Louis and Claudia help Madeleine burn the doll shop. Armand approaches Louis afterward and asks him to follow him. They climb a tower to Armand’s secret room, where Armand says he wants Louis more than he has ever wanted anything. He asks him to leave Claudia for him. Armand says that Claudia represents only an era to Louis and that most vampires do not have the stamina for immortality. Their most common form of death is suicide. Armand believes that Louis can save him from that form of despair. He claims that Louis is the spirit of his age and admits that he made Louis change Madeleine so that he would feel as if he could leave Claudia. Louis says he loves him but that Armand must never control him again. Finally, Armand urges him to get Claudia out of Paris before Santiago tries to kill her.

Louis and Claudia talk about separating. During the discussion, the other vampires invade and take them to the Theatre. Lestat is there waiting for them. He is covered in scars. He tells Santiago he only wanted Claudia and that Santiago promised Lestat could take Louis back to New Orleans.