"Of course you do," Lestat muttered. "Why wouldn't you?"
"You haven't seen him as angry as he could get, John," Lestat replied seriously. "To put it plainly, he loves her, and there isn't much else that could increase his phyical and mental strength than that emotion."
"True," Lestat agreed. "The boy is strong, though. I will give him that."
Lesat tried not to laugh. "I know," he smiled. "I can keep him away without a problem at all... it's very entertaining how weak he is around me."
"Always," Lestat sighed. "Edward only wants the same thing you do, you know."
"I shan't ask what," Lestat laughed. "It's more entertaining to watch it play out."
"Very sweet of you," Lestat smiled. "I can't imagine why, considering your deathly jealousness of her werewolf."
"Lovely," Lestat smiled, sighing to himself. I'll never tell Louis's story if I can help it... he thought miserably. That would be much too painful.
"I'm only asking because," Lestat began kindly, "I can keep Edward busy if you're only intending on talking to her."
Lestat smiled, though he was worried. "I'm sure that means you're just going to talk with her..."
"Thank you," Lestat responded, smiling only a little. "I suppose you won't be very happy with her the next time you see her?"
"That's one way of looking at it, yes," Lestat sighed, his nostalgia still rattling him. "But that's something I don't expect you to understand."
"Why?" Lesat repeated loudly, spinning around dramatically with his arms held out, his curly hair wild and loose in the light breeze of the trees. "Why do I do anything, you ask..." he continued, more softly. His voice was full of sorrow, anger, and hilarity. "I do these things because I have lost everything else in my life that has made me remotely happy or content. My own mother... I turned her on her death bed because he was the only woman in my life I ever cared for. And I ruined her. My best friend... oh, if you knew Nicholas, you would have loved him like no other person in the world. Due to my own immortal life, he was almost killed by demented, possessed Parisian vampires. I saved him only to turn him and to this day he hates me more than anything and will not see me. Do not get me started on Louis," he sighed, his throat and voice becoming thick and heavy. He shut his eyes for a moment, running his hands through his hair several times. "Louis and his 'beloved' are another story that I may share later, but for now... I help and I kill because those are the only two things that I can do anymore that make a difference. And," He paused, laughing, his white teeth glinting in the soft forest lighting. "In a way it does help me."
"Eventually, maybe," Lestat smiled. "I can see you're bothered by my presence."
"Well, not right now," Lestat replied calmly. "She's a new, inexperienced vampire in this world... and I only left her and didn't teach her anything because I know she has your girl and Will's to take care of her."
"In a way," Lesat replied with the smallest smile. "And, in a way, I helped her."
"Mine had nothing to do with hunters," Lestat muttered back. "And the girl," he continued, "I made her because she wanted me to. She wanted to be of use to those around her, relate to them and help and feel more included. It was for her, not me. I'm not interested in keeping her at all."
Lestat smiled bitterly, swallowing his sadness. "You'd..." he began slowly. "You'd be very surprised, my friend. I've had plenty... and all were difficult and didn't... didn't last."
"Oh, don't be so worried!" Lestat sighed. "There are other ways to tempt her besides kidnapping a poor girl who just lost her brother, or so she says. I let her go for a good reason, you know."
Lovely, Lestat smiled. And he followed John's scent, trailing through the trails until he saw him and his grin widened. "You're not upset, are you?" he smirked with a mocking bow.
