Lestat smiled to himself as he walked, shutting his eyes and letting his conscious drift to different places, always back to the same person: Louis, he thought, almost absentmindedly. Missing you all the time... all those awful things you've said. He could remember the scene now, in Louis' hidden little cottage in New Orleans, desperate for reason: Weep, he had challenged bitterly. I'd like to see you weep. I've read a great deal about your weeping in the pages of your books but I've never seen you weep with my own eyes...
Nothing she didn't really want to do, Lestat sighed, entering the shade of the trees now without noticing the temperature difference. She's fine now, headed back to you.
"Understood," Lestat nodded, and turned back toward the woods. Oh, yes, Edward, he added to the man. Little Bee has just been enjoying the better things in life.
Lestat shrugged. "Maybe," he responded. "I do know one thing for sure: you can't stand this sunlight very long."
"I think that I am much worse," Lestat replied with a smile. "If you're lucky, you'll never find out what I mean."
"Oh, it is easier in many ways than it will ever be for you or little Bee and Hannah," Lestat replied swiftly, waving one hand in the air as if the comment were nothing. "But there are prices to be paid for killing; murderering is still a sin even if it is done for survival and without any vindictive purposes. I can do so many things, but, at the same time, my children do not love me, my best friend is dead, and my life will never end. So you must contemplate death a lot when it doesn't seem so prominent, nothing to be afraid of. Death and the devil. I would love to meet the devil himself one night, chase him across the ocean up to the sun itself. I am the devil!"
"I act on impulse," Lestat laughed. "Always... I never learn from my mistakes, even after two centuries worth of them. I regret only sometimes... now is not one of them."
"What's in this for you anyway?" Lestat began suddenly, winking at her response. "This hunter is in it for the thrill of vanquishing evil, Edward and Hannah for redemption and love's gain, little Bee to prove herself... and you?"
"Oh, I always do!" Lestat laughed, straightening his ruffled shirt collar and smiling a little wider. "I have always been my own teacher. And I must confess I've always been my favorite pupil as well!"
Lestat raised his eyes, grinning at the stars that were now fading as the sun began to rise. "I take care of all my children the best I can," he began seriously, shutting his eyes now. "I only have three now, have made four, and will never make another. If you think you know about being a vampire," he added suddenly, looking down at her and piercing her gaze with his own ice-blue eyes. "You haven't a clue, young one; this world is changing and we do not. I can do and have done things you can't even imagine."
Lestat let his smile fade away as he looked out past her. "I have heard much more impressive speeches," he began in a soft voice after a moment, looking down at him. "But I do see your point, to a certain extent. Little Bee just wanted help, and I happened to be the one to answer the call. What I have is a Gift..." He faded off slightly, holding up his hands in between them and flexing his long, white fingers. "No one can understand what it's like to be like this for so long... centuries, even, by now. You have the tiniest inclination what the Dark Gift can do for someone... just your appearance..." He reached up, trailing two fingers along the side of her throat, catching s small curl of her hair against his palm.
"Oh, no," Lestat sighed, his smile fading only a little. "You see," he began, his voice a little lower, taking a step toward her. "I was merely having a little fun with her, that's all. It was my mistake letting her go on her own like that. I was... occupied myself. You must know what it's like... to be... overwhelmed by emotion with your mind unclear, faded, consumed by... want, desire..."
"Do it right?" Lestat smiled, grinning wider now. "How am I wrong, miss?"
"If that little one had any questions she would ask me herself," Lestat replied, the smallest smile playing on his lips. "Do you speak for her now or something?"
Lestat shrugged away from Jinx's touch, trying his best not to turn and break her neck under his cold fingers with one swift movement. "Well?" he asked, a little angrily at being bothered.
"I won't make any promises on my part," Lestat chuckled, though his eyes were cold and nonresponsive, a light shade of grey.
"Talk?" Lestat chuckled, staring over at Jinx now. "What could you have to talk to me about, little miss?"
"I'm not one for crowds," Lestat winked at Beatrice, stepping back from her. "Unless they're screaming my name, of course," he added with a wicked grin.
"Shall I leave you be, little one?" Lestat asked quietly in Beatrice's ear, giving Jinx a little wink before glancing down at the blonde girl. "You let me know next time you're... in the mood to venture out into the real world."
"Well, I won't let them hurt you, little one," Lestat laughed. "You don't have to worry about that."
