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〃I kept them hidden in a sacramental shrine。 It was my life； it was my solemn mission。
〃Flowers and incense I put before them。 I tended to their clothes。 I wiped the dust from their motionless faces。 It was my sacred obligation to do these things； and all the while to keep the secret from vagrant blood drinkers who might seek to drink their powerful blood； or even take them captive。〃
His eyes remained on the fire； but the muscles in his throat tightened； and Thorne could see the veins for a moment against the smoothness of his temples。
〃All the while；〃 Marius went on； 〃I loved her； this seeming divinity whom you so rightly call our Evil Queen； that's perhaps the greatest lie I've ever lived。 I loved her。〃
〃How could you not love such a being？〃 Thorne asked。 〃Even in my sleep I saw her face。 I felt her mystery。 The Evil Queen。 I felt her hell。 And she had her silence to precede her。 When she came to life it must have seemed as if a curse were broken； and she was at last released。〃
These words seemed to have a rather strong effect on Marius。 His eves moved over Thorne a bit coldly and then he looked back at the fire。
〃If I said something wrong I am sorry for it；〃 Thorne said。 〃I was only trying to understand。〃
〃Yes； she was like a goddess；〃 Marius resumed。 〃So I thought and so I dreamt； though I told myself and everyone else otherwise。 It was part of my elaborate lie。〃
〃Do we have to confess our loves to everyone？〃 asked Thorne softly。 〃Can we not keep some secrets？〃 With overwhelming pain he thought of his Maker。 He did nothing to disguise these thoughts。 He saw her again seated in the cave with the blazing fire behind her。 He saw her taking the hairs from her own head and weaving them into thread with her distaff and her spindle。 He saw her eyes rimmed in blood； and then he broke from these memories。 He pushed them deep down inside his heart。
He looked at Marius。
Marius had not answered Thorne's question。
The silence made Thorne anxious。 He felt he should fall silent and let Marius go on。 Yet the question came to his lips。
〃How did the disaster e to pass？〃 Thorne asked。 〃Why did the Evil Queen rise from her throne？ Was it the Vampire Lestat with his electric songs who waked her？ I saw him in human guise； dancing for humans； as if he were one of them。 I smiled in my sleep； as I saw the modern world enfold him； unbelieving； amused； and dancing to his rhythms。〃
〃That's what happened； my friend；〃 said Marius； 〃at least with the modern world。 As for her？ Her rising from her throne？ His songs had much to do with it。
For we have to remind ourselves that for thousands of years she ad existed in silence。 Flowers and incense； yes； these things I gave her in abundance； but music？ Never。 Not until the modern world made such a thing possible； and then Lestat's music came into the very room where she sat shimmering in her raiment。 And it did wake her； not once； but twice。
〃The first time was as shocking to me as the later disaster； though it was mended soon enough。 It was two hundred years ago…on an island in the Aegean Sea…this little surprise； and I should have taken a hard lesson from it； but this in my pride I failed to do。〃
〃What took place？〃
〃Lestat was a new blood drinker and having heard of me； he sought me out； and with an honest heart。 He wanted to know what I had to reveal。 All over the world he'd sought me； and then there came a time when he was weak and broken by the very gift of immortality； a time of his going into the earth as you went into the ice of the Far North。
〃I brought him to me； I talked with him as I'm talking to you now。 But something curious happened with him which caught me quite off guard。 I felt a sudden surge of pure devotion to him and this bined with an extraordinary trust。
〃He was young but he wasn't innocent。 And when I talked； he listened perfectly。 When I played the teacher； there came no argument。 I wanted to tell him my earliest secrets。 I wanted to reveal the secret of our King and Queen。
〃It had been a long； long time since I'd revealed that secret。 I'd been alone for a century among mortals。 And Lestat； so absolute in his devotion to me； seemed pletely worthy of my trust。
〃I took him down to the underground shrine。 I opened the door upon the two seated figures。
〃For the first few moments； he believed the Sacred Parents were statues； but quite suddenly he became aware that both were alive。 He realized in fact that they were blood drinkers； and that they were greatly advanced in age； and that in them； he could see his destiny were he to endure for so many thousands of years。
〃This is a terrifying realization。 Even to the young who look on me； it is a difficult realization that they might bee as pale and hard as I am。 With the Mother and Father； it was horrifying； and Lestat was overe with fear。
〃Nevertheless； he managed to bridle his fear and approach the Queen； and even to kiss her on the lips。 It was a bold thing to do； but as I watched him I realized it was quite natural to him； and as he withdrew from her； he confessed to me that he knew her name。
〃Akasha。 It was as if she'd spoken it。 And I could not deny that she had given it to him through his mind。 Out of her centuries of silence had e her voice once more with this seductive confession。
〃Understand how young he was。 Given the blood at twenty； he had been a blood drinker for perhaps ten years； no more than that。
〃What was I to make of this kiss and this secret revelation？
〃I denied my love and my jealousy pletely。 I denied my crushing disappointment。 I told myself； 'You are too wise for such。 Learn from what's happened。 Maybe this young one will bring something magnificent from her。 Is she not a goddess？'
〃I took Lestat to my salon； a room as fortable as this； though in another style； and there we talked until early morn。 I told him the tale of my making； of my journey to Egypt。 I played the teacher with great earnestness and generosity； and something of pure self…indulgence。 Was it for Lestat or for me that I wanted him to know everything？ I don't know。 But those were splendid hours for me； I know that much。
〃The following night； however； while I was about tending to the mortals who lived on my island and believed me to be their lord； Lestat did a dreadful thing。
〃Taking from his own luggage a violin which was most precious to him…a musical instrument of uncanny power…he went down into the shrine。
〃Now it is plain to me； as it was then； that he could not have done this without the aid of the Queen； who with the Mind Gift opened the many doors for him that lay between him and her。
〃Indeed as Lestat tells it； she may have even put the very idea of playing the instrument into his mind。 I don't think so。 I think she opened the doors and summoned him； but it was he who brought the violin。
〃Calculating that it would make a sound totally unfamiliar and quite wonderful to her； he set out to mimic those he'd seen playing the instrument； because in fact he didn't know how to play it。
〃Within moments； my beautiful Queen had risen from the throne and was moving towards