"Lucky?" Lestat scoffed. "You seem a lot smarter than just a 'luck' kind of guy. What are his plans for following you all of a sudden, do you think?"
"No," Lestat replied immediately. "But you can get away from him, you know... you have for years, haven't you, as the other one in their group?"
"True," Lestat grinned. "Though I don't really like the idea... call me seventeenth century, but collecting those of your own kind doesn't appeal to me."
"You haven't eaten very much," Lestat commented. "And I wonder what the hell happened to that Will fellow... friend of yours, yes?"
"I'm still hungry," Lestat muttered, though the sun was up now. "But I guess I'll have to wait."
"I'm sure," Lestat agreed. "We shall see."
"Maybe," Lestat replied, unsure. "It's hard to tell what he would do in that situation. I am willing to see, though, without interfering too much."
"No," Lestat agreed. "But he's physically stronger than her..."
"I heard," Lestat muttered, not at all happy. "Interesting, but I would like to see it work."
"We both know that would kill Hannah slowly for the next thousand years or so," Lestat smiled. "I didn't think that was something you wanted to deal with."
"Happy, John?" Lestat said aloud, knowing the stables were just a few yards away. "He's half dead now."
"Yes," Lestat muttered, and leaned forward, grabbed the back of Edward head, and brought his ear close to his mouth and whispered barely loud enough to hear: "John is still near enough to hear. Do not mention what I've told you... go now."
Lestat sighed. "Nothing," he lied, dropping Edward to the ground. The man crumpled, groaning, holding the back of his head. "Go back to your room... and... do what you must, but do not be mean or overprotective with her. Understand?"
Lestat frowned when Edward faded off. He loosened his grip a little. "There's nothing you can do to him tonight, Edward," he explained quietly. He saw the man open his mouth to retort and shouted shrilly in his mind: Do not argue with me! Do you want me to send you back to her in one piece or not? I could remove a couple of your fingers, maybe an eye... you don't need them! She's got enough to deal with without you throwing yourself at John! FOCUS! Edward's scream of pain at the last word he had shouted bothered him only shortly. "Stop struggling," he whispered aloud. "Do you really want me to let you go?"
Lestat jumped down from his tree right behind Edward, slamming his arm hard across the back of his head. The werewolf flew to the ground, and Lestat kicked him harshly, landing him into the nearest tree. He crumpled, and Lestat grabbed the front of his shirt once more, crashing his fist into the side of his face. "You're stupid, Edward," Lestat growled as Edward moaned, unable to move. "You're brave and strong enough to kill anyone when you're not around me, but right now you're an idiot. Let him be!" He saw Edward shake his head, felt him try to raise his arms and fight back. "Hold still or they'll bring you back to that tavern in several pieces," he muttered, trailing his sharp ring along the edges of Edward's eyes. "Listen to me."
Edward, no, Lestat snapped when he heard Edward coming. They're done, it's over! Let him be, or I will stop you in a more painful way than before, trust me.
Lestat smiled, listening to Edward. The boy trusts me more than I thought...
Lestat walked toward the stables now, the trees fading away once more. He easily climbed a nearby one and sat there, smiling, waiting. Not smart, John, he muttered. But do as you wish...
Don't be overprotective, Lestat snapped, purposefully hurting Edward's mind with a stab of pain. That's all I have to say for now.
Lestat ignored Edward's attempts, walking deeper into the forest, blending into and becoming the nearest shadow.
