One of the strangest things about the interview — maybe the strangest — was watching Louis with Armand, and the way Louis regarded Armand as a presently kind, previously slightly pitiful, ancient-like-an-antique creature, while Daniel sat across from him and thought That's a fucking megalodon. He thinks it now, looking at him.

If Armand tortured him again, would Daniel stay lucid through it? Could he ask him questions? Would Armand answer? Would the answers be different than ones he might offer while walking down the sidewalk, chatting?

"I haven't minded all of it."

For the record. Messages in sacrifices were alarming, but—

You know. Interesting. And he'd poked back, when he knew he shouldn't have. (Didn't care. Told himself it was investigating, learning, and it was, but Louis' right and Daniel's become a cold killer, and morality is negotiable at best, because he doesn't actually like people very much.) The book signing was nice, in a genuine way. He might not even hate this, because of the honesty.

"Coffee shops? Bars? Mini golf?" Public places with witnesses. What a little bitch move. "My apartment?"