Lestat was typing at the computer when she walked into the room. He never looked up from the monitor. "I wasn't sure you'd come, Kathryn."

"Where's Louis?"

He looked at up at her then, and sighed. Her tears had left ragged pink trails over her too pale cheeks. "You need to feed."

She shuddered. "Where's Louis?" she asked again.

"Where he always is," Lestat sighed with a casual shrug, "in the garden."

Kathryn turned and left the room without another word.

Lestat watched her go, his blond brows pinched in thought.


Kathryn's rapid steps took her quickly to the garden. Louis sat in his customary place along the far wall. His shirt was open at the throat, and his notebook sat on his lap as he stared up at the stars. "Dreaming again, old friend?" she asked.

His haunted eyes smiled at her as she approached. "Kathryn!" He stood, opened his arms, and she went into them, holding him tight. He kissed her forehead. "What's wrong?"

In the long years she'd known him, Louis had always understood her and she him. Ever since she'd run into him and Armand on that long ago night, she and Louis had bonded. If she had anyone she could ever call friend, that was Louis. "I've...done something."

Louis's dark eyes searched hers. Through the years, he had acquired a limited ability to hear the thoughts of others. Not humans, but others of their kind. Still, he only could hear the newly made, or one of the few he still was close to. He read her mind now, reliving with her what she'd done. He shook his head sadly. "I warned you long ago not to believe too strongly."

They sat side by side on the bench. "Jack's different, Louis," she said softly.

He ran his hand through her long dark hair, down her back. He sighed, then pressed a soft kiss to her temple. "And do you believe that if he wasn't bonded to you, he'd forgive you what you can't forgive yourself for?"

"It was only a sip," she protested.

"It was enough to link you to him, his thoughts and feelings, even though for him it is no more than compulsion to be with you."

She winced. How many times had she railed at Lestat for doing just what she had done. It was nothing short of rape.

"But," he continued after a long moment, "his feelings for you might be true." He looked into her eyes. "You need to release him to be sure."

She opened her mouth in immediate protest, then subsided. He was right. She had to undo the blood bond. She had to release him.

Louis stood. Holding her hands, he brought her up, smiled sadly into her eyes. "The dawn's not far off." He tugged her toward the house.

"Lestat..."

"...doesn't mind at all," Lestat finished for her, smiling as she glared at him. His smile faded. "You're always welcome here, Kathryn."

She walked past him into the house.

Lestat and Louis shared a long look. "She'll never forgive me, will she?"

"For killing her maker? I doubt it." His eyes followed the path Kathryn had taken into the house. "She doesn't forgive easily."

"She needs to forgive herself," Lestat said, also looking in the direction she'd gone.

"Leave her alone," Louis said softly. "She'll do what she has to."

Lestat turned to argue with him, but Louis was already gone. Grumbling softly, he stalked off into the night. Unlike Louis or Kathryn, he still had a few hours until he had to escape the dawn.