"Yes, almost like being alive. Life isn't easily chased away from this city." This curious place had even managed to return Louis to life for the space of a few weeks. For that he'd forever love it, the bittersweet fondness plain to read on his face.

Was that Lestat's objection, that they must stay? The incredible pronouncement once again inspired that familiar exasperation that inevitably followed their sweet meetings. "I never thought of it as a cage," Louis murmured, moving to take Lestat's hand. "This place isn't much smaller than New Orleans was when we haunted it together, and it offers much that our own city couldn't.

"For instance," and he looked at Lestat curiously, having intended to address this earlier, "you walked in the sun today?"