Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lestat went to the door to wait for Quinn, but he didn’t open it yet, just stood with his arms folded. He was annoyed, to say the least. ‘Impede?’ The only one who had impeded them tonight had been Armand. Lestat wanted peace between himself and Armand, but he would not stand for any manipulations. Armand had said he’d wanted to spend time together, all four of them, and then he just left. All Armand had succeeded in doing was violating Louis’s privacy, and Lestat both resented Armand for doing so and Louis for being the cause of him doing so. What the hell was Armand’s problem? Why was he so concerned about Louis? Why couldn’t he just tell Lestat whatever it was he was reading out of Louis’s mind that was making him act this way? That Armand was so fixated on Louis had Lestat worried...because it meant there was a reason to be fixated, more than any reason Lestat already realized. And either Louis didn’t realize it himself, or Louis was hiding it, and both options annoyed Lestat. Because it meant he had to rely on Armand of all people to bring it to his attention. And Armand wasn’t telling him a damn thing!

"Louis... Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” Quinn tried. Louis shook his head. ‘Louis?’ Quinn tried in Louis’ mind. ‘Can you show me—‘ he shouldn’t have asked, as Quinn was suddenly disgraced with the disturbing image of whom he assumed to be Santh ripping someone’s throat out. Louis took a deep breath that he didn’t need; “Please... Just go hunt and I’ll tell you when you come back,” Louis winced.

Lestat knew something was wrong. He didn’t want to leave Louis alone. “Louis... Will you let us see if you cannot still tell when we return?” He asked cautiously. Louis nodded nervously. Lestat groaned and strode across the room back to Louis. Louis squeaked, and Lestat forced himself to relax, tightly wrapping his arms around Louis, pressing a gently firm kiss to the younger man’s soft lips. “I’ll—“ Louis stammered. Louis, stammering! “Louis,” Lestat tried. Louis’ eyes glazed over slightly. Lestat held him tighter; “Please tell me. I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at Santh. What did he do to you for you to be so unsettled?” Lestat pushed. It was frustrating! Louis refused to communicate with Lestat anymore. What was Louis so damn afraid of?!

Quinn was still reeling from the fact that someone had actually set foot in this castle to kidnap Louis, Marius, and Gabrielle. And now one of the people that Lestat apparently trusted had done something that added onto Louis’ existing trauma. Quinn’s stomach clenched at the thought. Why did ancients have such little respect for younger vampires? Louis shifted uncomfortably in Lestat’s grip; “Lestat… you should go hunt with Quinn. You’ve been waiting to spend time with him. We can talk you return,” Louis insisted. Louis wasn’t going to budge. And then Quinn noticed the spots of blood dotting Louis’ shirt in several places. Was Louis… ashamed? For what? Quinn was starting to feel Lestat’s anger echo back into himself. This was wrong, whatever it was. And Quinn would gladly fight anybody who made Louis feel this way.

“Louis, what are you afraid of?! Come on. Please, I only want to help you. And I’m sure Quinn does, too,” Lestat tried once more. Louis swallowed a sob, squirming in Lestat’s arms like a claustrophobic cat. “I’ll—-“ Louis stammered again. What? What would Louis do? Before Lestat could get an answer, Quinn suggested: “You’ll wait for us, right? And we’ll hurry back.” To Lestat’s surprise, Louis nodded. Reluctantly, Lestat let go of Louis, pressing another kiss to the younger man’s trembling lips. Lestat then went with Quinn, out the door. Away from Louis.

~

Louis stayed in the salon several minutes after Lestat and Quinn left. He contemplated whether to just stay in the salon or leave, until other vampires of various ages began to mill about. This made his mulling end immediately, as he was certain they would smell the blood on his clothes. He got up and headed for his private rooms, and as expected, at least one person he brushed past in the hall eyed him curiously on the way past. As soon as he was alone, Louis locked the door and stripped down, wondering whether he should bother having Barbara send his clothes off to be cleaned—- or if he should burn them instead. Seeing the blood on his sleeve brought forth unwanted thoughts of Santh once more. Louis sighed, digging out something else from his annoyingly large armoire. He redressed himself in a pale mint button-up with slimly-tailored velveteen slacks in a contrastingly dark chocolate brown. He decided to forgo any and all accessories, save for the subtly beautiful ruby-emerald ring Lestat had given him. The thought of the reason for Lestat to give him a ring for the first time in decades filled Louis with something unnamable. It felt like a promise of something. Whatever that something was, Louis worried he may lose it soon enough. That thought brought a sudden bought of distress that Louis wanted to shut out, immediately. He suddenly wanted Lestat and Quinn to be back already. Perhaps, he would wait for them. But not in Lestat’s crypt—- no, never again, perhaps. But he didn’t want to hide out in his own rooms, either.

Considering what to do, Louis first headed to his private library; he grabbed a book with some of Tolstoy’s shorter works, in their original language. What better time was there to practice? ‘The only better time would be if I was not hiding away like a coward, with Lestat here at my side, with Mitka across from me reading with me, and Quinn dozing off in my lap.’ The image made Louis feel better for a moment. Louis took his book with him and headed off to Lestat’s bedroom, kicking off his shoes by the door. He locked the door behind himself in a brief fit of paranoia, shuffling his way to Lestat’s lavish (and very expensively clothed) four-poster bed, socks gliding across the hard floor. Louis laid down and attempted to read to distract his mind. Unfortunately, he only got a few pages in before he realized he would be unable to focus. He closed the book and set it on the bedside table, staring at the ceiling and pondering how to tell Lestat and Quinn about tonight’s incident. Louis’ eyes no longer wanted to stay open, so Louis grabbed a bolster pillow and curled up. His last thought before drifting off was the question of whether or not his meal had been high on drugs.

~
Meanwhile, in Bordeux, freshly filled with blood and energy, Lestat fought off the petty urge to detail Armand’s many crimes to Quinn. He wanted to rant and rave about the imp. Instead, Lestat considered all the catching up he had to do. Books and letters could only explain so much. Lestat wanted to tell Quinn everything, to kiss him once more, to lick the fresh blood from his soft mouth. but for now, they needed to get back to Louis. Especially since Louis obviously showed Quinn something alarming. The three of them could have so much together, could they not? But now was not the time. On the trip back to the chateau, Lestat asked Quinn in his mind: ‘Did Louis show you anything?’ Quinn felt a little heavier in Lestat’s arms as soon as this question got out. ‘Umm. It looked like Santh ripping somebody’s throat out?’ Quinn replied nervously. ‘Mmm.’ Lestat was already displeased by this. ‘Do you want to see when we land?’ Quinn asked. ‘I suppose I should. But I would prefer to see it from Louis, so he doesn’t yell at me for invading his privacy,’ Lestat decided. ‘I figured you would. That’s probably for the best,’ Quinn agreed.

When they returned to the chateau, Lestat lead Quinn to Louis’ rooms—- but Louis wasn’t there. It miffed Lestat greatly, because it meant Louis was avoiding him now. Unless.... No. Lestat wouldn’t even consider it, and he instead took Quinn to Lestat’s rooms instead. And to his surprise, he found Louis’s dozing form in his bed. Any and all words Lestat would have had for Louis left his mind immediately. Lestat felt his cheeks heat up with fresh blood.

Quinn was happy and well-fed, and the sight of Louis in such a vulnerable position took all words from him as well. That, and Lestat’s closeness. Quinn wanted to kiss Lestat more, perhaps now to kiss Louis as well. The thought of kissing the fresh blood from Lestat’s mouth popped up, followed by the yearning of sharing that blood with Louis. The sight of Louis’ stunning form in Lestat’s bed made Quinn feel as if he’d stepped into a fairy tale. No outside description of Louis’ beauty did it justice. Louis was ethereal, a fae prince sleeping in an enchanted grove, awaiting the magical kiss of his lover. “He’s waiting for your healing kiss, my prince,” Quinn teased Lestat, no malice in his words.

Despite any and all of Quinn’s intentions, Lestat still felt somewhat miffed. Quinn was very important to Lestat, and his words had an affect. Quinn knew this. And Quinn wasn’t entirely wrong; Louis had been waiting for Lestat, because he wouldn’t be in Lestat’s bed otherwise. He’d be in someone else’s, where Lestat would never look for him—just as Lestat had feared when he hadn’t found Louis in the man’s own rooms. Lestat took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed next to Louis, kneeling next to his beloved. Gently, Lestat reached out a hand to the side of Louis’ neck, caressing the sensitive skin there.

Louis had dreamt of Lestat, in and out of sleep. He knew that Lestat feared him going to others, providing what Lestat could not. But who could Louis trust so profoundly as Lestat? His sudden presence did not alarm Louis. Lestat was not someone to fear for Louis— he never would be again. Louis had waited for Lestat, far more eagerly than he’d care to admit. And thus, Louis had decided to go to Lestat’s sanctuary to silently affirm what Louis was too shameful to voice. “Are you ready to talk?” Lestat whispered. Louis shivered. It still felt impossible, but it felt as though it would eat his soul to not discuss it. “Yes. I suppose I am,” Louis replied glumly.

Louis went quiet again after agreeing, loosening his death-grip on the bolster pillow. What was Louis afraid of? Louis’ silence made Lestat even more worried than before! “Louis, I won’t be mad at you for something Santh did,” Lestat tried. “That’s the least of my worries,” Louis murmured. “Then what is it? Did... what did he do to you? Did he hurt you?” Quinn asked. Helpfully, Lestat supposed, as Louis finally sat up and gestured for Lestat to sit closer. Lestat moved to sit next to Louis. Louis gestured to his other side for Quinn to join them, and thus, Quinn did.

Quinn felt something tug at his very soul, something pulling him towards Louis without question. It felt almost like a siren song, alluring and binding. However, it also felt like something far more meaningful and powerful, something fateful— like the pull Quinn had felt with Mona. Quinn sat down next to Louis, heeding the call as though the arrangement was the most natural thing in the world.

“I... I don’t even know where to begin with this. You are right though, Lestat. You see... something apparently did happen after Marius, Gabrielle, and myself were found. When Gregory and Santh brought me back home. I don’t know how much Gregory has to do with it yet, but Santh...” Louis tried. Was it so hard just to spit it out? And then Quinn took his hand, gently squeezing it. “How was I right, Louis? Why didn’t you say anything sooner? And what does it have to do with that night?” Lestat pressed.

“This evening, when you two went out to the gardens, I considered going hunting by myself. I suppose I should have, but I was not prepared to go alone. Not… not yet. Still, I couldn’t possibly interrupt your time together. You’ve waited so long for this. What kind of man would I be to stop you?” Louis turned his head to smile at Quinn, fingers brushing against the back of Lestat’s. “After much deliberation, I finally decided to go down to the dungeons, despite my... distain for going there. I met Santh on my way down the stairs. He’d just replenished the stores. He was coarse but friendly, in his way. I was a bit cold to him, I admit, but he grabbed me so suddenly! He asked why I didn’t just go to Paris to hunt instead. He spoke to me in a way one would speak to an ignorant or perhaps even... stupid child, despite his friendly tone of voice. I suppose it wasn’t so bad, considering the large age difference between us and our association in Court. Still... He then asked if I knew how to fly, because I should be able to at least do it with his blood in me. I… felt dizzy when he said that, because I was wondering, ‘How? How is his blood in me? Why? When?’ Louis squeezed both mens’ hands as he spoke; “I was reeling, but I did my best to steel myself. Santh seemed almost... offended that I didn’t remember it happening, so I asked him to tell me. He told me Gregory was flying me back in his arms, and then they both decided I needed the blood to help me through the rest of the night. I was apparently given Santh’s blood, and I latched onto his arm.” Louis frowned, sliding his hands from them both and folding them on his lap, his legs stretched out before him, ankles crossed, giving him a demure look.

The entire time Louis spoke, Lestat was stiff as stone under his touch. Santh’s blood? In Louis? All this time?? All these weeks and Santh had never said a word to him about it?? Santh, whom had been the first to kiss Lestat’s ring. Santh, being the one to give Lestat the very ring to kiss in the first place! What the hell was wrong with him? Was Santh going mad?!

“I don’t know what frightens me more,” Louis continued. “The fact that I don’t remember any of this happening, or the fact that there might be other things I am forgetting, especially in regards to what may have occurred during my time with Rhosh. I… I really just wanted to leave at that point, with or without blood. I was chilled to the core,” Louis admitted somberly.

Quinn was horrified. Both Santh and Gregory had made a decision for Louis. They’d given him blood without consent. Sure, Louis must have needed it, but the fact that Santh seemed so casual about it chilled Quinn to the core. It reminded him too much of his own maker’s attitude. “I know what it’s like to have the secrets of my existence told to me. Ancients are fools,” Quinn told Louis. Louis smiled sadly at him.

To Louis, ancients were to be revered and perhaps avoided. The idea of them being fools did not provide as much comfort as he liked. Still, the reassurances of both Quinn and Lestat helped Louis continue; “In my shock, I did not resist Santh when he took me by the wrist and walked me down to feed. I did not want to feed with him looking at me. Not after what he had told me. He must have misinterpreted my hesitance as fledgling reluctance. He… then tore the man’s throat open. The blood went everywhere… all over the floor and the man’s shirt. And then… I might have growled at him, in my irritation. Santh then let him fall to the floor. And… I didn’t want the blood to go to waste, so I finally… picked up the dying man and turned him to face the wall to drink from him. And Santh just… watched.”

Louis turned to look at Quinn again; “I do not enjoy being watched, Quinn. I don’t think he knew, either. How could he? He thought he was helping me, that perhaps the bloodshed would encourage me to eat. He was right, because I would have otherwise left. I will admit, it was both revolting and beautiful. I... do feel ashamed. I had just wanted to retreat to my rooms and change my clothes before anyone could see me, but..” Louis shrugged in resignation and reluctant acceptance; “I don’t know where he went, but I would prefer it stay that way. I don’t think I want you to seek him out either, Lestat. I don’t wish to put you at odds with the ancients anymore. Please, Lestat, I’ve grown weary of attracting their attention. I just want peace.” Despite his best efforts, Louis started to shake. Vampires didn’t shake. He felt blood well up in his eyes, and he tried to blink the tears away.

Lestat’s anger hit a fever pitch. “Louis, let me see, please?” Lestat tried. The tears forming in Louis’ eyes filled him with hurt. ‘Quinn, I swearing I’m going to kill Santh! There’s something Louis isn’t telling us,’ Lestat mentally relayed to Quinn. ‘Yes. But... I don’t want to push him too much,’ Quinn replied. ‘Neither do I, but something is severally wrong here,’ Lestat retorted softly. ‘And what about Gregory?’ Quinn asked. ‘Ugh. Hold on!’ Gently, Lestat pressed his lips to Louis’ neck, and Louis trembled. “Shh,” Lestat murmured, “You know I won’t hurt you. And neither will Quinn. Let us see, darling.” Louis nodded reluctantly; “I know, I know. God, I know.” ‘But they’ll hurt you,’ he added silently. Lestat sank his fangs into Louis’ neck, Quinn doing the same on the other side, to see in Louis’ blood. Lestat drank from Louis ever-so gently. What Lestat saw shook him to the core.

Santh misreading Louis’ hesitance, instead taking it for fledgling reluctance rather than shock at having just learned that his blood was in Louis‘ veins. Santh tearing the throat of the prisoner savagely, and the blood gushing everywhere, cascading down the front of the man’s shirt. Louis’ fury, which manifested in Louis growling and baring his teeth like a frightened cat. Louis wanting to leave but needing to feed, all while the man bled out all over the floor, wasting precious blood. Louis finally feeding, taking the man and heaving the wretch against the wall face first so that Louis’ clothing not be marred. Louis feeding ravenously as he always did. While Santh watched.|

|Louis waking to Gregory— ‘Oh. He looks like a living statue. Bewitching. Alluring. Mesmerizing’—- Louis nervously looking for Lestat, covering his half-nakedness and wondering about Gregory’s true reason for barging into the crypt— ‘Handsome. But he is so much older than Rhoshmandes. And far more powerful. He can do whatever he wants to me, and I will be powerless to stop it!!’ Gregory’s eyes eating up Louis’ beauty, before Gregory asked how Louis was doing, and then apologizing for failing to keep Louis safe. Calling Louis a lost lamb, like he was weak. Gregory getting far too close for Louis’ comfort, grabbing Louis’ arm. Gregory asking if Louis had seen the children yet, as a means of distraction. “I won’t hurt you. Are you frightened of me? I’m the gentlest ancient in the world… unless you don’t want me to be.” Louis on the the verge of a panic attack, tears welling in his eyes. Gregory kissing him on the forehead, telling Louis he needed to relax, all while Louis begs for mercy. Gregory plunging his bitten tongue into Louis’ mouth, all while Louis begs him to stop. Louis pulling him closer, despite the fear. Louis’ body ignited in terrified arousal, against his will. Louis not in control of his mind or his body. Louis being lulled, seduced. Pulled in… like Armand once had. A question as to whether or not Gregory is aware of his own actions—-| Lestat swallowed down bloody bile.

Quinn’s stomach turned. These ancients were terrible! What kind of friends were they?! Quinn stopped drinking, licking the bite shut. Louis had been violated a second and a third time. No, a third and fourth. 

Gently, Lestat slid out his fangs, licking the holes shut. Louis was crying softly now; “I’m sorry, Lestat, I’m sorry,” Louis whispered. Lestat pressed a soft kiss to Louis’ forehead. “It’s okay, Louis. It’s not your fault. It never was. I love you, you know that don’t you?” Louis sobbed harder, clinging to Lestat. Lestat lifted Louis’ chin to pull him in for a soft kiss, muffling Louis’ heartbreaking sobs. Louis gasped against Lestat’s lips, before returning the kiss with burning intimacy. Reluctantly, Lestat untangled himself from Louis. He looked to Quinn, and gently pushed Louis closer to the other vampire. What a terrible time for them to bond. Louis’ tight grip was redirected to Quinn, with a instinctual sense of trust. Lestat pushed down his jealousy, reminding himself that this was Quinn. Sweet, loving Quinn. Quinn, whom loved Lestat nearly as much as his lost Mona. Quinn would never take Louis from Lestat. He didn’t have the malice to do it.

“Quinn, stay here with Louis. I have a matter to attend to,” Lestat informed Quinn. Quinn nodded gravely. He understood. “Lestat?” Louis croaked, trying to stifle his sobs. Lestat ran his hand through Louis’ curls and once more, firmly kissed Louis’ trembling lips. “Stay here with Quinn. I’ll return to you soon, mon coeur. Okay?” Lestat murmured. “Okay. Please, just hurry back. Be careful,” Louis sniffled. Lestat left the two of them alone, his mission for Louis on the rise. On the way out, Lestat grabbed his axe.

Chapter Text

Lestat stalked the halls, axe carefully hidden in his jacket. Rage boiled in his body, threatening to overflow in a destructive flood of burning fury. He had trusted Gregory to keep Louis safe. Gregory had failed. Then Gregory let Santh feed Louis blood without Louis’ consent. Then Gregory had gone and violated Louis in the safety of Lestat’s crypt! And Santh had coerced Louis into eating in front of him, when Louis had difficulty even letting Lestat watch him hunt!! 

In the hall, Lestat bumped into the very man he’d been looking for. Almost like… Santh had been looking for Lestat. But that didn’t matter. Lestat shoved the elder vampire into the nearest alcove, hands at Santh’s chest and neck. To Lestat’s displeasure, Santh was very delighted by this. “My birthday isn’t for another several months,” Santh grinned. 

Santh had been looking for Lestat. Louis’ shyness and apparent lack of awareness of his abilities was something Santh had been wanting to discuss. He knew that Louis was suffering from being kidnapped, but it was all over now. In due time, Louis would probably be well once more. But at the moment, Louis was strangely aggressive. For some reason though, Santh found himself enthralled by Louis. His cock twitched at the thought of the feral viciousness Louis had displayed in the dungeon. Beautiful, alluring, lithe Louis. Santh would gladly let Louis step on him, amongst other things. If Louis and Lestat were to officially declare themselves the other’s blood spouse, would it not make Louis a queen? Or a princess. Something about it made Santh’s blood rush with more lust. Was Louis aware of his allure? Was Lestat? Was—- oh. Lestat’s hand was tightening around his throat. ‘It’s been a while since anyone’s tried to choke me. How does he know where to squeeze?’

Lestat was enraged further by Santh’s apparent disregard for Louis’ emotions, and his own discomfort. Was Santh even aware of what he’d done? At least Santh hadn’t messed with Louis’ mind. Yet, the absolute shame Louis felt for giving into Santh’s pressuring… It was unacceptable. And Santh’s thoughts currently flowed free like a river. Jealousy burned into Lestat. “What’s wrong with you?!” Lestat demanded; “Louis is already distressed enough and you had to pull a stunt like that?! How could you not realize how uncomfortable you were making him?!” Santh just looked confused. “Did he tell you about—-“ Lestat didn’t even let Santh finish. He squeezed his hand tighter to make Santh shut up. “He told me everything! You couldn’t have just kept your mouth shut! You disrespected him! Of course he knows he can fly! It’s his choice as to whether or not he does! If he doesn’t want to leave to get his meal, he doesn’t have to! And if he doesn’t want to eat with you ogling him, guess what?! He doesn’t have to!! And stop with your filthy thoughts! At least keep them to yourself!”

Santh suddenly understood. Lestat was understandably protective of Louis. However, Santh was certain Louis could defend himself quite well. He’d growled at Santh. Although, Santh had been quite aroused by it. Perhaps that was the problem. “Do  you not realize how alluring your Louis is? He’s like honey to a—“ Santh suddenly found his head being smacked against the stone. “Don’t you dare blame this on Louis! Just like Gregory—“ What about Gregory now? “What about Gregory now?” Santh asked.

“None of your damn business!” Lestat snapped. He wouldn’t give this ancient idiot more to work with! “You violated Louis’ privacy! He’s as jumpy as a cat! You belittled him, cornered him and watched him scramble to consume the prey you rudely tore to shreds! And the fact that you and Gregory played rock-paper-scissors for fossils to decide which one you you was to give Louis blood without his consent or any regard for my feelings either— did he even need the blood?!” Lestat suddenly realized he was practically shouting now. It felt good. But someone had to interrupt. “Lestat? What’s going on, boy?” Marius asked, peering from around the corner. 

Perhaps Marius could provide some wisdom! Santh watched Lestat’s head whip to the side to look at Marius. “Not now, gramps! Go back to bed!” Lestat snapped. Marius’ hands went up in a gesture of good-will that would have been hilarious at any other moment. He disappeared back around the corner, to Santh’s disappointment.

Lestat hadn’t meant to snap at Marius. Lestat turned his rage back to the man whom actually deserved it. “Did Louis actually need your blood or not, damn it?!” Lestat demanded. For a second, Santh actually looked somber, finally answering Lestat’s question; “Yes. He was mere hours away from hysteria. He was starving. He latched onto my wrist. He was in shock, as well. I don’t know everything that happened to him. None of us do. I never meant him any harm, my prince.” Santh sounded sincere, but the erection pressing against Lestat’s thigh made it more difficult to believe. “I can’t believe you! Why are you turned on?! What’s wrong with you?!”

Oh, how beautiful Lestat’s rage was! But Santh did not want to him to be so distraught. Lestat had almost lost Louis. With that in mind, Santh could not find it within himself to be angry back. “I’m very serious about this. Despite the fact that you pinning me like this is very thrilling.” how could Santh show Lestat? Would Lestat accept his blood? Would— Lestat emitted a beautiful growl, grabbing a fistful of Santh’s flaxen waves with which to yank his head back with. In a flash of blond and blue, Lestat was viciously tearing into Santh’s throat. Santh couldn’t help the low moan that escaped. 

Of course Santh would enjoy this, of course he would! Lestat would have to hurry. Lestat stuffed the end of his scarf into Santh’s mouth. ‘Stop moaning, you bastard! Let me see the truth, right now!’ Lestat screamed in Santh’s mind. ‘Ah, take it all! See him, see how he pulls me in! He really did need my blood, Lestat! I couldn’t possibly let him spiral further! And— oh—’ Santh groaned back. ‘And what?! What?!’ The swoon was quickly dragging Lestat in, he had to end it. Lestat was hit full-force with many thoughts and feelings that made his stomach turn. Santh groaned audibly. Lestat pulled off of Santh, shuddering through the swoon. Without deliberation, Lestat dropped Santh, letting the elder vampire’s head hit the wall, Santh sliding down to the floor. Lestat drew the axe, pressing the blade right up against Santh’s groin.

Santh could barely think. He barely registered Lestat’s axe pressing against his dick. “Respect Louis or I cut it off and throw it into the Seine!” Lestat demanded. Santh admired Lestat’s threat. It was a very good threat. Santh would have quite the trouble finding his dick in the Seine. “Understood. Give him my regards.” Lestat wasn’t finished, however. “I forbid you from being alone with him! If he wants your advances, he’ll tell me himself! Now scram!” 

Wisely, albeit weakly, Santh obeyed. The sun would be up soon. Lestat would visit Gregory tonight, then. In the meantime, Lestat would go join Louis and Quinn.