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She was in the dream of the red-haired twins But I want to see this-these i red-haired one, the one at the woman's side, I've seen her too But she'd been alive then At the rock concert, in the frenzy, I'd put my arm around her and looked into her crazed eyes I'd kissed her and said her name; and it was as if a pit had opened underdown into those dreams of

the twins that I could never really recall Painted walls; temples

It all faded suddenly Gabrielle Mother Too late I was reaching out; I was spinning through the darkness

You have all of my powers now You need only ti death, you can o to them But ill let them finish their reverie: their stupid schemes and discussion We will show theo to them

She dreay from me; she struck me

I reeled fro, cold, I felt the pain spread out through the bones of ers were still splayed and pressed there In anger I bit down, letting the pain swell and then recede In anger I clenched

She walked across the old flags with crisp steps, her hair swaying as it hung down her back And then she stopped at the fallen gate, her shoulders rising slightly, her back curved as if she were folding into herself

The voices rose; they reached a pitch before I could stop thereat flood

I saw the ain around one; but I was shaking

She turned and looked at htly narrowed "They mean so much to you, don't they? What do you think they will do, or say? You think Marius will turn me from my course? I know Marius as you could never know hireedy as you are greedy What do you think I am that I am so easily swayed? I was born a Queen I have always ruled; even frolazed suddenly I heard the voices, a dull huend; if only in the minds of those who came to me and paid ht s and prayers What do you want of me now? That for you, I renounce my throne, my destiny!"

What answer could I make?

"You can read o to thes as you've given s I don't know "

"Oh, but Lestat, I do not love them I do not love them as I love you So what does it matter to me what they say? I have no patience for them!"

"But you need thein without thees, I els, that's what you called them "

She shook her head sadly "I need no one," she said, "exceptExcept" She hesitated, and then her face went blank with pure surprise