"Alas," Lestat says, with a stroke of genuine sympathy befalling his tone - he knows how unfortunate it is to be so diminished, even if he will not be as forthcoming with his understanding as Ruby is with hers. Far more palpable to be a hunter of monsters than a monster oneself.

"...may I ask, what is a 'laser'?" But sympathy flickers easily into curiosity as he studies Ruby's peculiarly luminous eyes, which until now he thought only a strikingly unusual feature. He doesn't know what it is he ought to be imagining shooting out of them to lay waste to her enemies.