anner.vittoriothevampire-第27章

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itioned　my　sword。
　The　red　velvet　tunic　was　plaited　along　the　edges　with　gold　and　silver　thread；　and　the　front　of　it　was　richly　decorated　with　the　silver　fleurs…de…lys；　which　is　the　most　ancient　symbol　of　Florence。　Once　my　belt　was　tightly　fastened；　the　tunic　didn't　e　to　halfway　down　my　thigh。　That　was　for　handsome　legs。
　The　whole　raiment　was　more　than　fancy　for　battle；　but　what　battle　was　this？　It　was　a　massacre。　I　put　on　the　short　flaring　cloak　they　had　given　me；　fastening　its　gold　buckles；　though　it　would　be　warm　for　the　city。　It　was　lined　in　soft　thin　dark…brown　squirrel　fur。
　I　ignored　the　hat。　I　tied　on　the　purse。　I　put　on　my　rings　one　by　one　until　my　hands　were　weapons　on　account　of　their　weight。　I　put　on　the　soft　fur…lined　gloves。　I　found　a　dark…amber…beaded　rosary　that　I　had　not　noticed　before。　It　had　a　gold　crucifix；　which　I　kissed；　and　this　I　put　in　my　pocket　under　my　tunic。
　I　realized　that　I　was　staring　at　the　floor；　and　that　I　was　surrounded　by　pairs　of　bare　feet。　Slowly　I　lifted　my　gaze。
　My　angels　stood　before　me；　my　very　own　guardians；　in　long　flowing　robes　of　dark　blue；　which　appeared　to　be　made　of　something　lighter　yet　more　opaque　than　silk。　Their　faces　were　ivory　white　and　shimmering　faintly；　and　their　eyes　were　large　and　like　opals。　They　had　dark　hair；　or　hair　that　seemed　to　shift　as　if　it　were　made　of　shadows。
　They　stood　facing　me；　their　heads　together；　so　that　their　heads　touched。　It　was　as　though　they　were　muning　silently　with　one　another。
　They　overwhelmed　me。　It　seemed　a　terrifying　intimacy　that　I　should　see　them　so　vividly　and　so　close　to　me；　and　know　them　as　the　two　who　had　been　with　me　always；　or　so　I　was　to　believe。　They　were　slightly　larger　than　human　beings；　as　were　the　other　angels　I　had　seen；　and　they　were　not　tempered　by　the　sweet　faces　I　had　seen　on　the　others；　but　had　altogether　smoother　and　broader　countenances　and　larger　though　exquisitely　shaped　mouths。
　〃And　you　don't　believe　in　us　now？〃　one　of　them　asked　in　a　whisper。　〃Will　you　tell　me　your　names？〃　I　asked。
　Both　shook　their　heads　in　a　simple　negation　at　once。　〃Do　you　love　me？〃　I　asked。
　〃Where　is　it　written　that　we　should？〃　answered　the　one　who　had　not　yet　spoken。　His　voice　was　as　toneless　and　soft　as　a　whisper；　but　more　distinct。　It　might　have　been　the　same　voice　as　the　other　angel。
　〃Do　you　love　us？〃　asked　the　other。
　〃Why　do　you　guard　me？〃　I　asked。
　〃Because　we　are　sent　to　do　it；　and　will　be　with　you　until　you　die。〃
　〃Lovelessly？〃　I　asked。　They　shook　their　heads　again　in　negation。
　Gradually　the　light　brightened　in　the　room。　I　turned　sharply　to　look　up　at　the　window。　I　thought　it　was　the　sun。　The　sun　couldn't　hurt　me；　I　thought。
　But　it　wasn't。　It　was　Mastema；　who　had　risen　up　behind　me　as　if　he　were　a　cloud　of　gold；　and　on　either　side　of　him　were　my　arguers；　my　advancers　of　the　cause；　my　champions；　Ramiel　and　Setheus。
　The　room　shimmered　and　seemed　to　vibrate　without　a　sound。　My　angels　appeared　to　glisten；　and　to　grow　brilliantly　white　and　deep　blue　in　their　robes。　All　looked　to　the　helmeted　figure　of　Mastema。
　An　immense　and　musical　rustling　filled　the　air；　a　singing　sound；　as　if　a　great　flock　of　tiny　golden…throated　birds　had　awakened　and　rushed　upwards　from　the　branches　of　their　sun…filled　trees。
　I　must　have　closed　my　eyes。　I　lost　my　balance；　and　the　air　became　cooler；　and　it　seemed　my　vision　was　clouded　with　dust。　I　shook　my　head。　I　looked　around　me。　We　stood　within　the　castle　itself。
　The　place　was　damp　and　very　dark。　Light　crept　in　around　the　seams　of　the　immense　drawbridge；　which　was　of　course　pulled　up　and　locked　into　place。　On　either　side　were　rustic　stone　walls；　hung　here　and　there　with　great　rusted　hooks　and　chains　that　had　not　been　used　in　many　a　year。
　I　turned　and　entered　a　dim　courtyard；　my　breath　suddenly　taken　from　me　by　the　height　of　the　walls　that　surrounded　me；　climbing　to　the　distinct　cube　of　the　bright　blue　sky。
　Surely　this　was　only　one　courtyard；　the　one　at　the　entrance；　for　before　us　there　loomed　another　immense　pair　of　gates；　quite　large　enough　to　admit　the　greatest　haywagons　imaginable　or　some　newfangled　engine　of　war。
　The　ground　was　soiled。　High　above　on　all　sides　were　windows；　rows　upon　rows　of　the　double…arched　windows；　and　all　were　covered　over　with　bars。
　〃I　need　you　now；　Mastema；〃　I　said。　I　made　the　Sign　of　the　Cross　again。　I　took　out　the　rosary　and　kissed　the　crucifix；　looking　down　for　a　moment　at　the　tiny　twisted　body　of　Our　Tortured　Christ。
　The　huge　doors　before　me　broke　open。　There　was　a　loud　creaking　sound；　then　the　crumpling　of　metal　bolts；　and　the　gates　groaned　back　on　their　hinges；　revealing　a　distant　and　sun…filled　inner　court　of　far　greater　size。
　The　walls　through　which　we　walked　were　some　thirty　to　forty　feet　in　depth。　There　were　doors　on　either　side　of　us；　heavily　arched　in　worked　stone　and　showing　the　first　signs　of　care　that　I　had　glimpsed　since　we　entered。
　〃These　creatures　do　not　go　and　e　as　others　do；〃　I　said。　I　hurried　my　pace　so　as　to　reach　the　full　sun　of　the　courtyard。　The　mountain　air　was　too　cool　and　too　damp　in　the　foul　thickness　of　the　passage。
　Here；　as　I　stood　up；　I　saw　windows　such　as　I　remembered；　hung　with　rich　banners　and　strung　with　lanterns　that　would　be　lighted　by　night。　Here　I　saw　tapestries　carelessly　thrown　over　window　ledges　as　if　rain　were　nothing。　And　very　high　up　I　saw　the　jagged　battlements　and　finer　white　marble　copings。
　But　even　this　was　not　the　great　courtyard　that　lay　beyond。　These　walls　too　were　rustic。　The　stones　were　soiled　and　untrodden　in　many　a　year。　Water　was　pooled　here　and　there。　Rank　weeds　sprang　from　crevices；　but；　ah；　there　were　sweet　wildflowers；　and　I　looked　at　them　tenderly　and　reached　out　to　touch　them；　and　marveled　at　them；　existing　here。
　More　gates　awaited　us；　these　two　…　huge；　wooden；　banded　in　iron　and　severely　pointed　at　the　top　in　their　deep　marble　archway　…　gave　way　and　sprang　back　to　let　us　pass　through　yet　another　wall。　Oh；　such　a　garden　greeted　us！
　As　we　made　our　way　through　another　forty　feet　of　darkness；　I　saw　the　great　groves　of　orange　trees　ahead　of　us；　and　heard　the　cry　of　the　birds。　I　wondered　if　they　were　not　caught　down　here；　prisoners；　or　could　they　soar　all　the　way　up　to　the　top　and　escape？
　Yes；　they　could。　It　was　a　great　enough　space。　And　here　was　the　fine　white　marble　facing　I　remembered；　all　the　way　to　the　summit；　so　high　above。
　As　I　made　my　way　into　the　garden；　as　I　walked　on　the　first　marble　path　that　traversed　the　beds　of　violets　and　roses；　I　saw　the　birds　ing　and　going；　circling　broadly　in　this　wide　place；　so　that　they　could　clear　the　towers　that　rose　so　distantly　and　majestically　against　the　sky。
　Everywhere　the　scent　of　flowers　overcame　me。　Lilies　and　irises　were　mingled　in　patches；　and　the　oranges　were　ripe　and　almost　red　as　they　hung　from　the　trees。　The　lemons　were　hard　still　and　touched　with　green。　Shrubbery　and　vines　hugged　the　walls。
　The　angels　gathered　around　me。　I　realized　that　all　along　it　was　I　who　had　led　the　way；　I　who　had　initiated　any　movement；　and　it　was　I　who　held　us　all　still　now；　within　the　garden；　and　that　they　waited　as　I　bowed　my　head。
　〃I　am　listening　for　the　prisoners；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　can't　hear　them。〃
　I　looked　up　at　more　of　the　luxuriously　decorated　balconies　and　windows；　the　twin　arches；　and　here　and　there　a　long　loggia；　but　made　of　their　style　of　filigree；　not　ours。
　I　saw　flags　fluttering；　and　all　were　in　that　dark　blood…red　color；　stained　with　death。　I　looked　down　for　the　first　time　at　my　own　brilliant　crimson　clothes。　〃Like　fresh　blood？〃　I　whispered。
　〃Tend　to　what　you　must　do　first；〃　Mastema　said。　〃Twilight　can　cover　you　when　you　go　to　the　prisoners；　but　you　must　take　your　quarry　now。〃
　〃Where　are　they？　Will　you　tell　me？〃
　〃In　deliberate　sacrilege；　and　in　old…fashioned　rigor；　they　lie　beneath　the　stones　of　the　church。〃
　There　was　a　loud；　searing　noise。　He　had　pulled　out　his　sword。　He　pointed　with　it；　his　head　turned；　his　red　helmet　on　fire　with　the　glint　of　the　sun　reflected　off　the　marble…faced　walls。
　〃The　door　there；　and　the　stairs　beyond　it。　The　church　lies　on　the　third　floor；　up　to　our　left。〃
　I　made　for　the　door　without　further　delay。　I　rushed　up　the　steps；　taking　turn　after　turn；　my　boots　clattering　on　the　stone；　not　even　looking　to　see　if　they　followed　me；　not　wondering　how　they　did　it；　knowing　only　that　they　were　with　me；　feeling　their　presence　as　if　I　could　feel　their　breath　on　me　when　no　breath　came。
　At　last　we　entered　the　corridor；　broad　and　open　on　our　right　to　the　courtyard　below。　There　was　an　endless　strip　of　rich　carpet　before　us；　full　of　Persian　flowers　deeply　embedded　within　a　field　of　midnight　blue。　Unfaded；　untrammeled。　On　and　on　it　went　until　it　turned；　ahead　of　us。　And　at　the　end　of　the　corridor　was　the　perfectly　framed　sky　and　the　jagged　speck　of　green　mountain　beyond。
　〃Why　have　you　stopped？〃　Mastema　asked。
　They　had　materialized　around　me；　in　their　settling　garments　and　their　never…still　wings。
　〃This　is　the　door　to　the　church　here；　you　know　it。〃
　〃Only　looking　at　the　sky；　Mastema；〃　I　said。　〃Only　looking　at　the　blue　sky。〃
　〃And　thinking　of　what？〃　asked　one　of　my　guardians　in　his　toneless；　clear　whisper。　He　clung　to　me　suddenly；　and　I　saw　his　parchment…colored　fingers；　weightless；　settled　on　my　shoulder。　〃Thinking　of　a　meadow　that　never　existed　and　a　young　woman　who　is　dead？〃
　〃Are　you　merciless？〃　I　asked　him。　I　pressed　close　to　him；　so　my　forehead　touched　him；　and　I　marveled　to　feel　it　against　me　and　see　his　opalescent　eyes　so　distinct。
　〃No；　not　merciless。　Only　one　who　reminds；　and　reminds；　and　reminds。〃
　I　turned　to　the　doors　of　the　chapel。　I　pulled　on　both　giant　hooks　until　I　heard　the　clasp　give；　and　then　I　opened　wide　one　side　and　then　the　other；　though　why　I　made　such　a　vast　and　broad　escape　for　myself　I　do　not　know。　Maybe　it　was　a　passage　for　my　mighty　band　of　helpers。
　The　great　empty　nave　lay　before　me；　which　last　night　no　doubt　had　been　crowded　with　the　gaudy　blood…drenched　Court；　and　above　my　head　was　their　choir　loft　from　which　the　most　ethereal　dirge　had　e。　Sun　violently　pierced　the　demonic　windows。
　I　gasped　in　shock　to　see　the　webbed　spirits　emblazoned　so　immensely　in　the　fractured　and　welded　fragments　of　glittering　glass。　How　thick　was　this　glass；　how　heavily　faceted；　and　how　ominous　the　expressions　of　those　webbed…winged　monsters　who　leered　at　us　as　if　they　would　e　alive　in　the　blazing　light　of　day　and　stop　our　progress。
　There　was　nothing　to　be　done　but　to　rip　my　eyes　off　them；　to　look　down　and　away　and　along　the　great　sprawling　marble　floor。　I　saw　the　hook；　I　saw　it　as　it　had　been　in　the　floor　of　my　father's　chapel；　lying　flat　in　a　circle　cut　in　the　stone；　a　hook　of　gold；　polished　and　smoothed　so　it　did　not　rise　above　the　floor　and　would　not　catch　a　toe　or　a　heel。　It　had　no　cover。
　It　merely　marked　decisively　the　position　of　the　one　long　main　entrance　to　the　crypt。　One　narrow　marble　rectangle　cut　into　the　center　of　the　church　floor。
　I　strode　forward；　heels　echoing　throughout　the　whole　empty　church；　and　went　to　pull　the　hook。
　What　stopped　me？　I　saw　the　altar。　At　that　very　instant　the　sun　had　struck　the　figure　of　Lucifer；　the　giant　red　angel　above　his　masses　and　masses　of　red　flowers；　which　were　fresh　as　they　had　been　the　night