Fabien D'Arc...Bitch! 02:03 Aug 12 2014
Times Read: 603
When Helene notified me of Stanley's return from the airport with Fabien, I did a final walk-through of the house, paying particular attention to the suite I had prepared for our arriving guest.
As I've mentioned before, vampires are like the Japanese when it comes to receiving guests. There are always gift exchanges, and I wanted to make sure that I had appropriate tokens of friendship for the arriving lord. So, in the great room, I had the following wrapped and waiting: Limited reserve, unmarked cases of Riesling and pinot noir from the small winery I recently purchased in the Santa Clara valley (the simple reserved labels came in handy, as I have yet to decide on the winery's new name), and a butter-soft leather coat in a rich dark chocolate hue. (I'm pretty good at guessing another's size in clothes). There was also another gift in a shirt box from the guys, that was a mystery to me, especially as it was unnecessary for them to give a gift.
When I found Robert in the library reading, I asked him what was in the shirt box. He just chuckled and replied "You'll see. It's not my idea though. It's all on David." He buried his dark handsome face back into his book.
"Okay..." I walked out of the library and headed to the kitchen. I made myself a cup of mixed berry tea, then sat at the center island. While I sat - thinking of Ankh-Re and wondering where he was in the Himalayas - I heard some commotion at the front doors. I went through the great room to the entry hall to greet our guest, as Anna opened the doors.
"Lady Isis!" exclaimed Fabien upon entering. He kissed both of my cheeks as he took my shoulders in a light embrace. He smelled good. I couldn't recall what he was wearing, but it was nice. I led him to the great room, while Anna and Stanley took his bags upstairs to his suite.
"Please - have a seat" I said.
Fabien removed his jacket and draped it over the sofa. He had a huge grin on his face.
"Why do you keep smiling?" I laughed, as we both sat down.
He laughed as he replied "Because I'm so glad to see you, Isis!" It was refreshing to find him in a relaxed state, as he was somewhat stressed out, the last time I saw him - at his ball.
We chatted briefly about his flight; Fabien noticed my improved American speech and commented on it. I told him of my recently acquired winery, and he mentioned that he was bringing a new product into the Coeur Chocolat line. I was intrigued. "What could you possibly add to what is already perfect?" I asked.
Fabien jumped from the sofa, full of excitement. "I'll show you! Where is my room?"
Right then, Anna entered the great room with the tea cart. She had a surprised look on her face, and she cast a sideways glance towards me. I shook my head and asked her to show Fabien to his suite.
"Yes ma'am" she replied. Before she made it to the stairs, Fabien had bounded up to the landing, like an over-exuberant puppy. Anna looked back at me with one of her 'what the fuck?' looks on her face, as Fabien waited for her.
I nodded for her to continue, then I sat back and took another sip of my tea, which had become cold. When I added fresh tea to my cup, Fabien practically ran down the stairs. He was carrying a small metal box that was approximately a foot high by a foot wide; it resembled a make-up case, with an electronic lock. He sat down. He then placed the box on the table, punched in a pin code, and opened the top. I could see from the box's lining that it was in fact, a cooler. He removed a familiar pink and brown box from it.
"A gift for you. You are one of the first to try these...so I guess that you are also a lab rat." His comment - in his adorable French accent - made me laugh.
I placed the pink and gold box on the table in front of me. When I removed the gold silk ribbon and lifted the lid, I inhaled in shock.
"Oh my..." was all I could say.
Nestled in white tissue paper were six large cookies. Macaroons, to be exact. Three were of the American coconut variety; one was plain, one was drizzled with dark chocolate, and the third one was a double layer, with dark chocolate, white chocolate, and fine gold sprinkles on top. The others were more complicated: They were of the traditional French meringue, sandwich variety - macarons; one was almond-filled, with dark chocolate drizzled on it; one was vanilla-filled, with white chocolate, and the third was caramel-filled, with dark chocolate. All three were decorated with thin gold shavings.
As I stared into the box, Fabien quipped "We will also introduce other flavors within the French variety; dark chocolate, honey, and rose. Full production will begin in another two months. The recipes are perfect, but I want to do more screening with the vampire donors as far as the blood ingredient." I nodded absent-mindedly, as I reached for the coconut macaroon drizzled in dark chocolate. Fabien remained quiet as I bit into it. He sat, nodding the whole time, in approval. "Well?" he asked, unable to wait for my response.
"Oh my Goddess..." I muttered.
"It is good, yes?" Fabien was beside himself with happiness. "It will be a success! More prestige for the family...and more money!" He laughed. "Oh - I have another gift" he added. "I will be back!" He bounded back up the stairs. Anna emerged from the kitchen, with that 'Anna look' on her face.
"He is a very happy Frenchie" she remarked dryly.
"Frenchie? Where did you get that term from? Ankh-Re?" I asked, somewhat irritated.
"Yes. That one doesn't seem to care for this one much" she stated.
"Well, you won't be referring to Mr. D'Arc as 'The Frenchie'. He is either Mr. D'Arc, Lord Fabien, or Fabien - when he gives you leave to address him by his first name. Is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am. I over stepped my boundaries, and I'm sorry." Anna focused her gaze on the tea cart.
"Good. Go about your business, then." She walked out of the great room, ashamed.
Fabien returned with another box. "For you, my lady."
"Wait" I said, as I licked the remnants of the macaroon from my lips. "I have gifts for you too, and you should open one next." I motioned towards the two wine cases. Fabien ripped the wrapping away like a child on Christmas morning.
"Are these from your new winery? Nice!" He opened the cases and removed a bottle from each. "We will drink these tonight" he said, with a twinkle in his brown eyes. "Now - open your next gift!" he ordered. I smiled, and ripped through the wrapping as he did.
Right when I thought that nothing could surpass the macaroons, I was in for a shock. I gazed upon a copy of the Codex Vampiricus. There were only three known, and the Queen owned one. Another was in the private collection of an unknown human, and the third - the one I held in my hands - was in the D'Arc family for untold generations. As much as I wanted it, I placed it back in the box.
"I cannot accept this, Fabien" As I spoke, I stared longingly at the book's worn gilded cover. "This belongs to you and your family."
Fabien sighed. "I think that it would be quite at home with the most powerful vampire on earth" he whispered.
Silence reigned between us.
For many reasons, I wanted to stray away from the topic of me being the most powerful vampire on earth. But I also knew that I needed to address it and get it over with.
"While it's true that my rank went from five to two, what makes you believe that I am the most powerful vampire?"
Fabien looked directly into my eyes when he replied. "I am probably the only one who noticed how Shemhazai constantly gazed at you, at my autumn ball."
"I didn't even know him as Shemhazai then; he was and still prefers to be called Huey. How do you know?" I asked.
"People figure things out. After the rumors of a Nephilim visitation, I put one and one together."
Fabien was a perceptive one.
"I still cannot accept this" I finally said, as I handed the box over to Fabien.
I asked him to open his other gift. He was wise enough not to press the issue.
When he pulled the long leather coat from its box, he sighed. He put in on immediately, and turned, so that the coat swung around him. "Beautiful...!" he exclaimed.
"It is perfect for you" I said. "The color even matches your hair." we both laughed.
Fabien sat down on the sofa next to me, and we began to eat and drink from the tea cart in earnest.
"I'm going to have to hide this box of macaroons" I said, as I tucked it next to me on the sofa. I noticed the shirt box on the floor, partially under the coffee table.
"Oh - I almost forgot. My donors thought to give you a gift as well." I picked up the box, and placed it between us on the sofa. Fabien raised an eyebrow. "This is unusual" He said, as he opened the box. "It is...and I have no idea what they got for you" I added.
Fabien burst out laughing when he pulled the first t-shirt from the box. He held it up to his chest, to show me. It was red, and proclaimed for others to keep calm, as he/she was Rick James...bitch. I sighed, and shook my head in disbelief. What was it about David - a white cowboy - and his obsession with Rick James?
"Ah - there is another one, Isis..." Fabien held up another t-shirt; it was grey, with a drawing of Rick James, and the same quote, in red letters.
Fabien doubled over with laughter, and his mirth rubbed off on me.
"We need wine, yes?" he said, as he reached for one of the two bottles he removed from the crates. It was the pinot noir.
"Yes. Let's have some now" I replied, still laughing, as I went into the kitchen for the bottle opener and two wine glasses.
David's t-shirts:
What he chose for Fabien:
Good grief...
© MFH 2014
COMMENTS
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Khemett
14:57 Apr 05 2015
I love how expressive you are.
A wildly entertaining read indeed!
Theban
18:16 Apr 16 2017
And, the plot thickens. So looking forward to more. I hope you post soon : )