He could see her reaching out for Louis, and felt a spiteful bit of glee that she would feel that same emptiness that he'd been subjected to for all these long years. It wasn't fair to be jealous of their bond, one which he could never share in. But he was. And it felt right that Claudia should be haunted by it now.

Her sudden darting off reminded him of her youth, when things had been simple and there had been laughter in the house. How long had it been since any of them had laughed?

She had her head start, and soon Lestat darted after in search of her, leaving the coffin where it lay for now.