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And now, push and shove inside the hall, and he loved it, the crowd carrying them closer and closer to the inner doors He could not even raise his ar men and women elbowed past hiain as he saw the life-sized posters of Lestat plastered to the walls

He felt Are in Armand's whole body A red-haired wo the towards the open door

A soft warh Daniel "Armand, the red hair " So like the twins in the dreareen eyes locked on him as he said, "Armand, the twins!"

Then her face vanished as she turned away again and disappeared inside the hall

"No," Armand whispered Small shake of his head He was in a silent fury, Daniel could feel it He had the rigid glassy look he always got when profoundly offended "Talamasca," he whispered, with a faint uncharacteristic sneer

"Talamasca " The word struck Daniel suddenly as beautiful Talamasca He broke it down from the Latin, understood its parts Somewhere out of his memory bank it came: animal mask Old word for witch or shaman

"But what does it really mean?" he asked

"It means Lestat is a fool," Armand said Flicker of deep pain in his eyes "But it makes no difference now "

Khayman

Khayman watched froates of the parking lot Almost invisible Khayman was, even in the stylish denim coat and pants he'd stolen earlier frolasses that covered his eyes His glowing skin didn't matter Not when everywhere he looked he saw auze and sequined costumes

Hebodies of the youngsters who limpsed the creature's blond hair, and then his violet blue eyes as he smiled and blew kisses to his adorers Such char the ainst these tender little humans even as he flirted, winked, seduced, as if he and his foot on the gas pedal weren't connected to each other

Exhilaration Triumph That's what Lestat felt and knew at this moment And even his reticent companion, Louis, the dark-haired one in the car beside hi children as if they were birds of paradise, didn't understand as truly happening

Neither knew that the Queen had waked Neither knew the drea And their young minds were so easy to scan Apparently the Vaht, was now prepared to do battle with everyone He wore his thoughts and intentions like a badge of honor

"Hunt us down!" That's what he said aloud to his fans, though they didn't hear "Kill us We're evil We're bad It's perfectly fine to cheer and sing with us now But when you catch on, well, then the serious business will begin And you'll remember that I never lied to you "

For one instant his eyes and Khayood! I would die for that! But there was no recognition of who or what received this e