“I thought we died as soon as the vampiric element took hold,” said Viktor. “We went out to die after we were brought over. Our bodies had to get rid of fluids, waste—that was physical death.”

“But you didn’t really die, did you?” asked Louis. “Yes, that transformation happened. But you didn’t really die.”

“Well, if we had we wouldn’t be here now,” said Seth. “If the fledgling dies before the process is complete—.”

“But what if the fledgling dies after the process is complete?” asked Louis.

“Well, you have everybody’s interest, I’ll say that for you,” I murmured.

“Lestat, do be quiet,” said David in a gentle voice.

“Let me explain,” said Louis. “I was present decades ago when Akasha was killed. I was in the very room. And when it happened I was as connected to Amel then as everyone else was. I lost consciousness when the Mother’s head was struck off, and I only know what happened later because people told me. I was revived only after the brain was taken out of Akasha and consumed by Mekare, or when the vampiric brain within Akasha’s brain found another host and locked in to that new host.”

“Locked in,” David repeated. “That’s a good description.”

“Well,” said Louis. “I’m not connected now.”

“What are you talking about, of course you’re connected,” I said. “You were connected ten nights ago when I felt the pain, when Amel forced that unspeakable pain.”

“I certainly was,” said Viktor in a low voice.

“But I wasn’t,” said Louis. “I didn’t feel the pain.”

“Are you certain?” asked David.

“Even I felt it,” said Seth.

“That’s because you are connected,” said Louis. “But I’m not.”

“But I thought you did,” I insisted. “Louis, everyone said that you did, that everyone felt it.”

“They assumed that I’d felt it,” said Louis. “But I didn’t. And at Trinity Gate, the night you took the Amel brain out of Mekare’s brain, I didn’t feel anything then either. Everyone else did. Everyone else experienced something. But I experienced nothing. Oh, I was frantic when I gathered from all of them what was happening, but I didn’t lose consciousness, I felt no pain, and my vision wasn’t impaired, not even for a second. I saw the others around me standing stock-still as if frozen, or going down on their knees at some point. But I felt nothing and I think I know why.”

We were all looking at him.

“Well?” I said. “Tell us why.”