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" 'I'ht to Hell than do it that way ¡¯

"She looked at the diamonds I didn't knohat to do about theotten them all She picked up the strands and put them in one of her pockets Her hair was estured, Would she let me comb it? She said Yes, and so I did it Her hair was thick and silky

"Finally she stood up to go She took me in her arms and she kissed me

" 'Don't run afoul of the Va you to a cinder And then I'd have to fight hih ¡¯

" 'That's really true?¡¯

" 'I told you in Napoli to read the books,' she said 'He's drunk the blood of the Mother He lay in the sands of the Gobi Desert for three days Nothing can kill hiht him But just stay out of New Orleans and you don't need to worry about hinoble about one as powerful as Lestat picking on one as young as you He won't come here to do it ¡¯

" 'Thank you,' I said

"She walked towards the door as though she was raceful exit I didn't knohether or not she knew there was blood on her clothing I didn't knohether or not to tell her Finally I did

" 'On your suit,' I said, 'blood ¡¯

" 'You just can't resist white clothes, can you?' she asked, but she didn't see And answer me truthfully or not at all Why did you leave us?¡¯

"I thought for a long moment

Then I said, 'I wanted to be with my aunt I had no real choice in the matter And there were others You know this already ¡¯

" 'But weren't we interesting to you?' she asked 'After all, youyou horeat ¡¯

"I shook my head

" 'I don't bla your back on me,' she said, 'but to turn your back on one as wise as Arion? That seems rash to me ¡¯