lh.narcissusinchains-第100章

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　〃And　I　can？〃
　〃You　and　your　people；　yes。〃
　〃My　leopards　are　not　going　inside。〃
　Nathaniel　said；　〃Anita　。。。　〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃No；　I　won't　endanger　the　rest　of　you　to　save　one　of　you。〃
　〃What　kind　of　pard　would　we　be　if　we　allowed　our　Nimir…Ra　to　go　into　danger　alone？〃
　〃A　pard　that　obeyed　orders；〃　I　said。
　He　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　but　there　was　an　unusually　stubborn　set　to　his　face　that　said　maybe；　just　maybe；　he'd　been　picking　up　more　than　just　weapons　skill　from　hanging　around　with　me。　Was　stubbornness　catching？
　〃Not　your　leopards；　but　the　wolves；　and　the　rats。〃
　〃The　rats　aren't　mine。〃　And　I'm　not　the　wolves'　lupa　anymore。
　〃Rafael　is　already　on　his　way　here　with　some　of　our　people；〃　Bobby　Lee　said。
　I　frowned　at　him。　〃Well；　nice　you　mentioned　that。〃
　He　shrugged。　If　he　was　getting　tired　of　pressing　the　gun　into　Zeke's　back；　it　didn't　show。　〃Rafael　is　my　alpha；　not　you；　ma'am。〃
　〃I　understand　that；　but　if　we're　going　to　get　along；　you　still　need　to　keep　me　informed。　I've　had　enough　surprises　for　one　day。〃
　〃Amen　to　that；〃　he　said。
　〃Where　are　Micah　and　Cherry　being　held？〃　I　asked。
　Zeke　shook　his　great　wolfish　head。　〃No；　not　until　you　agree　to　help　us。〃
　〃Chimera　wanted　to　blackmail　me　into　being　his　sweetie；　you　want　to　blackmail　me　into　helping　you　kill　him。　I　don't　see　much　difference。〃
　〃The　only　way　to　stop　Chimera　and　those　still　loyal　to　him　is　their　death。　I　propose　that　we　pool　our　resources　and　acplish　that。〃
　〃You　talk　awful　pretty　for　a　goon。〃
　〃I　am　his　goon　because　when　he　conquered　my　small　pack　of　wolves；　he　forced　me　into　this　form　and　kept　me　in　it。　When　he　allowed　me　to　try　and　change　back；　this　was　the　best　I　could　do。〃
　I　looked　into　those　human　eyes。　〃Only　your　eyes；〃　I　said。
　〃Only　my　eyes。〃
　The　eyes　were　usually　one　of　the　first　things　to　go　animal　if　you　stayed　in　beast　form　too　long　at　a　time。　His　eyes　being　the　only　thing　human　was　odd。　But　I　didn't　ask　him　to　explain；　because　we　were　eating　up　our　time　and　I　wanted　Micah　and　Cherry　back。
　〃In　this　form；〃　Zeke　said；　〃I　can　be　nothing　else　but　a　goon；　an　enforcer。　I　cannot　be　human。〃
　I　didn't　try　to　argue　that　he　was　human。　I　let　it　go。　〃Let's　cut　to　the　chase。　Bobby　Lee；　will　Rafael　help　on　this？〃
　〃I　think　so。　He's　ing　with　enough　soldiers　to　make　a　good　show。〃
　I　looked　at　Bacchus。　〃Will　the　werehyenas　join　forces　with　their；　what；　oppressors？　Will　you　guys　help　Zeke　and　his　people？〃
　〃Zeke　always　tried　to　save　us　pain。　He　always　spoke　for　moderation。〃　Bacchus　nodded。　〃I　think　the　others　will　agree　to　work　with　him；　but　whether　they'll　agree　to　let　everyone　live　afterwards；　that　I　can't　promise。〃
　〃If　we　help　you　destroy　him；〃　Zeke　said；　〃then　you　turn　around　and　slaughter　us；　we　have　gained　nothing。〃
　In　looking　between　Bacchus　and　Zeke　I'd　glanced　back　over　the　photos。　I'd　spent　the　last　few　minutes　not　thinking　about　them。　I'd　managed　to　concentrate　on　other　things；　but　it　was　as　if　that　one　glance　had　torn　through　all　the　barriers　that　usually　kept　me　from　doing　stupid　shit。　I　stood　up；　abruptly　enough　that　everyone　looked　at　me。
　〃Would　you　kill　Zeke？〃　I　asked。
　〃No；　but　Marco；　he　has　to　die；〃　Bacchus　said。
　〃Why？〃　I　asked。
　〃He　and　the　snake　men　have　to　die；〃　Bacchus　said。
　〃Agreed；〃　Zeke　said。　Then　he　looked　up　at　me。　〃And　I　think　I　know　a　way　to　have　the　wolves　involved。〃
　〃I'm　listening。〃
　〃Chimera　is　wolf；　hyena；　leopard；　lion；　bear；　and　snake。〃
　〃He's　behind　the　disappearances　of　the　other　alphas；〃　I　said。
　Zeke　nodded。
　〃Are　they　alive？〃
　〃The　lion　and　the　dog　are。　Chimera　hasn't　been　able　to　force　them　to　change　form　yet。　He　never　kills　anyone　unless　he　can　break　them　first。〃
　〃Is　Narcissus　alive？〃　This　from　Bacchus。
　〃Yes；〃　Zeke　said。　〃Chimera　has　not　been　able　to　break　him　either。〃
　〃How　will　any　of　this　interest　the　wolves？〃　I　asked。　I'd　gone　to　stand　on　the　other　side　of　the　kitchen　doorway；　opposite　Bacchus。　I　couldn't　see　the　pictures　from　there。
　〃Chimera's　never　been　able　to　find　a　dominant　animal　group　that　was　weak　enough　to　be　taken　over　by　outsiders　before；　until　he　heard　of　your　wolf　pack。〃
　I　stood　up　straighter；　pushing　away　from　the　wall。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Jacob；　Paris；　and　a　few　others　are　what's　left　of　my　pack。　Chimera　couldn't　send　me　because　my　condition　would　raise　questions。〃
　〃Are　you　saying　that　as　soon　as　Jacob　bees　Ulfric；　he　turns　the　pack　over　to　Chimera？〃
　〃That　was　the　plan；〃　Zeke　said。
　〃And　now？〃　I　asked。
　〃Now　either　Jacob　and　the　others　agree　to　leave　your　pack　where　it　is；　or　they　die。〃
　〃You'd　kill　what's　left　of　your　own　pack；　just　like　that？〃　I　said。
　〃They　stopped　being　my　pack　a　long　time　ago。〃
　〃So　let　me　get　this　straight；〃　Bobby　Lee　said；　〃you　want　the　rats；　the　wolves；　and　the　leopards　to　join　forces　with　the　hyenas　and　whatever　people　of　yours　will　join　you　and　destroy　the　rest。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Zeke　said。
　〃And　if　we　don't？〃　Bobby　Lee　asked。
　〃You　talk　as　if　you　have　many　choices　here；〃　Zeke　said。　〃You　do　not。　Chimera　will　do　worse　than　kill　your　leopards。　What　he　has　allowed　done　to　the　hyenas　is　beyond　any　civilized　tolerance。　His　sanity　is　slipping　away；　and　there　are　those　among　his　people　that　will　do　terrible　things　without　a　master　to　tell　them　no。〃
　〃It　takes　time　to　arrange　an　offensive　like　this；〃　Bobby　Lee　said。
　Zeke　said；　〃I　do　not　see　a　clock　but　time　is　running　out。　Anita　must　be　in　Chimera's　presence　before　two　hours　is　over；　or　it　will　go　badly　for　Micah　and　the　leopard。〃
　〃You　keep　saying　Micah　and　the　leopard；〃　I　said；　〃like　you　know　Micah。〃　I　had　an　awful　thought；　and　I'd　been　slow　not　to　think　of　it　before。　〃Jacob　was　supposed　to　get　the　wolves　for　Chimera；　and　Micah　was　supposed　to　get　the　leopards。〃　I　said　it　in　an　empty　voice。　My　body　felt　empty；　as　if　I　were　falling　away　inside　myself；　drowning　in　that　great　white　static　that　allowed　me　to　kill　and　not　to　think。
　〃We　thought　their　alpha　was　dead　and　it　would　be　easy　enough。〃　He　looked　at　me。　〃We　didn't　know　about　you；　or　rather　didn't　understand　what　you　were。〃
　Gina　spoke。　〃Once　Micah　met　you；　he　knew　it　wouldn't　work。　He　tried　to　get　Chimera　to　leave　you　and　yours　alone；　but　when　you　went　up　against　Jacob；　you　became　too　big　a　threat。　Chimera　ordered　you　killed。　Micah　didn't　find　out　about　the　order　until　after　everyone　had　left　to　e　after　you。　He　saved　you。〃
　I　just　looked　at　her。　My　mind　was　still　trying　to　process　the　thought　that　Micah　had　lied　to　me　the　entire　time　I'd　known　him。
　〃Micah　told　Chimera　that　you　were　going　to　be　a　panwere　like　him；　and　he　might　never　find　another　one　like　himself。　That's　why　you　can　control　the　leopards　and　the　wolves　both。〃
　I　blinked　at　her。　〃I　guess　that's　one　theory。〃　My　voice　sounded　distant　even　to　me。
　〃Don't　you　understand；　Anita？　I　don't　think　Micah　believed　it；　but　it　was　all　he　could　think　of　to　keep　you　alive　and　him　alive；　and　not　to　get　the　rest　of　us　tortured。〃　She　stood　up；　and　pain　tore　across　her　face。　Zeke　steadied　her；　then　she　stood　straight　and　she　let　the　shawl　fall　away。
　Burns　traced　her　pale　shoulders。　The　rest　of　her　chest　was　bare　and　lovely　and　unharmed；　but　as　she　turned　to　show　her　back；　Gil　gasped。　Her　back　was　patterned　with　burns；　no；　not　burns；　brands。　Someone　had　branded　her　over　and　over　again。　The　burns　were　fresh；　some　of　them　bloody　raw；　some　with　crisp　blackened　skin；　as　if　the　pressure　hadn't　been　even　every　time。　Some　of　the　marks　were　smeared　around　the　edges；　as　if　she'd　moved；　struggled。
　She　turned　back　to　face　me；　tears　glittering　in　her　eyes。　〃Every　time　Chimera　sent　Micah　out　he　had　Violet　or　me　with　him。　If　Micah　didn't　do　what　he　was　told　to　do；　then　he'd　hurt　us。〃　She　started　walking　towards　me；　hands　holding　her　arms；　as　if　to　hold　herself　steady；　but　every　step　hurt；　and　it　showed　in　the　flinching　of　her　eyes。　〃What　would　you　do　to　keep　this　from　happening　to　Nathaniel？〃
　I　met　her　eyes；　but　it　took　effort。　〃I'd　do　a　lot；　but　I　wouldn't　betray　anyone。〃
　The　tears　started　slowly　down　her　face；　as　if　she　were　fighting　not　to　cry。
　〃He　tortured　Micah　because　Micah　refused　to　help　lure　you　into　the　ambush。　Chimera　is　going　to　kill　him；　because　he　says　that　Micah　is　no　longer　his　cat；　but　yours；　that　the　wiles　of　a　woman　have　won　his　loyalty。〃　She　sobbed；　and　the　movement　must　have　hurt；　because　she　bent　forward；　body　spasming。　I　caught　her　by　the　arms　to　keep　her　from　falling。
　〃Oh；　God；〃　she　whispered；　〃it　hurts。〃
　My　throat　was　tight。　I　held　her　elbows　until　she　could　stand　again。
　〃I'm　Chimera's　message　to　you；　Anita。　He　says　he'll　do　this　to　your　leopard　if　you　don't　e　back　with　us。〃
　〃You're　not　going　back　there；〃　I　said。
　〃He　still　has　Cherry　and　Micah。　If　I　don't　go　back　he'll　do　this　to　her。　I　don't　think　she'd　survive　it。〃　I　understood　what　Gina　meant。　Not　Cherry's　body；　but　her　mind。
　She　began　to　collapse　towards　the　floor；　slowly；　me　supporting　her　as　gently　as　I　could。　〃Micah　knew　what　would　happen　to　him　when　he　refused　to　help　trap　you；　but　he　still　did　it。〃　She　was　on　her　knees　now；　her　hands　gripping　my　arms　tight；　tight　enough　to　hurt。　〃I　would　have　lied　and　agreed　to　do　anything　to　keep　this　from　happening　to　me。〃　She　sobbed　again；　and　I　held　her　arms　to　keep　her　from　falling　backwards　onto　her　back　on　the　floor。　I　held　her　while　she　shook　in　pain；　and　when　she　quieted；　she　said；　in　a　voice　more　tears　than　noise；　〃I　would　have　betrayed　anyone　to　stop　him　from　hurting　me。　But　he　didn't　want　anything　from　me。　Nothing　I　could　say；　or　do；　would　stop　it。　Chimera　promised　Micah　that　only　he　would　suffer　for　refusing；　then　once　he　was　chained　up　and　couldn't　get　away　they　brought　me　in　and　made　him　watch。〃　She　looked　at　me；　eyes　wide；　full　of　awful　things。　〃Chimera　would　have　made　Cherry　or　me　take　animal　form。　He　said　he'd　never　had　a　female　beast　before。〃
　〃That's　what　he　calls　those　of　us　trapped　between　forms；〃　Zeke　said。
　Gina's　fingers　dug　into　my　arm；　just　a　little。　〃Micah　took　our　place。　He's　alpha　enough　to　have　kept　human　form。　He　risked　his　human　form　for　us。　Merle　was　our　Nimir…Raj　but　he　wouldn't　risk　his　humanity　for　us。　Micah　took　his　place；　our　place。　He's　our　Nimir…Raj　because　he　loves　us；　all　of　us。　Micah　offered　to　betray　you　to　stop　them　from　hurting　me；　but　Chimera　said　he　could　smell　that　Micah　was　lying　and　that　he　would　just　get　away　and　warn　you。　So　he　sent　me　with　Zeke；　because　he　trusts　Zeke。〃
　I　looked　at　Zeke　over　her　slowly　collapsing　form；　trying　to　cradle　her　as　she　slid　down；　and　not　hurt　her；　but　everything　seemed　to　hurt。　She　was　making　small　mewling　sounds　by　the　time　I　helped　her　lower　herself　to　the　floor。　There　was　something　in　Zeke's　human　eyes　that　didn't　need　facial　expressions　to　interpret。
　〃Chimera　must　be　stopped；〃　Zeke　said；　softly。　〃He　must　be　stopped。〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　still　holding　one　of　Gina's　hands；　〃yes；　he　must　be　stopped。〃
　〃Stopped；　hell；〃　Bobby　Lee　said；　〃we　need　to　kill　his　ass。〃
　I　nodded。　〃That；　too。〃
　
　64
　
　WE　MADE　IT　back　to　the　club　with　a　little　time　to　spare。　The　wererats　had　arrived　in　force　at　my　house；　and　I'd　left　Rafael　in　charge　of　the　rescue；　because　that's　what　it　would　be。　I　was　letting　Zeke　take　me　into　the　bad　guy's　lair　unarmed。　Zeke　would　be　carrying　my　weapons；　and　theo