Armand was not always a vampire, he was once a mortal. At about the age of 17 he was turned, back in the time he is
from he was considered a man. Anne Rice has a unique way of describing him as if he is almost angelic like, when younger he was captured while trying to hide a painted egg in the woods, this was Armand's
special gift. Hunters had snatched him, and took him upon a boat where this person had sought him out and saved him from the captors. This man had taken Armand under his wing and to his home along with other young boys where they were given money for the things they needed and schooling.
One night Armand was invited to sleep in the house owners room, it was as if Armand was special to this man, the other boys noticed this. These boys did not hurt them, however they asked a lot of questions which Armand could not tell, eventually Armand was turned into a
vampire along with the house owner, and could only come out at night so he did not burn, the other young boys soon noticed the change, however were still friends with him, he still had to study many other things, new languages for he could not remember his own. As the years went on, Armand had found his way back to his home land and saw that his castle or fortress that they lived in had been ruined and his mother and father were long dead.One time Armand had even tried to kill himself, but could not considering that he was an old vampire, the sun only turned him a dark color like he was from Egypt.
Through out the whole story Armand is expressing his thoughts and feelings to David Talbot who was a part of the Talamaska before he was also turned into a vampire, a body thief had stolen David's body so David was stuck with the vampire one.