a bag of blood. A shadow followed him as he left; I’m going to check it out.”

Jade jumps up and makes to follow him.

“No, Jade. Stay here.”

Jade’s blush deepens as she speaks. “I can’t, Uncle Jackie. Lestat said he loves me. I can make him a good guy, which means I need to interact with him as much as possible.”

Jackie falls silent, while Tohru gasps. “He was where you learned that word… Lestat knows Japanese?”

Jackie frowns, and then sighs. “OK, Jade, you have a point there. Just, please, stay out of trouble – though I doubt you’ll obey that. After all, well, you have saved my life more than once, and me telling you to stay behind, now that I think about it, is definitely going against everything I taught you.”

Tohru follows the two of them out of the shop, leaving poor Uncle by himself.

The three of them run by the park. Jade yelling out for Jackie to stop, causes Jackie to hit the brakes.

“What is it, Jade?”

Jade exits and looks up. A bat can be seen above the trees, screeching.

“Lestat’s that way! That’s his pet bat!”

Then, not waiting for the other two, Jade runs into the park. She stops when she gets to a clearing and gasps; a woman stands there with a sword. She thrusts it at Lestat.

Lestat dodges to one side only to cry out, a second sword lodged in his chest. “Lestat!” The woman looks up, only to get hit backwards by a jump kick.

She steadies herself and looks back up to see Jade yanking the sword from Lestat. “Lestat, are you still there?”

Lestat smiles, “Jade Chan. I’m sorry, but it seems I’ve actually grown lax when it comes to hunters.”

“Don’t say that, Lestat. You’ll be fine. After all, you came from the blood bank, and you’ve taken a sword before.”

Lestat shakes his head. “No, I used that blood already; my hunger was acting up. This sword was silver. Nivor’s sword didn’t kill me because it wasn’t silver; this barely missed an outright death. But don’t cry, Jade. I want a promise. In my cape there is a package. Its destination is Los Angeles. Send it there, will you?”

“I won’t have to, Lestat. You’ll be able to because you won’t die.”

Lestat cups Jade’s cheek with his hand. “Such faith you have, Jade Chan. The light she has fades, while darkness settles in.”

Jade’s eyes threaten to unfocus, but she just shakes her head and presses him to her neck. “Take some of mine, then, please. I don’t know why, but I don’t want to lose you.” This last part Jade whispers, tears falling from her face.

When Lestat said that he had used the blood already, Jackie had heard. Leaving Jade with the wounded Lestat, Jackie approaches the woman.

“You know he never did harm anyone, in the way you’d be justified in doing this. Lestat never bit anyone.”

“It doesn’t matter; a bloodsucker is a bloodsucker. Some become stronger when they drink, others smarter, but in the end, all must be killed.”

Frowning Jackie looks back to see Jade beginning to cry.

“Lestat was actually a good kid; the only bad thing he did was steal. This is not justified.”

Before Jackie can look back, Jade gasps as Lestat’s eyes open. Reflecting in the night, it looks like they’re ablaze with fire. “Just great!” Jackie turns back to the woman as she readies her sword again.

Dashing past Jackie, she calls out, “Now I’ll have to kill both of them!”

Before Jackie can react, she leaps in the air, sword drawn back.

The woman’s eyes widen as Tohru steps in front of the two kids. She slams into him and drops her sword, being held in place as he grabs her.

“Uh, good job, Tohru,” Jackie says.

Tohru nods and turns to the kids. Lestat has finished and fallen backwards, Jade falling on top of him. “Do you think that was the right thing to do?”

“Well, Lestat was dying, and no one knows where he keeps his stuff. I’m sorry to say this, but Jade will be like him now. But the good news is, she’ll have more chances to make him good now as well.”

Tohru sighs; shifting the vampire hunter to one arm, he bends down and picks Lestat up, after Jackie picks Jade up.

On the outskirts of town, a large, wounded wolf stops running. As it continues to walk, its bones crack and change; slowly it becomes human.

This human, this werewolf, is a lycan; able to change forms at will, he will be known as Alpha, because no name will actually be given from him at any time to anyone. He cricks his neck and looks behind him, and then sniffs the air as though sensing something.

“Those blood-suckers are still after me. I need to heal before I confront them, though. But when I do they’ll pay, and I’ll make their covenant pay.”

Chapter Text

Lestat wakes and looks around, finding himself in a spare room in Uncle’s shop. He gets out of bed and goes over to his cape, resting on a table.

“Hmm... I just now noticed that the talisman I had with me – it’s gone. No matter, though. For me, it’s simple in getting it back.”

With a flutter, Lestat has his cape back on and walks out of the room. He moves to the stairs and looks downstairs to see Jade, Jackie, Tohru, Uncle, and Captain Black.

He then hears Black say, “If Jade can successfully make him change, then for my part, I see no reason to imprison him. He’d just have to return what he still has.”

Shaking his head and smiling, Lestat climbs down the stairs and walks over to them.

“Black-san, Jackie-san, Uncle-san, and Tohru-san. I’m terribly sorry, but I’m afraid it’s just not as simple as changing who I am.” There are some quick movements, and Lestat holds up the rabbit talisman.

“Thank you for holding on to this.”

Captain Black reaches into one of his pockets and slaps his face when he realizes he’d been pick-pocketed.

“Now I must be going. I got a couple things I’ve got to do. But I’ll be seeing you, Jade Chan.” Lestat bows then vanishes. Jade immediately takes off after him – her speed is nowhere near his, but her sense of smell able enough to allow her to follow him.

She stops in front of the warehouse Lestat’s using and heads up the fire escape. Lestat stands near the edge of the roof looking out over the city. “Lestat?”

Lestat turns and smiles at Jade, “I really must thank you, Jade, for saving me. It was quite noble of you.”

“Lestat, you can turn your life around. Why did you say what you did back there?”

Lestat frowns and looks back outward. “There are some things in my life that are just too…”

He then pauses and smells the air. “Wolf.”

Growling, he scans the area. “And just after fighting a hunter, too. Well, wolves I can handle.”

Lestat leaps off the building, and Jade quickly follows. Lestat stops in front of Alpha who growls at him.

“Now, vampire, my revenge can start!”

Lestat’s murderous glare becomes a confused one as Alpha begins to transform.

“A lycan, not a werewolf.”

Alpha lunges at Lestat, who quickly puts his hands up and grapples with the large wolf. Jade moves forward to help, but a look from Lestat causes her to stop.

Don’t even think about it, Jade, my darling. Just stand back and watch.

Lestat turns his full attention to the wolf now and his nose picks up on other vampires. “This revenge is for something recent, wolf. Something some power suckers did.”

A confused look crosses the wolf’s face. “You speak as if you’re a knowledge sucker?”

“I am. Now if you stop fighting and tell me what happened. I may help you.” even more confused and now curious as well Alpha relents and steps back.

“Well, vampire, I lost some members of my pack when a group of power suckers attacked.”

Lestat growls as the wolf continues. “I come from the next town over. I was chased here by a small group of power suckers. Thought you might’ve been one. Now that I realize I was wrong, I apologize for attacking you.”

“No worries, wolf. I mistook you for a werewolf. They’ve been sicced on me a few times in the past.”

“Then we both have been hounded by the power suckers,” Alpha replies.

“Yes. You say there’s some in the next town. Well, why don’t we pay them a visit? Just need to learn of their base, of course.”

Alpha smiles and transfigures back to his human self. “I’m ready when you are, vampire.”

“I have weapons in my home, which is this way.” Jade falls alongside Lestat, Alpha walking behind them.

“Lestat?”

“It would be best for you to stay here, Jade. This was what I was talking about earlier. A part of my life is just too dark for me to go legit.”

Jade replies, “I’m going with you, Lestat. After all, you might need my help.”

Lestat smirks. “OK, you’re right. And I take it that my deduction about you liking adventures was correct also. But don’t complain about what the wolf and I are going to do. You can do as you wish when we get there, though.”

Jade blinks and glances back at Alpha. “By the way, what is your name?”

Alpha looks at her, and then at Lestat. “Your mate was newly turned, vampire?”

“Mate?” Jade looks at Alpha, confused.

“Just last night, wolf. At least, I believe it was last night. I haven’t had the time to tell her about the other creatures of the night.”

“Shouldn’t she have picked up on that?” Alpha asks.

“She’s not bitten me.” Lestat opens the door to his house and walks inside. He then heads toward his treasure room. “Then the mating is only half done.”

“Whoa, what are you talking about? Me and Lestat are not together or anything,” Jade replies.

“You allowed him to bite you willingly. And in an act of affection, you are engaged.”

Jade pales at that info. “What?”

“Otherwise the mark on your neck would not be there.” Alpha gestures to the bite mark on her neck, just as Lestat opens the treasure room door.

Lestat walks over to the shelf and begins to look over the weapons. Jade finds a mirror to look at herself. Then, resisting the urge to yell in either fear or frustration – or maybe both – at the fact that her reflection has disappeared, she turns to Lestat.

“Lestat, is what he says true?”

“Yes, I’m afraid it is. However, to complete the process you’d need to bite me. That was the reason why I didn’t want to bite you in the first place.” Lestat grabs the rest of the talismans and hands the ox and dragon to Alpha, and the snake, dog, and horse to Jade. He then pockets the rabbit and pig.

After explaining to a confused lycan what each one does, Lestat grabs a sword and small dagger while Jade grabs a bo staff.

“Now let’s go kill some power suckers.” Alpha growls in anticipation.

But Jade falters. “Kill?”

“It’s survival of the fittest. Either be kill or be killed, Jade. The suggestion that you stay here still stands.”

“No, I’m coming with you, Lestat,” Jade replies.

Lestat smirks again, this time at her stubbornness and her desire for adventure, and leads the way back out.

Alpha steps up next to Lestat and, smiling, whispers,
“You’re corrupting her, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Of course I am. However, she was a little dark to begin with already. But she’s slowly working her way down, thanks to my tutelage.” Alpha nods, and then transforms.

Lestat picks Jade up, and they take off. The ox talisman being applied to his lycan legs allows Alpha to keep up with the rabbit Lestat.

At the edge of the neighboring town, they stop, and Lestat puts Jade down. “Now, we just need to find a power sucker, so I can learn where the hideout is located.”

Jade follows behind the others, who have taken on a dark composure. Lestat and Alpha stop as the wind shifts and they pick up a scent.

They stalk to a building and grab someone who was exiting the building. The person’s eyes blaze up as he growls at them. Before he can do anything, though, Lestat bites into his neck.

Jade’s eyes widen as she watches Lestat drink the blood of the other vampire.

Shortly afterwards, Lestat stops and closes his eyes as he absorbs the info. He opens his eyes, and then slams his fist into the other’s face. The vampire’s jaw disconnects and he falls to the ground.

Despite the broken jaw, the vampire manages to cry out when a sword is run into his back. Lestat pulls the sword out and puts it back into its sheath. “All right. Jade, Wolf, follow me.”

Lestat pauses, though, when he sees the look on Jade’s face. “Jade?”

Jade shakes her head and gestures him to go. Lestat smirks and runs down the street. He stops as they come to a nightclub.

“Is that the place, vampire?” Alpha asks.

“Yes. But one second, please. Let me ring in some allies.”
Lestat makes three specific sounds and the dark chi warriors appear.

Alpha blinks in confusion, then smiles, intrigued, as the three warriors run forward to attack the outside guards. He then says,
“Interesting, vampire. Very intriguing as well.”

“I took them from a wizard named Daolon Wong, whom Jade refers to as the ‛Anti-Uncle’ – a very appropriate name, if I’m not mistaken, which I’m not. They have their uses. Now, let’s go.”

Jade trails behind the other two as they smash into the door and attack the vampires inside. Lestat, Alpha, and the three dark chi warriors slash at their opponents with weapons or claws, while Jade simply knocks out her opponents.

It doesn’t take long with so many fighters on their side and the whole dance floor is cleared.

“Very good,” says a voice.

It is then that all attention turns to a vampire who is standing there applauding, his eyes red with two things – namely, amusement and anger. He wears a business suit, and his hair is significant of a businessman as well.

“You’ve cleaned out the entire room, and you have a lycan, two knowledge suckers, and three magical warriors.” One of the dark chi warriors attacks, only to have the vampire’s hand thrust through his chest.

Lestat makes the other two vanish, while Alpha charges, only to be tossed aside. “So you’re the covenant leader – the strongest one here.”

The leader swipes at Lestat. But he dodges. Lestat swings the sword only for it to be slapped out of his hands.

The power vampire catches the sword and swings it. Lestat vanishes in a blur and swings around to ram the other in the back.

The sword clatters to the ground. The power vamp twirls around and hits Lestat sending him flying backwards.

Jade jumps and attempts to do a flying kick only for the vampire boss to sidestep, and lash a foot out. Jade gets hit in the back and flies into Alpha, knocking the lycan back down.

“You three have no hope against me, I’ve lived for too long, drinking, and getting stronger,” the vampire boss hisses.

Lestat stands, his cape covering his hands that are by his side. “I do still have one trick up my sleeve.”

The vampire boss scowls and begins to walk towards him. “Give it up. All three of you are dead, though you have proven to be quite strong. I’ll enjoy taking your strength into me.”

Jade and Alpha sit back up and watch as Lestat thrusts his hand forward. A beam of energy shoots from his hand and goes through the chest of a surprised vampire.

Lestat’s breathing is shallow as he grins at his opponent. “Sorry, but that trick didn’t require you to be near me.”

The other vampire looks at his chest and falls to the ground.

Lestat shortly follows, only to be caught by the lycan. Alpha looks down at Lestat, Jade standing next to him looking the vampire over.

“Don’t worry. Your mate is fine. He’s just exhausted of energy.”

Jade blushes and glares at the lycan. “He’s not my mate.”

She looks back down at Lestat, worry now evident on her face.

Alpha slings Lestat over his shoulder, and then picks Jade up. He carries the two back to Lestat’s warehouse – where he dumps the two, Jade having fallen asleep, on a bed.

“You’re a worthy ally, vampire. I guess I should inform the pack about this.” He then grins as he says this. “I think maybe I will.”

Chapter Text

Lestat wakes and looks around and smirks when he sees Jade cuddled up to him, sleeping. The vampire thief gets up and pulls a bag of blood out, drains it and then pulls out an empty one.

He fills the empty bag with his own blood, puts it on the table next to Jade, quickly writes a note and then leaves. He pauses in the living room, as about ten people are spread out sleeping on the floor.

Lestat raises an eyebrow and finds Alpha. “Hey, wolf, wake up.”

Alpha opens an eye. “Yes, vampire?”

Lestat gestures around.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. My pack and I have decided that we’ll be your friends and allies. Is that all right with you?”

Lestat blinks then smirks again. “Yeah, that’ll be all right – perfect, even. I’ll need the extra help when I get something started.”

Alpha nods his head, Lestat says one more thing then turns and leaves the house.

Jade wakes and looks around confused. Soon she spots the blood bag and note. Picking up the note she reads it. Her tongue unconsciously rubs one of her fangs.

“Dear Jade, you’ve yet to eat a meal, so drink up. If you don’t, you’ll end up attacking a random person. And trust me – you don’t want that on your conscience. And I have to tell you something else – I think a pair of white fangs sure make you look more beautiful than ever, at least in my view. I’ll see you later. I’ve got somewhere to be.

Aishiteru,
Lestat.

P.S. Thanks for sleeping with me.”

Jade blushes and looks at the bag. She steels herself and bites into it, and then gasps as she drops the now empty bag. Jade blinks several times then frowns slightly.


As she shifts through the new memories Jade exits the room and blinks in confusion at the people sleeping on the floor.

12345678

In a different town, Lestat stands on top of a tall building, looking down at the entrance to one across the street. He leaps down and enters the door, he presses himself against the wall and silently opens another door and looks inside.

He smirks as he sees a balding man, Lestat reaches into his cloak and tosses something into the room. He then heads up some stairs, he opens another door and enters. Lestat places his cape on a coat hanger and slips farther into the apartment.
Lestat sneaks up on two kids and jumps them, there’s a couple of yells followed by laughter as the three wrestle around. Lestat laughs as the two kids pin him to the ground then hug him.

“Onii-chan!”

A woman stands at a doorway and smiles. “It’s good to see you again Bats.”

Lestat looks up, “you too mom.”

A bundle of cash is tossed to the mother as Lestat stands up.

“You’ve not been seen in the news lately.”

“Several things have happened not in my normal regime.”
“Really?” Lestat produces two Game Boy DS’s and hands them to his two brothers. The two thank him, and then happily take them and run to play them.

“Well, I met a girl for one.” Lestat hands his mom a picture.

“Oh, she’s beautiful, Bats,” his mom replies.

Lestat blushes and rubs his neck, “We’re engaged by vampire law.”

Lestat’s mom smiles at him and hands the photo back. “I’ve been getting to know her, getting her used to life as a vampire, and doing a number of other things.”

Attention turns as someone knocks on the door, Lestat’s mom answers it to reveal the old man. “Uh, Mrs. Lestat I found this…”

Lestat’s mom sighs and gestures to her son as he waves at the old man.

“Bats came home today.”

“Nice to see you back in charge. Didn’t like your replacement; he smelled of wolf.”

“That’s why I’m back. He was one. The transition turned out to be illegal.”

“Heh. The nose knows then.”

“Well Bats T. Lestat, it’s good to know you’re still on the ball here, though.”

“Yeah. Later, old man.”

The manager waves and leaves. Lestat begins to talk about the past couple days in greater detail, even talking about his new Lycan friends – to which his brothers are in awe at.

“That’s so cool, big brother. When do we get to be like you?”

“Like me?”

“They mean a vampire like you, Bats.” Lestat glances at his mom then back at his brothers. “If you want to be like me I’d have to bite you.” Lestat bites his own arms, he pulls back to show them his bloody arm.

“Would you like that?”

Both kids, scared, shake their heads. Lestat’s eyes soften, and he then rubs their heads. “Maybe when you’re older.”

Not much later

Lestat suddenly stops on his way home, “I’m getting a strange feeling.”

Then, a second later the vampire disappears in a puff of smoke.

Suddenly, he appears in a weird room with other people. He gets to briefly look around, before an ape like man calls out, “Welcome, champions all, to the Tournament of Heroes!”

Confused, Lestat immediately hisses back, “Heroes? Oh, please. I’m no hero. I myself happen to be a thief.”

“Same here.” Lestat quickly turns and appraises his fellow thief, who is wearing black and white clothes, and has black hair with white tips.

‛Hmm, I wonder who he is?’

“And I nearly destroyed a city!” Lestat turns to this person, and his eyes widen. Black spiky hair, a brown furry tail, and a slightly familiar face. His eyes widen more as a twin joins the person.

‛Grim and Reaper? Tom’s kids. They’re younger then what I learned about them from his blood. But they are his.’ his attention is once again shifted when he hears someone else’s voice.

“Vance, what are you doing here?”

Lestat raises an eyebrow at an African American hero, who points at a person who seems to incorporate several ‛scary’ things into his look – bright red skin, white hair with a green glow to it, a black leotard with a red hourglass and yellow eyes on the front and a brown fiddle and scorpion tail on the back.

The red teen turns and growls at the other teen. “Static, I’ve told you before. My name is Fear, not Vance!”

With that, Fear turns into a bear, which Lestat notes has decaying skin and white eyes.

‛A zombie bear?’

Fear attacks Static only to miss several times, before the two of them disappear. Confused, Lestat turns as someone asks the ape-like man where they went.

The ape holds up a red medallion that hangs around his neck. Lestat drowns out all conversation as he realizes the medallion must be magic and was the instrument used to bring everyone together. His theory is confirmed as the medallion glows again and Lestat finds himself somewhere else.

He looks around to see he’s in a cave of some kind. “Nice. In fact, I like it here.”

“Hey you know Jump City?” Lestat looks down to see a bald kid smaller then he is with a metal backpack.

“Is that a nickname of a town?” Lestat asks.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Then I’ve never heard of it. By the way, my name’s Lestat.” The vampire holds his hand out.

“I’m Gizmo,” the kid replies as he shakes hands with Lestat.

Lestat smirks as he returns his hand to his side. “Well, Gizmo, I suppose we’re supposed to fight.”

“I guess we do. Huh. Well, snot licker, let’s go then… huh?” Gizmo looks back to see his pack is missing. “Hey, where’d my computer go?”

“This is a fascinating piece of machinery.”

The short kid looks back at Lestat to see the preteen has the device in his hands. “Give me back my computer, junk sniffer.”

Lestat glances at Gizmo and frowns. “You have some weird insults – and childish ones at that. If you want to really insult someone, I suggest that you use more adult language.”

Gizmo cries out as Lestat pushes a button and encases him in a bubble.

“Snot licker, and junk sniffer. Tsk, tsk. Not good insults at all, in my view. I think ‛blood drinker’ is better, and so is ‛scaredy-cat’, of course.”

Lestat pushes another button. “Self destruct in 30 seconds.”

The vampire smirks and sets the computer next to the bubble. “I’ll be seeing you, baby licker.” Lestat laughs as he walks away, getting out of the blast area just as an explosion occurs.
“Not a fighter without his tech. Such a shame, though.”

“Gizmo is defeated. Victory to Lestat,” the Game Master’s voice calls out before Lestat is returned to the waiting room.
There he glances around, noting Fear is leaning against a wall. “No one else is back yet. Oh, well. Now then... Get the medallion, get the medallion. How am I going to get that medallion? It should be relatively easy, of course.”

The thief contemplates when he should make his move. The others arrive but he doesn’t take notice of them. Someone grabs his attention, though, when they walk over to him.
“Hi, I’m Robin.”

Lestat glances at the super hero briefly, and offers his own hand, smiling confidently. Then he looks back at his prize while Robin blinks, wondering what it is that holds Lestat’s attention. “Mind telling me who you are and who you fought?”

“My name is Lestat. However, I sense that we obviously don’t live in the same world, because costumed heroes are non-existent there. But as for who I fought back there, it was someone named Gizmo. He was pretty easy to beat once he was relieved of his weaponry. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have something to accomplish.”

Robin blinks, and then moves to the other one that had shouted out they were a thief when they arrived.
Smirking Lestat looks down at his new belt, and pulls out a gadget. ‛Hmm, all kinds of interesting toys in here. And some hero didn’t notice I took his belt.’

Not long after, Lestat appears in the middle of a wasteland, his new opponent standing in front of him.

“Greetings. My name is Wind.” Wind, dressed in a white karate uniform, bows to his opponent.

Lestat blinks and then does the same, smiling. “I am Lestat Bats. It’s a pleasure to meet someone who uses such an honorable greeting.”

Wind raises an eyebrow. “Well, you’re a thief, but still, you’re very honorable yourself.”

“My Toussan taught me a lot, and I took to his honor system quite well, of course.”

“I can sense that your Toussan is not related to you – he’s merely someone you admire. It’s a shame we’d not be able to meet again when this is over.”

Lestat readies a weapon under his cape. “I agree. Now, you ready to begin?”

“Hai, you may proceed.” Lestat throws the disk, only for Wind to hold out a hand, a strong wind picks up and pushes the disk away. ‛Hmm must be why he’s called Wind, alright the disks won’t work.’

A bo-staff appears in Lestat’s hand as he runs forward. The wind picks up attempting to push him back but it doesn’t work and he swings. A sword shoots from the ground and into Wind’s hand. “A sword?”

“I had it with me when I arrived, let it into the ground to protect it from your thievery if you went hand to hand. But it seems you have your own hands in use.”

Lestat smirks, “I stole it from the one who talked to me during the break.”

Wind smiles back, “Fabulous.”

The wind soon dies down, Wind realizing it doesn’t hamper Lestat that much.

“You’re not like my last opponent, he was muscle bound and thus large enough for the wind to stop.”

“I’m a thief after all; it can’t be too big. Need to make quick getaways, and the smaller the hole needed to get in.” the battle resumes as they strike and block each other.

After a few minutes Lestat smirks again. “This is quite all well and good, but I want my magic prize that the ape-man has.”

Wind tilts his head slightly. Then his eyes widen as Lestat begins to vocalize – no specific tone or song, but enough for Wind to drop his guard as he enters a trance.

Wind is knocked into the air, Lestat stops and his smirk quickly falls as Wind makes a gesture. The thief throws several disks, but Wind’s sword, propelled by the ground, dodges.

Lestat is struck in the stomach. The wind doesn’t have enough distance and time to stop the disks as they slam into Wind. Lestat removes the sword, it drops to the ground as the Game Master’s voice rings in.

“Wind is defeated; Lestat is the Victor!”

Lestat appears in the break room bent over and panting. ‛However, I hurt too much from that, so I need to heal.’ Lestat’s eyes flare as he hisses slightly. “Now I need to feed.”

He turns and bends his legs. The other contestants blink at his injury and behavior. “I need blood!”

His fangs bared, Lestat leaps at the Game Master, who barely dodges being speared. “Lestat, you’re a.. What the-?”

The Game Master notices his medallion is gone, Lestat pockets his treasure, and then leaps at the Master again, this time knocking him down. The vampire pulls out an empty blood bag and supplies.

The Game Master attempts to knock him off, only to be backhanded back. “Easy way or hard way.” The thief shows he’s willing to bite before sticking the Master, the bag quickly fills and is then drained by Lestat.

The others stare in confusion as Lestat lets out a sigh, his wound healed. He looks at them, then at the medallion.
“Hmm, according to the guy’s memories, those defeated here are sealed inside. Now then,” he taps the jewel, ‛Release!”

When all the fighters appear, Lestat briefly smirks before looking back at the item. ‛Time to cover my generosity.’

“Darn it. I didn’t want them back. Teleport me home, and them as well.”

Everyone else then disappears without a trace.

Lestat looks around and smiles. “I’m back. Now then it’s off to find Jade.” He then pockets the medallion again and takes off, a yellow utility belt that’s still around his waist.

But when he gets home, he finds Jade has gone back to her house, and three special items waiting for him. Alpha wakes and looks over as Lestat grabs the three items and then disappears into his room. The lycan shrugs and then lays back down, his mate snuggling up to him.

2345678

The next day Jade goes downstairs to find Captain Black talking to Jackie. “This is highly unusual. First, Lestat steals the talismans, and now 4 large wolves break in and take three Oni masks.”

Jade stops getting ready for school, and turns to them. “Large wolves? As in, possibly werewolves?”

Black blinks. “Why, yes. They were humanoid to a degree.”

Jade quickly finishes getting ready and runs out the door, leaving Jackie and Black to blink in confusion. “She really has gotten faster since the incident.”

Jackie sighs. “I am beginning to worry it is Jade who is switching sides, and not Lestat.”

2345678

At school the kids all gather around the bleachers as Lestat, the flames on his clothes now blue, is on the top row singing to himself.

You hear the screeching of the owls
You hear the wind begin to howl
You know there’s zombies on the prowl

Jade arrives at school and hearing the music follows it. “He is here today.”

And it’s terror time again
They’ve got you running through the night
It’s terror time again
and you just might die of fright

She spots the crowd and runs to it.

It’s a terrifying time
you hear the beating of your heart
You know the scream is gonna start
here comes the really scary part

She leaps over the crowd, earning gasps from several kids. Landing on the bleachers, she glares at Lestat.

And it’s terror time again
they’ve got you running through the night
It’s terror time again
and you just might die of fright
It’s a terrifying time all the trees begin to moan
and the monsters grunt and groan
Riding faces full of slime
Don’t you know it’s terror time?

She crosses her arms and begins to tap her feet.

And it’s terror time again
They’ve got you running through the night
It’s terror time again
And you just might die of fright
It’s a terrifying time and it’s terror time again
They’ve got you running through the night
It’s terror time again
And you just might die of fright
It’s a terrifying time all the trees begin to moan
And the monsters grunt and groan
Riding faces full of slime
Don’t you know it’s terror time?
And it’s terror time again
They’ve got you running through the night
It’s terror time again
And you just might die of fright
It’s a terrifying time

“All right, Lestat. Why’d you have the Wolves steal the Oni masks?”

Lestat glances at her and smirks. “Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it? What I have planned for the masks may or may not come to fruition. However, it depends on if I can get around the whole ‛losing oneself’ thing.”

Jade stomps her feet. “Lestat, you’re going to give back the Oni masks and talismans.”

Lestat’s face darkens. “Jade, that is simply not something I can do. They are of utmost importance.”

“And to what end?” Jade queries.

Lestat’s smirk grows, his teeth around his fangs showing now. But instead of answering, he stands and cups Jade’s cheek with a hand.

“How you turn my world, you precious thing.” Jade becomes confused as Lestat lightly kisses her, and then walks down the row he’s in.

“You starve and near exhaust me.” Jade turns to see Lestat balancing on the railing of the bleachers. “Everything I’ve done I’ve done for you.” Lestat drops to the ground as Jade runs over to watch him land. He looks back up at her. “I move the stars for no one.”

Lestat runs off, and Jade quickly follows. He leaps up onto a basketball hoop, then leaps higher to land on top of the school. “You’ve run so long, you’ve run so far.” Jade lands on the building and glares at him. “Your eyes can be so cruel, just as I can be so cruel.”

Jade eeps and blushes as Lestat pushes her against the edge. Lestat kisses her again, and then moves to her neck and bites down. Jade gasps and knocks him away while putting a hand to her neck. “What was that for, Lestat?”

Lestat’s normal smirk appears as he turns to her. “I’m afraid I’m addicted to your blood now, Jade. I can still feed otherwise, but your blood just tastes too good. I don’t know why, though.”

Lestat kicks something on the floor up and Jade catches it. “I put that up here earlier.”

Jade looks down to see a blood bag.

“You’ll need to feed at least every other day to keep the urges down - unless you want to wait till you’re rubbing your fangs with your tongue, but sometimes even then you’ll not be able to.”

Jade sighs. “It’s your blood again?”

“Yes. It’s the quickest way for you to learn about the underworld and its secrets.”

Jade steels herself, and then bites into it. She gasps and drops the empty bag.

A few seconds pass; then she looks at him. “You support your mother and two brothers?”

Lestat’s eyes widen and he nods, and then turns away.

“Your name is Bats T. Lestat?”

Lestat lowers his head. “Yes. However, I prefer to be called Lestat. It’s a sophisticated name – one with a nice, simple flair, of course. Now, I sense that if we don’t hurry, we may be late for class.”

Jade watches as Lestat walks away, his hands in his pockets, and then takes off after him.

Chapter Text

Lestat, sitting in his room, draws on a piece of paper. He looks up at an Oni mask propped against the wall on the desk.

“This is so difficult. No idea how detailed the thing has to be, Jade’s memory was fuzzy on this topic. Besides, that tattoo was of a different mask as well.”

He looks back at his drawing, which is only done in pencil so far. “Glad I’ve drunk enough blood for some drawing talent to be in me. I just hope when I finish, this’ll work.”

He sighs. “I’ll just need to reinforce my own personality so it’s not lost because of the powers that be in concern with this magic. Hmm. Then there’s how to seal the mask so it can be disposed of and I’d have no worry about it later.”

Lestat tilts his head. “Japanese magic is what it needs to be. But I don’t know such magic. So, I’ll need to find some magic users and drink their blood for such skills, or take some time to learn.”

Lestat’s eyes widen as an idea suddenly comes to him. “But I think I can do something at the moment, even if it’d work only once.”

12345

Back at Uncle’s shop. The phone rings and Uncle answers it.

“Hello, Uncle’s shop.”

Uncle’s eyes widen at the voice, sounding neither human or machine.

“This is nine. Nine. This is nine. Nine. This is ten. Ten. We have killed your friends. Every friend is now dead. This is six. Six.”

Uncle hangs up, only for the phone to ring again shortly afterwards. Nervous and cautious, he picks the phone up again.

“Eighteen. This is now eighteen. Take cover when the siren sounds. This is four. Four.”

Uncle hangs up again and grabs his blowfish as it rings again.

“Five. This is five. Ignore the siren. Even if you leave this room, you can never leave this room. Eight. This is eight.”

Uncle casts a spell into the phone, but it continues.

“Six. This is six, this is definitely six.”

Tohru enters the room, a confused look on his face.

“Tohru, phone is cursed. Quickly, cast spell to get rid of it. Uncle’s magic not work.”

Tohru, still confused, complies nonetheless just as Jade enters the room. When the spell is cast, laughter comes over the phone.

“Thank you, Uncle-san.”

All three look at the phone, and Jade steps forward to speak into the handset.

“Lestat?”

2345

Back at his place, Lestat places the Oni mask on his face and removes it; it never sticks. He smirks as Jade’s voice comes over the phone.

“Jade, I was just getting Uncle-san’s help in sealing a mask so it can never be used.”

“Well, why’d you steal them, then?”

“Well, first off, I didn’t. The wolves did. Second, I thought I could find a spell to get around the demon. I wasn’t able to do that, but I figured something else out. And it was all thanks to you, of course.”

“What do you mean?”

Lestat begins putting ink to his drawing. “Well, I didn’t learn much about the masks the first time I drank your blood, Jade. The second time, I learned about a certain tattoo you had at one time. Still didn’t get that much of it, though.”

Lestat smirks again; he can just imagine Jade glaring at the phone now.

“You mean this morning at school.”

“Well I wasn’t lying about being addicted. But, yes, that was when I learned of this. All I will need now is a spell to enforce my personality. And such a spell is simple. I don’t know much about magic, but that much I do know.”

12345

Jade sighs as Lestat bids her goodbye and hangs up.

“Well, Jade?”

“He’s going to use a tattoo to control the Shadowkhan tribes, which was kind of like the one I had; only mine was different, as it controlled the ninja Shadowkhan. Is there a spell to prevent the loss of one’s self?”

Uncle taps his head then turns to a book and begins looking up the possibility. “If he accomplishes this task, it’ll be hard to stop him.”

12345

Lestat runs across the tops of buildings, he stops when he hears a siren. Looking around he spots smoke and an orange glow. A fire?

He changes direction and heads towards the scene. Upon arriving, he hears a woman yelling about her baby still inside, without a second of hesitation Lestat runs past the police and fireman blockade and runs inside.

Once in he dashes from room to room. Finally finding the child, about five, hiding in a closet scared. While humming, Lestat puts the kid in a trance and then grabs the kid before jumping out a nearby window.

He lands in front of several firefighters and policemen. He hands the kid over to the surprised and grateful mother, and then turns and runs through the crowd, never saying a word.

Lestat smirks as he walks along the top of a building.

“Hmm, good deeds do have their rewards. I feel good doing that just for the heck of it.”

Making an interested, sound he spots a man with a mask on inside a jewelry store.

“Looks like tonight the thief Dracula will gain some positive press.”

With that, the vampire enters the building.

******************************

Four men in total turn to look at who opened the door, letting a bell sound.

“So, you all thought you could just come in here and help yourselves, did you?”

The men look at each other in confusion.

“Go home, kid,” one of them sneers.

A single thief steps forward to shoo Lestat away, only to find himself suddenly in the air from an upper-cut, and then, after Lestat jumps, kicked in the face and slammed into the floor.

The other three stare, surprised, and then pull out guns.

“Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a kid. My Toussan had a fighting style based on fighting those who were weaker and slower then he was, so I learned quite a bit from him.”

Lestat walks forward, the bullets striking him but he ignores them. “Ordinary guns cannot hurt what I am.”

Lestat suddenly runs past them. They turn and point their guns, only to find them missing.

Lestat turns to them and throws to the ground the guns, which are now dismantled. “I’m a thief myself.”

They turn to run, only to pause as they see several shadows form into shadow-khan. “Plus, I got an army ready to defeat you.”

The Shadow-Khan Master doesn’t have the shadows charge. Instead, he runs forward, and jumping up, spin kicks one guy.
Time seems to slow as before the guy can fall down Lestat places his feet on him and springs at another, the second guy is punched and spins around.

Again, Lestat uses the guy for a mid-air boost and flips into the air. He drops and connects his heel to the top of the final criminal’s head.

When Lestat lands on the ground, the first man finally hits as well, only unconscious.

Lestat shakes his head at them. “You guys were batty to think you could get away with stuff like I can.”

The vampire turns and smirks up at a camera. “After all, I can’t be identified from cameras.”

Lestat starts to leave when he spots two pieces of jewelry: a bracelet with rubies and a ring with the same jewels.

He stares at them for a second. Then he grins before pocketing them and tossing something else on the ground.

“Heh. Good times.”

123456

The next day, Jade stops by Lestat’s, only to find Alpha waiting outside.

“Morning vampire,” he says.

“Morning, wolf. Is Lestat in?” Jade replies. Alpha raises an eyebrow, and Jade sighs.

“Right. Sorry. Is my mate in?”

She blushes at having to refer to Lestat as such.

Alpha holds out a blood bag. “He left this and said to tell you to meet him at the fair that’s in town.”

Jade takes the bag and looks at it, confused.

“He said ‛drink every other day’. But he’s been giving me some each day.”

“You got to get used to it. You’re still doing it because you’re forced to, not because you get info out of it. You must also get used to the taste; your mate also mentioned that it isn’t his blood this time,” Alpha replies.

Wondering why, Jade bites the bag with another sigh and drains it. After finishing it, she thanks the lycan and then leaves.

1234

Lestat waits at the gate as Jade walks up. He smirks and actually pays their way in.

“So why this surprise?”

“We’re engaged by vampire law. I know. Why do you keep mentioning that?”

“Well, I like you, so I thought we could enjoy a date.”

Smirking again, Lestat stops at a game known as “Find the Ball”. Even Jade smirks, as she instantly knows what Lestat could do to this trickster.

Lestat puts some money down, and the carnie starts moving the cups about. But Lestat just yawns and looks away. The carnie, confused at his player’s disinterest, finishes moving the cups.

“Now where’s the ball?”

Lestat looks back at him. “Certainly not under any of the cups.”

“I do not cheat. sir.”

Lestat smirks. “I never said you took the ball from under the cups.”

Confused, the carnie checks the cups by tilting them towards Lestat so he wouldn’t show the ball, then lifts the cups completely, revealing no ball.

“What the...?”

Lestat whistles, causing the carnie to look up, and stare at the ball in Lestat’s hand, his jaw dropped.

“So, do I win?” Lestat asks.

The two spend the next hour walking around. Lestat tells Jade of ways that people could be cheated at the games. For some reason, she listens, and stores the info away in her mind for future reference if she should need it someday.

The last game they play before deciding to begin going on rides is the strength test.

“Well, sir, can you make the bell ring?”

Lestat smirks and takes the hammer.

“Easy as eating an apple, even if you’d use the cheat,” he replies.

Lestat pushes his sleeves up. Jade sees his left arm and her jaw drops.

The vampire successfully rings the bell and earns a stuffed toy before turning to Jade and giving it to her, and she gratefully accepts it. “See? Easy.”

“Lestat, that tattoo. What is that?”

Lestat tilts his head and looks at his arm, a tat of a cobra, hood open, coiled around a crown. “Oh, yeah. You haven’t seen this yet, have you?”

Jade shakes her head. “No, I haven’t.”

“Well, it’s time I told you. That symbol is Tom’s royal crest.”

Seeing the puzzled look on Jade’s face, Lestat chuckles. “Yeah. Toussan gave it to me when he said I could call him that over a year ago. It’s a great honor, really, since only those in his family can wear it. Now come on. I’ve had enough of games. It’s time for some rides.”

Shortly afterwards, while they’re on a Ferris wheel, Lestat sighs. Then, grabbing one of Jade’s hands, he kisses the back of it.

“There’s something I’ve been thinking about for a day or two, Jade. How would you like it if you were my mate by human as well as vampire law?”

Jade looks at him, confused. Lestat smirks and holds her hand up for her to see a ruby ring on her left ring finger. Jade gasps and looks back at him. “So, Jade, by human law, will you be my fiancée?”

123456

Later, Jade walks into the house and stops as she passes by the TV. The news shows a video of a shadow jumping out of a burning window and handing a child to a grateful woman.

“Lestat?”

The screen changes to a newsroom.

“It seems the thief famous for appearing as only a shadow in security cameras has a heart. This footage was captured last night of the thief, apparently being either a short adult or just a child, rescuing someone from a burning building.”

The news person turns to their partner, who continues.

“And that’s not all. He showed up on a security cam of a robbery that wasn’t committed by him.”

The news now shows a camera footage of the jewel heist that Lestat had stopped.

“The thief took a ruby ring and a bracelet, but left enough money behind to pay for what he took. Who knows what else we can expect from this thief with a sudden change of heart?”

Jade glances down and fingers the ring on her left hand. “So he actually paid for it. But, why would he do what he did on the videos?”

Jade turns to see Tohru.

“I’ve been thinking, Jade. Lestat seems to have honor that is familiar.”

“Yeah, it’s like Tom’s. He does what he wants, but doesn’t respect or like those who are greedy and mean to others. Lestat told me today that Tom had agreed to be his Toussan.”

Tohru tilts his head. “His father? Hmm. That would explain things a bit, then. If Lestat looks up to him enough, he’d want to be like him.”

“But why steal? That’s not something Tom approved of.”

“He would’ve if there was no other way to support one’s family. If they’re stealing just because they’re greedy? Then, yeah. But Lestat has a legit reason.”

“Just hope Lestat doesn’t want to be too much like the Sayian. He was a king of a planet, after all.”

Jade blinks, and then thinks to herself, Lestat has been quite secretive about something. Could it be? Does he want to follow Tom that much?

123456

Elsewhere, Lestat jumps from roof to roof again, but this time he has headphones on and has a slight rhythm to his pace. He stops after making a jump and turns around to peer into the alley he has leapt over.

He smirks as he sees a group of men surrounding a woman.

“Perfect. Time to check something off my list of things to do.”

He leaps down, and upon landing, sings, not putting any effort into his voice. It just comes out melodic for once, and not hypnotizing.

One nothing wrong with me

The group of men turn, confused.

Two nothing wrong with me

A couple of guys pull out guns and fire, only to become frightened and surprised as Lestat’s not affected.

Three, nothing wrong with me

Lestat begins to calmly walk forward, now effortlessly dodging the bullets.

Four, nothing wrong with me. One something’s got to give.

A couple of guys charge, pulling out knives, only for Lestat to dodge their strikes.

Two, something’s got to give
Three, something’s got to give
Nooo

Lestat smirks, and time slows down for him.

Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the...

A vocal is given by Lestat as the woman, having been unable to follow his suddenly quick speed, watches as all the guys fly away from the vampire and hit various things in the alley.

Lestat glances at her and smiles. “You can go now. I’ve got some business with these guys.”

He then chuckles evilly, causing the woman to nod as her way of saying ‛Thank you’ before dashing away.

Shadow-khan soon emerge from the shadows and grab each guy before following the vampire as he walks away. In the nearby park, a few of them take up look out posts.

Lestat grabs a guy (who had woken up) by his shirt.

“Who are you? What do you want?” the guy asks, fearful.

Lestat smirks and hisses slightly, showing off his fangs. “I’m a vampire and I want to run some tests.”

Lestat briefly bites the human, and then shoves him back down.

“Filth like you always tastes so terrible,” Lestat remarks.

Lestat watches as the human slowly turns. Once he has, the new vampire attempts to strike...

“Stop.”

...only to stop as Lestat commands.

“Put your arm back down.”

The arm is lowered.

“This isn’t something I normally do – biting to turn servants instead of free will vampires. Not like I bite many humans and let them live long afterwards anyways. Now, here.”

Lestat produces a bag of blood with some of his handwriting on it. He forces the servant to drink, and then backs up.

“Know this – none of you will survive this night, but whether it be by my hand or the blood I have you drink is unknown. Just hope if it is by the blood that it gives you a quick death.”

“How can the blood kill me?”

Lestat turns the blood bag around so the new vamp can read it.

“HIV?” the new vampire asks.

“Yes. I want to see how different illnesses affect vampires. As far as I know we’ve been avoiding, by smell, those who were not healthy. And now I’m gonna turn your friends and infect them with different things.”

The former thug can only watch as Lestat moves to the others and bites them, and then, after turning them, force feeds them more bags of blood.