anner.vittoriothevampire-第7章

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　did　hear　it　and　I　did　smell　it。
　〃Both　of　you　make　the　Sign　of　the　Cross；　pray　now；〃　I　said；　〃and　trust　in　me。　We　will　get　out　of　here。〃
　But　the　clamor　of　the　battle　went　on；　the　cries　did　not　die　out；　and　then　suddenly；　so　suddenly　it　was　as　wondrous　and　frightful　as　the　noise　itself；　there　fell　a　silence。
　A　silence　fell　over　all；　and　it　was　too　plete　to　spell　victory。　Bartola　and　Matteo　clung　to　me；　on　either　side。
　Above；　there　was　a　clatter。　The　chapel　doors　were　being　thrown　back；　and　then　quite　suddenly　the　trapdoor　was　yanked　up　and　open；　and　in　the　glimmer　of　firelight　beyond　I　saw　a　dark　slender　long…haired　figure。　In　the　gust　my　candle　went　out。
　Except　for　the　infernal　flicker　above　and　beyond；　we　were　mitted　unmercifully　to　total　darkness。
　Once　again　distinctly；　I　saw　the　outline　of　this　figure；　a　tall；　stately　female　with　great　long　locks　and　a　waist　small　enough　for　both　my　hands　as　she　appeared　to　fly　down　the　stairs　soundlessly　towards　me。
　How　in　the　name　of　Heaven　could　this　be；　this　woman？
　Before　I　could　think　to　pull　my　sword　on　a　female　assailant　or　make　sense　of　anything　at　all；　I　felt　her　tender　breasts　brushed　against　my　chest；　and　the　cool　of　her　skin　as　she　seemed　to　be　throwing　her　arms　about　me。
　There　was　a　moment　of　inexplicable　and　strangely　sensuous　confusion　when　the　perfume　of　her　tresses　and　her　gown　rose　in　my　nostrils；　and　I　fancied　I　saw　the　glistening　whites　of　her　eyes　as　she　looked　at　me。　I　heard　Bartola　scream；　and　then　Matteo　also。　I　was　knocked　to　the　floor。　The　fire　blazed　bright　above。
　The　figure　had　them　both；　both　struggling　screaming　children　in　one　seemingly　fragile　arm；　and　stopping；　apparently　to　look　at　me；　a　raised　sword　in　her　other　hand；　she　raced　up　the　stairway　into　the　firelight。
　I　pulled　my　sword　with　both　hands；　rushed　after　her；　up　and　out　into　the　chapel；　and　saw　that　she　had　somehow　by　the　most　evil　power　all　but　reached　the　door；　an　impossible　feat；　her　charges　wailing　and　crying　out　for　me；　〃Vittorio；　Vittorio！〃
　All　the　upper　windows　of　the　chapels　were　full　of　fire；　and　so　was　the　rose　window　above　the　crucifix。
　I　could　not　believe　what　I　beheld；　this　young　woman；　who　was　stealing　from　me　my　sister　and　brother。
　〃Stop　in　the　name　of　God！〃　I　shouted　at　her。　〃Coward；　thief　in　the　night。〃
　I　ran　after　her；　but　to　my　utter　astonishment　she　did　stop；　still；　and　turned　to　look　at　me　again；　and　this　time　I　saw　her　full　in　all　her　refined　beauty。　Her　face　was　a　perfect　oval　with　great　benign　gray　eyes；　her　skin　like　the　finest　Chinese　white　enamel。　She　had　red　lips；　too　perfect　even　for　a　painter　to　make　by　choice；　and　her　long　ashen　blond　hair　was　gray　like　her　eyes　in　the　light　of　the　fire；　sweeping　down　her　back　in　a　pampered　swaying　mass。　Her　gown；　though　stained　dark　with　what　must　have　been　blood；　was　the　same　wine…red　color　I　had　seen　in　the　apparel　of　the　evil　visitor　of　the　night　before。
　With　the　most　curious　and　then　poignant　face；　she　merely　stared　at　me。　Her　right　hand　held　her　sword　upraised；　but　she　didn't　move；　and　then　she　released　from　the　powerful　grip　of　her　left　arm　my　struggling　brother　and　sister。　Both　tumbled　sobbing　to　the　floor。
　〃Demon。　Strega！〃　I　roared。　I　leapt　over　them　and　advanced　on　her；　swinging　the　sword。
　But　she　dodged　so　swiftly　that　I　didn't　even　see　it。　I　couldn't　believe　that　she　was　so　far　from　me；　standing　now　with　the　sword　down；　staring　at　me　still　and　at　the　sobbing　children。
　Suddenly　her　head　turned。　There　was　a　whistling　cry；　and　then　another　and　another。　Through　the　door　of　the　chapel；　seeming　to　leap　from　the　fires　of　Hell　itself；　there　came　another　red…clad　figure；　hooded　in　velvet　and　wearing　gold…trimmed　boots；　and　as　I　swung　my　sword　at　him；　he　threw　me　aside　and；　in　one　instant；　cut　off　the　head　of　Bartola　and　then　severed　the　head　of　the　screaming　Matteo。
　I　went　mad。　I　howled。　He　turned　on　me。　But　from　the　female　there　came　a　sudden　firm　negation。
　〃Leave　him　alone；〃　she　cried　in　a　voice　that　was　both　sweet　and　clear；　and　then　off　he　went；　this　murderer；　this　hooded　fiend　in　his　gold…trimmed　boots；　calling　back　to　her。
　〃e　on；　now；　have　you　lost　your　wits？　Look　at　the　sky。　e；　Ursula。〃　She　didn't　move。　She　stared　at　me　as　before。
　I　sobbed　and　cursed　and；　grabbing　my　sword；　ran　at　her　again；　and　this　time　saw　my　blade　descend　to　cut　off　her　right　arm；　right　below　the　elbow。　The　white　limb；　small　and　seemingly　fragile　like　all　of　her　parts；　fell　to　the　paved　floor　with　her　heavy　sword。　Blood　spurted　from　her。
　She　did　no　more　than　look　at　it。　And　then　at　me　with　the　same　poignant；　disconsolate　and　near　heartbroken　face。
　I　lifted　my　sword　again。　〃Strega！〃　I　cried；　clenching　my　teeth；　trying　to　see　through　my　tears。　〃Strega！〃
　But　in　another　feat　of　evil；　she　had　moved　back；　far　away　from　me；　as　if　pulled　by　an　invisible　force；　and　in　her　left　hand　she　now　held　her　right；　which　still　clutched　her　sword　as　if　it　were　not　severed。　She　replaced　the　limb　I　had　cut　off。　I　watched　her。　I　watched　her　put　the　limb　in　place　and　turn　it　and　adjust　it　until　it　was　as　it　should　be；　and　then　before　my　astonished　eyes；　I　saw　the　wound　I　had　made　utterly　seal　up　in　her　white　skin。
　Then　the　loose　bell　sleeve　of　her　rich　velvet　gown　fell　down　again　around　her　wrist。
　In　a　twinkling　she　was　outside　the　chapel；　only　a　silhouette　now　against　the　distant　fires　burning　in　the　tower　windows。　I　heard　her　whisper：　〃Vittorio。〃　Then　she　vanished。　I　knew　it　was　vain　to　go　after　her！　Yet　still　I　ran　out　and　swung　my　sword　around　in　a　great　circle；　crying　out　in　rage　and　bitterness　and　mad　menace　at　all　the　world；　my　eyes　now　blinded　with　tears；　and　my　throat　full　to　choking。
　Everything　was　still。　Everyone　was　dead。　Dead。　I　knew　it。　The　courtyard　was　strewn　with　bodies。
　I　ran　back　into　the　chapel。　I　grabbed　up　the　head　of　Bartola　and　the　head　of　Matteo　into　my　arms。　I　sat　down　and　held　them　in　my　lap；　and　I　sobbed。
　They　seemed　still　alive；　these　severed　heads；　their　eyes　flashing；　and　their　lips　even　moving　with　hopeless　attempts　to　speak。　Oh；　God！　It　was　beyond　all　human　endurance。　I　sobbed。　I　cursed。
　I　laid　them　side　by　side；　these　two　heads　in　my　lap；　and　I　stroked　their　hair　and　stroked　their　cheeks　and　whispered　forting　words　to　them；　that　God　was　close；　God　was　with　us；　God　would　take　care　of　us　forever；　that　we　were　in　Heaven。　Oh；　please；　I　beg　you；　God；　I　prayed　in　my　soul；　don't　let　them　have　the　feeling　and　the　consciousness　which　they　still　seem　to　possess。　Oh；　no；　not　such。　I　can't　bear　it。　I　cannot。　No。　Please。
　At　dawn；　finally；　when　the　sun　poured　arrogantly　through　the　door　of　the　chapel；　when　the　fires　had　died　away；　when　the　birds　sang　as　if　nothing　had　happened；　the　innocent　little　heads　of　Bartola　and　Matteo　were　lifeless　and　still；　and　very　obviously　dead；　and　their　immortal　souls　were　gone　from　them；　if　they　had　not　flown　at　the　moment　when　the　sword　had　severed　these　heads　from　the　bodies。
　I　found　my　mother　murdered　in　the　courtyard。　My　father；　covered　with　wounds　on　his　hands　and　arms；　as　if　he　had　grabbed　at　the　very　swords　that　struck　him；　lay　dead　on　the　stairs　of　the　tower。
　The　work　all　around　had　been　swift。　Throats　cut；　and　only　here　and　there　the　evidence；　as　with　my　father；　of　a　great　struggle。
　Nothing　was　stolen。　My　aunts；　two　dead　in　the　far　corner　of　the　chapel；　and　two　others　in　the　yard；　wore　still　all　their　rings　and　necklets　and　circlets　about　their　hair。　Not　a　jeweled　button　had　been　ripped　away。
　It　was　the　same　throughout　the　entire　pound。
　The　horses　were　gone；　the　cattle　had　roamed　into　the　woods；　the　fowl　flown。　I　opened　the　little　house　full　of　my　hunting　falcons；　took　off　their　hoods　and　let　them　all　go　into　the　trees。　There　was　no　one　to　help　me　bury　the　dead。
　By　noon；　I　had　dragged　my　family；　one　by　one；　to　the　crypt　and　tumbled　them　unceremoniously　down　the　steps；　and　then　laid　them　all　out；　side　by　side　in　the　room；　as　best　I　could。
　It　had　been　a　backbreaking　task。　I　was　near　to　fainting　as　I　posed　the　limbs　of　each　person；　and　last　of　all　my　father。
　I　knew　that　I　could　not　do　it　for　everyone　else　here　in　our　pound。　It　was　simply　impossible。　Besides；　whatever　had　e　might　well　e　again；　as　I　had　been　left　alive；　and　there　was　a　hooded　demon　man　who　had　witnessed　it；　a　vicious　hooded　assassin　who　had　slaughtered　two　children　pitilessly。
　And　whatever　was　the　nature　of　this　angel　of　death；　this　exquisite　Ursula；　with　her　barely　tinted　white　cheeks　and　her　long　neck　and　sloping　shoulders；　I　didn't　know。　She　herself　might　e　back　to　avenge　the　insult　I　had　done　her。　I　had　to　leave　the　mountain。
　That　these　creatures　were　not　anywhere　around　now　I　felt　instinctively；　both　in　my　heart　and　from　the　wholesomeness　of　the　warm　and　loving　sun；　but　also　because　I　had　witnessed　their　flight；　heard　their　whistles　to　one　another　and　heard　the　ominous　words　of　the　demon　man　to　the　woman；　Ursula；　that　she　must　hurry。　No；　these　were　things　of　the　night。
　So　I　had　time　to　climb　the　highest　tower　and　look　at　the　country　round。
　I　did。　I　confirmed　that　there　was　no　one　who　could　have　seen　the　smoke　of　our　few　burning　wooden　floors　and　torched　furniture。　The　nearest　castle　was　a　ruin；　as　I　have　said。　The　lower　hamlets　were　long　abandoned。
　The　nearest　village　of　any　size　was　a　full　day's　walk；　and　I　had　to　be　off　if　I　meant　to　get　to　any　kind　of　hiding　place　by　nightfall。
　A　thousand　thoughts　tormented　me。　I　knew　too　many　things。　I　was　a　boy；　I　could　not　even　pass　for　a　man！　I　had　wealth　in　the　Florentine　banks　but　it　was　a　week's　ride　from　where　I　was！　These　were　demons。　Yet　they　had　e　into　a　church。　Fra　Diamonte　had　been　struck　dead。　Only　one　thought　finally　was　possible　for　me。　Vendetta。　I　was　going　to　get　them。　I　was　going　to　find　them　and　get　them。　And　if　they　couldn't　e　out　by　the　light　of　day；　then　it　would　be　by　that　means　that　I　would　get　them！　I　would　do　it。　For　Bartola；　for　Matteo；　for　my　father　and　mother；　for　the　humblest　child　who　had　been　taken　from　my　mountain。
　And　they　had　taken　the　children。　Yes；　that　they　had　done。　I　confirmed　it　before　I　left；　for　it　was　slow　to　dawn　on　me　with　all　my　concerns；　but　they　had。　There　was　not　a　corpse　of　a　child　on　the　place；　only　those　boys　of　my　age　had　been　killed；　but　anything　younger　had　been　stolen　away。
　For　what！　For　what　horrors！　I　was　beside　myself。
　I　might　have　stood　in　the　tower　window；　with　clenched　fist；　consumed　with　anger　and　the　vow　for　vendetta；　if　a　wele　sight　hadn't　distracted　me。　Down　in　the　closest　valley；　I　saw　three　of　my　horses　wandering　about；　aimlessly；　as　though　wanting　to　be　called　home。
　At　least　I　should　have　one　of　my　finest　to　ride；　but　I　had　to　get　moving。　With　a　horse　I　might　just　reach　a　town　by　nightfall。　I　didn't　know　the　land　to　the　north。　It　was　mountain　country；　but　I　had　heard　of　a　fair…sized　town　not　too　far　away。　I　had　to　get　there；　for　refuge；　to　think　and　to　consult　with　a　priest　who　had　a　brain　in　his　head　and　knew　demons。
　My　last　task　was　ignominious　and　revolting　to　me；　but　I　did　it。　I　gathered　up　all　the　wealth　I　could　carry。　This　meant　that　I　retired　first　to　my　own　room；　as　if　this　were　an　ordinary　day；　dressed　myself　in　my　best　dark　hunter's　green　silk　and　velvet；　put　on　my　high　boots　and　took　up　my　gloves；　and　t