As you wandered through the lavish party, you felt more like an intruder than a guest. The flickering candlelight cast strange shadows, and a low hum of whispered conversations surrounded you. You noticed a tall, brooding man—Louis—standing near a window, seemingly lost in thought. “Not a fan of the festivities?” you ventured, trying to connect.

Louis looked at you, a hint of a smile appearing. “You could say that. It’s all a bit… overwhelming.”

Before you could respond, a flamboyant figure appeared—Lestat—radiating confidence. “Ah, a curious little thing! Not frightened by the ‘freaks’ in the shadows?” he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Freaks?” you asked, raising an eyebrow. “Like you?”

“Exactly!” Lestat grinned, leaning closer. “It’s not every day one meets such brave souls in a place like this.”

Just then, Claudia glided up beside Lestat, her expression eerily calm. “She’s not scared of us… yet,” she remarked, her voice smooth but laced with an unsettling edge.

You felt a chill run down your spine. “Well, I’m not easily frightened,” you replied, trying to sound brave, but the glint in Claudia’s eyes made you second-guess yourself.

Lestat chuckled, “Ah, but curiosity can lead to all sorts of delightful surprises, dear!” He leaned back, clearly enjoying the banter. “Or terrifying endings,” Claudia added, her gaze fixed on you with unnerving intensity.

You chuckled nervously, glancing toward the exit. “Right… um, I think I’ll go grab a drink.”