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at was, that stone one staring down at the wounded mortal woman who lay with her neck broken, the one with the red hair who looked like the twins in the drea had done that to her, broken her neck like that And the blond va past theht as well, with the hardened veins bulging on his neck and on the backs of his hands when he reached the poor broken victim Armand had watched the men take the red-haired woman aith the most unusual expression on his face, as if he should so, standing idly by, ing crowd But there was no need to fear It was sanctuary for theht

And Lestat was Christ on the cathedral cross How describe his overwhel and irrational authority? His face would have been cruel if it hadn't been for the childlike rapture and exuberance Pu his fist into the air, he bawled, pleaded, roared at the powers that be as he sang of his downfall-Lelio, the boulevard actor turned into a creature of night against his will!

His soaring tenor seemed to leave his body utterly as he recounted his defeats, his resurrections, the thirst inside him which no measure of blood could ever quench "Am I not the devil in you all!" he cried, not to the moonflower monsters in the crowd but to the mortals who adored him

And even Daniel was screaree finally; it was merely the raw force of Lestat's defiance Lestat cursed heaven on behalf of all who had ever been outcasts, all who had ever known violation, and then turned, in guilt and malice, on their own kind

It seeh it were an oreat Mass The Va he had ever known to it The giant on the video screen gave his benediction to all that Daniel had ever desired

How could the others resist? Surely the fierceness of their intended victie behind all Lestat's lyrics was siift that had been promised to each of the forced upon hier To join with him was to live forever:

This is my Body This is my Blood

Yet the hate boiled a the vampire brothers and sisters As the concert ca fro hiss beneath the strum of the music

Kill the god Tear him limb from limb Let the mortal worshipers do as they have always done-mourn for him as meant to die "Go, the Mass is ended "

The houselights went on The fans store curtain to follow the fleeing musicians

Arrabbed Daniel's aret to him quickly "

Khayman

It was just as he had expected She struck out at the first of those who struck at hih the back door, Louis at his side, and made a dash for his black Porsche when the assassins set upon hiht to close, but at once the first, with scythe raised, went up in fla in all directions Another immortal assailant was suddenly on fire And then another

Khayainst the wall as the cluant feh theto Louis and Lestat to join her It was Gabrielle, the fiend's h the lethal fire did not harm her There wasn't a particle of fear in her cold blue eyes as she readied the vehicle with swift, decisive gestures

Lestat e Maddened, robbed of the battle, he finally climbed into the car only because the others forced him to do so