lh.narcissusinchains-第103章

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　〃You　don't　feel　the　need　to　talk；　do　you？〃　he　asked；　voice　calmer　than　it　had　been；　more　〃normal。〃
　〃Not　unless　I　have　something　to　say。〃
　〃That's　unusual　in　a　woman。　Most　of　them　can't　stand　the　thought　of　silence。　They　talk　and　talk　and　talk。〃　He　was　sounding　calmer。　In　fact；　he　sounded　like　we　should　have　been　sitting　across　a　table　in　some　nice　restaurant　on　a　blind　date。　Since　we　were　in　a　pitch…black　torture　room　with　blood　on　the　floor；　the　matter…of…fact　voice　was　more　frightening　than　the　ranting　had　been。　He　was　supposed　to　rant　and　rave；　but　calm　small　talk；　that　was　really　crazy。
　His　voice　got　calmer；　but　it　never　sounded　exactly　like　Orlando　King's。　It　was　as　if　there　was　another　voice　ing　out　of　him；　another　personality；　maybe。　I　didn't　know；　and　I　didn't　care。　If　it　kept　him　from　cutting　people　up；　then　yea。
　〃Would　you　like　to　see　your　leopard　now？〃　the　calm　voice　asked。
　〃Yes。〃
　The　lights　exploded　across　my　vision；　and　I　was　as　blind　with　the　brilliance　as　I　had　been　with　the　dark。　I　put　a　hand　over　my　eyes　to　shield　them；　then　slowly　lowered　it　as　my　spotty　vision　cleared。
　I　was　staring　up　at　a　pair　of　feet；　legs。　My　gaze　went　up　the　line　of　the　man's　body　to　find　fresh　claw　marks　on　his　buttocks　and　thighs。　Another　drop　of　blood　trailed　from　his　bare　foot　to　land　on　my　hand。　My　gaze　went　slowly　to　the　next　pair　of　legs；　and　the　next；　and　the　next　。。。　Dozens　of　men　hung　like　obscene　ornaments。　For　the　first　time　I　let　myself　wonder；　was　Micah　hanging　somewhere　in　the　forest　of　bodies？
　〃Do　you　want　to　stand　up　or　are　you　enjoying　the　view　from　there？〃　The　calm　voice　spoke　from　only　about　two　feet　away　from　me。　It　made　me　jump　badly。　I　rolled　my　head　back　to　see　Chimera　standing　two　hanging　men　away　from　me。
　〃I'll　stand；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Allow　me　to　help　you。〃　He　pushed　one　of　the　hanging　men　to　the　side　like　you'd　move　a　drape；　like　the　pale　blue　eyes　weren't　open；　staring；　like　the　man　didn't　shudder　as　Chimera　touched　him。
　I　was　on　my　feet；　carefully　avoiding　the　body　nearest　me；　before　Chimera　could　push　aside　another　one　and　help　me　stand。　I　really　didn't　want　him　to　touch　me。
　Chimera's　eyes　had　bled　back　to　human　gray。　His　face　was　blank；　ordinary。　That　nearly　diabolical　smile　was　gone；　but　I　wasn't　looking　at　Orlando　King　either。　It　was　somebody　else。　The　question　was；　was　the　new　personality　going　to　be　more　helpful　or　more　dangerous？
　He　pushed　back　the　bodies　like　holding　open　a　door　so　I　could　walk　out。　I　let　him　do　it；　but　I　kept　my　attention　on　him；　as　if　I　expected　him　to　try　and　grab　me。　I　guess　I　did。　When　I　stepped　out　into　a　clear　space　a　breath　went　out　of　me　that　I　hadn't　even　known　I　was　holding。
　Chimera　stepped　beside　me；　and　I　moved　just　a　little　away　from　him。　Movement　caught　my　attention　but　it　was　only　the　hanging　men　swinging　slowly　from　where　Chimera　had　moved　them。　All　of　them　bore　marks　of　some　kind；　claws；　blades；　burns。　One　of　them　was　missing　his　legs　below　the　knees。　I　turned　back　to　the　man　in　front　of　me；　and　I　knew　I　looked　pale。　I　couldn't　help　that。　I　hadn't　screamed。　I　hadn't　panicked；　much。　I　couldn't　control　the　involuntary　stuff。　I　was　having　enough　trouble　with　the　voluntary。
　〃Where　are　my　leopards？〃　I　asked；　and　my　voice　sounded　almost　normal。　I　got　a　zillion　brownie　points　for　that。
　〃Your　leopard　is　here；〃　he　said　and　moved　to　a　heavy　white　curtain　that　took　up　almost　all　of　the　near　wall。　He　pulled　on　a　cord　and　the　curtain　parted。　Behind　it　was　an　alcove；　and　Cherry　was　chained　by　her　wrists　and　ankles　to　the　stone　wall。　A　leather　ball　gag　filled　her　mouth。　Her　pale　eyes　were　wide。　Tears　stained　the　dried　blood　on　her　face。　Her　face　looked　untouched；　but　the　blood　had　e　from　somewhere。
　〃She's　healed　everything　we　did　to　her；〃　Chimera　said。　Abuta　the　snake　appeared　at　Chimera's　side；　as　if　he'd　been　summoned。　The　bigger　man　stroked　the　snake　man's　head；　like　you'd　pet　a　dog　that　you　liked　a　lot。　〃Abuta　has　shown　quite　a　talent　for　this　sort　of　thing。〃
　I　swallowed　hard　and　tried　not　to　get　angry。　Anger　wouldn't　help　anyone。　Help　was　ing。　I　just　had　to　stall　until　it　got　here。　I　glanced　around　the　room。　There　were　men　chained　to　the　wall　all　the　way　around。　I　didn't　recognize　any　of　them。　There　was　a　certain　uniformity　to　them　　youngish；　or　at　least　not　old；　well　built；　some　slender；　some　muscular；　all　races；　all　physical　types；　all　attractive。　I　wondered　how　long　it　had　taken　Narcissus　to　find　this　many　good…looking　men？
　Micah　wasn't　along　the　wall。　The　room　in　the　Polaroid　had　looked　more　like　the　alcove　that　Cherry　was　in。　I　glanced　at　the　still　unopened　part　of　the　curtain。　Was　he　behind　there？
　I　had　moved　closer　to　Cherry　without　realizing　it；　because　she　made　a　small　movement　in　her　chains；　and　I　startled。　I　turned　back　to　find　her　looking　at　Chimera；　not　me。　He　hadn't　moved　as　far　as　I　could　see；　but　something　he'd　done　had　frightened　her；　and　I　finally　realized　what。　His　eyes　has　gone　animal　again；　and　that　eerie　smile　was　back。　It　was　Chimera　again；　and　call　it　a　hunch；　but　I　was　betting　he　did　most　of　the　pain　work　for　the　other　two　personalities。
　〃Unchain　her；〃　I　said；　like　I　was　positive　he'd　do　what　I　asked。　I　so　wasn't　sure。
　He　reached　out　a　hand　towards　her　face；　and　I　grabbed　his　wrist。　〃Unchain　her。〃
　He　smiled　that　unpleasant　smile　at　me。　〃I'd　hate　to　lose　one　of　the　only　women　we've　got　up　here。　Narcissus　may　go　both　ways；　but　he　keeps　the　women　out　of　his　pack。　Real　spotted　hyenas　are　matriarchal。　He's　afraid　if　he　brings　women　in　that　instinct　will　take　over　and　he'll　lose　his　pack；　because　he's　not　woman　enough　to　keep　it。〃
　〃I　always　enjoy　learning　new　zoological　facts；〃　I　said；　〃but　let's　unchain　Cherry　and　get　her　out　of　here。〃
　〃But　what　of　your　lover？　What　of　Micah？〃
　I　met　those　mismatched　animal　eyes　and　fought　to　keep　the　fear　out　of　my　face。　〃I　figured　you　were　saving　him　for　last；　a　sort　of　finale。〃　My　voice　had　gone　from　calm　to　jaded。　From　the　tone；　you'd　have　thought　that　it　didn't　matter　to　me　one　way　or　another；　but　I　couldn't　stop　my　pulse　from　jumping　in　my　neck。
　His　smile　deepened；　and　I　watched　a　human　expression　fill　those　animal　eyes。　Anticipation；　anticipation　of　my　pain；　I　think。
　He　opened　the　curtain　slowly；　revealing　Micah　chained　by　his　wrists　and　ankles　to　the　wall；　just　like　Cherry。　But　unlike　her；　his　wounds　hadn't　healed。　The　right　side　of　his　face　had　been　beaten　badly。　His　eye　was　swollen　pletely　shut；　encrusted　with　dried　blood。　That　delicate　curve　of　jaw　was　so　swollen　it　didn't　look　real。　The　swelling　had　twisted　his　lip　to　one　side。　It　was　so　swollen　that　I　could　see　the　pink　inside　of　his　mouth　and　glimpse　teeth　where　his　mouth　no　longer　closed　pletely。
　I　heard　a　small　sound；　and　it　was　me。　It　was　close　to　a　sob；　and　I　couldn't　afford　that。　If　Chimera　knew　how　much　this　cut　me　up；　he'd　just　hurt　Micah　more。　I　couldn't　stop　myself　from　touching　him。　I　had　to　touch　him；　because　only　then　would　he　be　real　to　me。　Seeing　was　never　quite　believing　with　me。
　I　touched　my　fingertips　to　the　whole　side　of　his　face。　His　good　eye　fluttered　open。　There　was　a　moment　of　relief；　then　I　think　he　saw　Chimera；　and　his　eye　widened。　He　tried　to　speak　but　couldn't　open　his　mouth。　He　made　small　hurt　noises。
　Chimera　touched　his　bruises；　lightly；　but　Micah　winced　anyway。　I　grabbed　his　wrist；　as　I　had　for　Cherry；　and　moved　my　body　in　between　the　two　men。　〃Unchain　him。〃
　〃I　broke　his　jaw　personally　for　lying　to　me。〃
　〃He　didn't　lie　to　you；〃　I　said。
　〃He　told　me　you　were　going　to　be　a　panwere　like　me；　but　you're　not。〃　He　leaned　into　me　sniffing。　〃I'd　smell　it　if　you　were。　You're　something；　and　it's　not　human。　It　smells　of　leopard　and　wolf。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath　just　above　the　skin　of　my　face。　〃But　it　also　smells　like　vampire。　You　aren't　what　I　am；　Anita。〃　He　looked　at　Micah。　〃He　was　just　trying　to　keep　me　from　hurting　him　or　his　cats　after　he　saved　you　from　my　people；　when　they　came　to　your　house。〃
　〃So　I'm　not　a　panwere。　Does　that　mean　you　don't　want　me　for　your　mate？〃
　He　laughed　then。　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；　I　enjoy　rape；　adds　spice。〃　I　think　he　said　it　just　to　shock　me；　but　I　wasn't　sure。　Had　he　raped　Cherry？　Had　he　touched　her？　I　tried　to　keep　the　thought　off　my　face；　because　with　the　thought　came　a　white；　hot　wash　of　anger。
　〃Oh；　you　don't　like　that　idea；　do　you？〃　He　tried　to　touch　my　hair；　and　I　stepped　away　from　him　out　of　the　alcove　so　I'd　have　room　to　maneuver。　Help　was　on　its　way；　but　a　glance　at　my　watch　showed　another　twenty　minutes　of　the　hour　still　left。　Maybe　the　troops　would　e　sooner；　maybe　they　wouldn't。　I　couldn't　afford　to　count　on　it。
　He　didn't　try　and　follow　me；　just　let　me　inch　away。　〃I　could　rape　you　in　front　of　Micah。　I　don't　think　either　of　you　would　like　that。　Though　truthfully　I　might　prefer　it　the　other　way　around。　Orlando　is　homophobic。　I　wonder　why　that　would　be？〃
　I　spoke　as　I　inched　down　the　curtain；　drawing　him　away　from　Cherry　and　Micah。　〃We　dislike　most　in　others　what　we　hate　most　in　ourselves；〃　I　said。
　〃Bravo；〃　Chimera　said。　〃Yes；　I　keep　a　lot　of　Orlando　safe　from　Orlando。〃
　〃That　must　be　hard；〃　I　said。
　〃What？〃　he　asked。
　〃Keeping　secrets　when　you　share　the　same　body。〃
　He　followed　me　slowly　around　the　edge　of　the　wall。　〃At　first　he　didn't　want　to　know　what　we　did；　but　lately　he's　bee　。。。　unhappy　with　us。　I　think　he'd　have　done　himself　harm　if　I　hadn't　stopped　him。〃　Chimera　motioned　towards　the　hanging　men。　〃He　woke　up　in　the　dark　in　the　middle　of　them。　He　screamed　like　a　girl。〃　Chimera　put　his　fingers　to　his　lips　and　said；　〃Oops；　excuse　me；　you　didn't　scream　at　all。　He　screamed　like　a　baby　until　I　came　and　rescued　him；　but　he　didn't　seem　all　that　grateful。　Like　he　blamed　me。〃　Chimera　looked　puzzled；　and　again　I　had　that　impression　that　he　was　listening　to　things　I　couldn't　hear。
　He　stared　at　me。　〃Do　you　hear　that？〃
　I　widened　my　eyes　at　him　and　shrugged。　〃What？〃
　He　looked　off　past　the　hanging　men；　and　I　looked　around　for　a　weapon。　All　this　damage　and　cutting　people　up；　there　had　to　be　a　blade　around　here　somewhere。　But　the　room　stretched　white　and　empty；　except　for　the　chained　men。　Weren't　there　supposed　to　be　pokers；　maces；　fucking　weapons？　What　kind　of　dungeon　was　this；　victims　but　no　instruments　of　torture？
　I　heard　it　then；　screams；　fighting。　The　battle　was　on。　Though　it　was　still　distant。　The　good　news　was　that　help　was　on　its　way；　the　bad　news　was　that　Chimera　knew　what　was　happening　and　I　was　alone　with　him。　Alright；　not　alone；　but　nobody　chained　to　the　stone　was　going　to　be　able　to　help　me。
　He　turned　a　face　so　full　of　rage　to　me　that　it　was　almost　bestial；　without　any　shifting　of　form。
　〃Why　did　you　take　all　the　alphas？〃　I　asked。　I　was　still　going　to　try　and　keep　him　talking；　it　was　all　I　had。
　〃So　I　could　rule　their　groups。〃　His　words　came　out　low　and　growling　through　clenched　teeth。
　〃Your　snakes　are　anacondas。　The　alpha　you　took　was　a　cobra。　You　can't　rule　over　a　type　of　snake　you're　not。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　he　asked；　and　he　started　to　stalk　towards　me；　still　in　human　form；　but　with　that　tense　grace　that　is　more　animal　than　human。
　I　didn't　have　a　good　answer　for　that　one。　〃Are　the　alphas　alive？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　hear　fighting；　Anita。　What　have　you　done？〃
　〃I　haven't　don