hope keeps the pain alive
It only took minutes for Nicolas to hunt down Miller once he'd ended the call. He barely needed the vague description of where Miller was. His blood called to him, he felt the draw of his power and then he had him.
Pinned against a red brick wall, hand in his hair, holding him in place and sinking his fangs into his throat. He drank deep, eyes closed. Not too long, he knew that, even as he tasted his heartbeat on his tongue. Even as he wanted to keep going. Nicolas withdrew, closed the wounds, and then used his nails on his own neck, ripping it open. Enough to tilt his head, get his hair out of the way and offer it up for Miller, so he'd not grow too weak.
Nicolas' mind was often wide open and it certainly was right now. Usually that meant music and shapeless darkness tinged with despair and the chaos of a brewing storm. Right now, he was deliberate about it. Shared memories.
fingers moving without intent, words on a phone screen, no awareness then but remembered now
sun almost rising, brought to a cave at the last moment
waking up and talking, laughing, mocking, prodding, baring his pain to cause more hurt
asking Lestat to taste and Lestat speaking of hope
coercing Lestat until he bit him, until he drank from him
It had happened after Prague, all of this, and Nicolas let Miller know that as they exchanged blood. No holding back, no secret, no hiding the darkness.