Louis recounted to Daniel the emotional turmoil he endured within the crypt's depths, as the ghastly realization of Claudia's demise sent his mind spiraling through a maze of hypotheticals about his life. Armand confessed that rescuing Louis had come with its own consequences—ridicule and demotion within the coven's ranks. He recounted the haunting sounds of Louis's screams, borne from the agony of starvation. To liberate Louis, Armand cunningly arranged a sacrifice in an old vault coffin, swapping it out for Louis's unguarded one. He then administered blood to Louis, who fled through the labyrinthine sewers beneath the city.
Louis made his way to the cemetery, where he dispatched the keeper in cold blood. He sought refuge in an ancient crypt, a macabre hideout where he kept the bodies of his victims and plotted his revenge. Armand attempted to reach out to him telepathically, but Louis initially ignored the voice in his mind. Eventually, Louis demanded to know if Armand had indeed saved him, and Armand confessed his role. Louis warned Armand to steer clear of the theater the following night, past curfew.
In a fiery blaze, Louis set the theater ablaze, leaving six of the thirteen vampires within its ashes. Before fleeing, he took Claudia's dress and her journals as momentos mori. He dispatched two more vampires with a blade's edge, while two more perished as they attempted to flee the city, courtesy of a contingency plan devised by Louis.
In Dubai, Daniel sought Ragland James's assistance for an undisclosed matter. Later, Rashid delivered a newspaper to his door. In Paris, Louis and Armand engaged in a candid conversation, and Armand confessed that he had begun lying to Louis the night he transformed Madeleine. He denied any involvement in the play, claiming he either remained in his coffin during rehearsals or escaped to Louis's side. Louis and Armand visited Lestat at Magnus's lair, with Louis declaring his intention to end Lestat's existence. However, Lestat scoffed at the notion, challenging Louis's resolve. In a devastating turn, Louis kissed Armand in Lestat's presence, declaring that this act was Lestat's death sentence—he would have to live with the knowledge that Louis and Armand were now united.
Louis and Armand recounted their journey's aftermath to Daniel, but soon Louis declared that the tale had reached its conclusion. However, Daniel, sensing something amiss, probed Louis's narrative, uncovering discrepancies. He informed Louis that more than one individual in the theater had the means to save him, producing a copy of the play adorned with marginal notations. It was then revealed that Armand had deceived Louis, for he was the mastermind behind the production.
Flashbacks unfolded, revealing Lestat as an unwilling accomplice in the trial. It was Lestat who coerced the audience to utter the word "banishment," thus inadvertently rescuing Louis. Amidst Louis and Armand's heated exchange, Daniel attempted to slip away. Louis departed the penthouse, issuing a stern warning to Armand not to harm Daniel, insisting he must be gone before his return.
Louis journeyed to New Orleans, where a hurricane was brewing. As he traversed the city, he encountered a vampire busy amassing rats. Following this enigmatic figure, he stumbled upon Lestat. They reminisced about Lestat's salvation, and Louis expressed his gratitude for the gift bestowed upon him. Lestat inquired about the fateful night in San Francisco when Armand summoned him, asking if Louis had attempted to harm himself. Their conversation briefly touched upon Claudia before they embraced, the howling hurricane rattling the house around them.
In the distant future, Daniel's book had soared to immense popularity, selling over five million copies, yet he faced skepticism on a talk show. As he exited, he telepathically contacted Louis, revealing himself as a vampire, transformed by Armand's bite. Daniel informed Louis that the vampires were displeased with him because of the book. In Dubai, Louis planted his feet firmly on the rocky shore, sending a message to the vampires, declaring that he owned the night.
