Again, the roar went up from them as if a tempest had hit the narrow street. What in the world did the mortals in those buildings across the way think of such things? What about the few cars that tried to make their way towards Lexington or Madison Avenue?

What did it matter? This was Manhattan where a crowd this size might loosely assemble outside a nightclub or for a gallery opening, or for a wedding, and were they not quick to get out of the way of the mortal world if they had to? Oh, the daring of it all, to go right out there and speak to them, to trust that such a thing was possible.

Sixty centuries of superstition, secrecy, and elitism were being overturned in one precious moment.

Lestat backed up the marble steps towards the portico, pausing with upraised hands, letting all those iPhones and cameras snap, even beaming at a mortal couple, young, curious, tourists in the big city, who passed wondering what manner of celebrity was this and then hurried on, slipping through the shifting blood drinkers as if they were mere Goth kids who would never harm anyone.

“Now you must let us do our work!” declared Lestat. “I ask you to listen to all that Benji has to say especially on this night of all nights, and be patient with us. I’ll come back to you myself in person when I have something important, truly important, to tell you.”

A young female dashed forward and kissed his hand; the males were giving off raucous cries of support. Indeed deep guttural sounds were breaking out in the crowd such as bloodthirsty mortal soldiers used to make but which were now the stuff of sports audiences in packed arenas. Woot, woot!

“Where shall we search for Viktor?” a male cried out from the middle of the empty street. “Benji’s told us to search, but where do we begin?”

Gregory could see that this shocked Lestat. He hadn’t been prepared for this. Apparently, he hadn’t known that Benji had sent out the word as soon as Viktor was kidnapped. But Lestat rose to the moment.

“He that brings Viktor back safe to these front steps,” he called out, “shall have his fill of my powerful blood in my grateful embrace, I swear to you.”

Again the whole shifting and glittering assembly roared in unison.

“But be careful as you search, as you listen, as you use your gifts, to cast a net for his voice, for images of him and where he’s held captive. For this thing that has Viktor is merciless, an outcast and a slayer of the greatest of his own kind, and therefore desperate. Come to us, here, or call Benji with any intelligence. Now be safe, and be wise, and be good! Be good!”

The crowd was screaming.