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"Making a pact with the Devil," said David, "you know, agreeing to so you not to doDon't make a pact "

"Precisely," said Armand "It arouses my deepest suspicions that heface was sorely troubled, his pretty eyes very vivid for a second in the shadows"Why do you have to agree?"

"I don't know if that's on the mark or not," I said I was confused

"But you're right I said so played by rules "

"I want to talk with you about Dora," said David in a low voice"You must heal what you've done there very quickly, or at least promise us that you won't"

"I' about Dora I can't," I said

"Lestat, don't destroy this young mortal woman!" said David forcefully "If we are in a new realm, if the spirits of the dead can plead with us, then ht of that?"

David sat up, disconcerted, angry, the lovely British voice straining to irl Her father asked you for a species of guardianship, not that you shake her sanity to the foundations "

"David, don't go on with your speech I knohat you're sayingBut I tell you right now, I a Memnoch, the Devil; and you both have been friends to me You've been kindred But I don't think anyone can advise me what to do, except for Dora "

"Dora!" David was aghast

"You mean to tell her this entire tale?" Armand asked timidly

"Yes That's exactly what I mean to do Dora's the only one who believes in the Devil Dear God, I need a believer right now, I need a saint, and I"

"You are perverse, stubborn, and innately destructive!" said David It had the tone of a curse "You will do what you will!" He was furious I could see it All his reasons for despisingI could say in my defense

"Wait," said Arentleness "Lestat, this is irl to act as an oracle for you, to tell you what she, a mortal, thinks you must do?"

"She's no mere mortal, she's different She has no fear ofIt's as though she's a different species, but she's the human species She's like a saint, Armand She's like Joan of Arcabout God and the Devil that I don't know "