lh.narcissusinchains-第13章

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to　speak；　but　no　sound　came　out。　He　stared　at　me；　and；　judging　by　the　look　on　his　face；　he　felt　lost；　overwhelmed。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　Asher　asked　from　across　the　room；　still　facing　Ajax。
　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　I　said。
　〃He　seems　in　pain；〃　Narcissus　said。　It　made　me　glance　up　at　him。　Except　for　his　face　and　hands；　he　was　still　in　human　form。　The　really　powerful　alphas　could　do　that；　partial　changes。
　〃The　power　spills　over　him；〃　Richard　said；　and　his　voice　held　that　edge　of　growl。　His　throat　was　hidden　behind　the　leather　collar；　but　I　knew　if　I　could　see　it；　that　the　skin　would　be　smooth　and　perfect。　His　voice　could　howl　from　his　mouth　like　a　dog's　without　any　change　in　his　appearance。
　〃But　he　is　a　vampire；〃　Narcissus　said。　〃The　power　of　the　wolves　should　be　closed　to　him。〃
　〃The　wolf　is　his　animal　to　call；〃　Richard　said。
　I　looked　into　Jean…Claude's　face　from　inches　away；　watched　him　struggle　through　the　hot；　scalding　power　and　knew　why　he　wasn't　dealing　well　with　it。　This　was　primal　energy；　the　life　and　beat　of　the　earth　under　our　feet；　the　rush　of　wind　in　the　trees；　the　stuff　of　life。　And　Jean…Claude　for　all　that　he　walked　and　talked　and　flirted　wasn't　alive。
　Richard　knelt　beside　us；　and　Jean…Claude　let　out　a　low　moan；　half…collapsing　against　me。　〃Jean…Claude！〃
　Richard　rolled　him　over　into　his　arms；　and　Jean…Claude's　spine　bowed；　his　breath　ing　in　ragged　gasps。
　Narcissus　was　above　us　on　the　bed。　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Richard　said。
　I　put　a　hand　on　Jean…Claude's　throat。　The　pulse　wasn't　just　racing；　it　was　beating　like　a　caged　thing。　I　tried　to　use　the　ability　I　had　to　sense　vampires；　but　all　I　could　feel　was　the　heat　of　the　beast。　There　was　nothing　cold　or　dead　in　the　circle　of　our　arms。
　〃Lay　him　on　the　floor；　Richard。〃
　He　looked　at　me。
　〃Do　it！〃
　He　laid　Jean…Claude　gently　on　the　floor；　hand　still　touching　his　shoulder。
　〃Move　away　from　him。〃　I　did　what　I　asked　of　Richard；　standing　and　moving　around　the　vampire；　pushing　Richard　back　with　my　body　until　Jean…Claude　lay　alone　beside　the　bed。
　Narcissus's　body　had　re…formed；　until　he　was　the　graceful　man　we'd　met　downstairs。　He'd　moved　off　the　bed　without　being　told；　but　moved　around　so　he　could　still　watch。
　Jean…Claude　rolled　slowly　onto　his　side；　and　moved　his　head　to　stare　at　us。　He　licked　his　lips　and　tried　twice　before　he　could　speak。　〃What　have　you　done　to　me？〃
　Richard　and　I　still　stood　in　a　cocoon　of　heat。　His　hands　brushed　my　arms；　and　I　shuddered　against　him。　His　arms　locked　around　my　waist；　and　the　more　of　our　bodies　that　touched　the　more　heat　rose　around　us；　until　I　thought　the　very　air　should　tremble　like　the　heat　of　a　summer's　day　off　a　tar　road。
　〃Shared　Richard's　power　with　you；〃　I　said。
　〃No；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　and　he　rose　slowly　to　sit；　propped　heavily　on　his　arms。　〃Not　just　Richard；　but　you；　ma　petite；　you。　Richard　and　I　have　shared　much；　but　it　never　did　this。　You　are　the　bridge　between　the　two　worlds。〃
　Asher　spoke。　〃She　bridges　life　and　death。〃
　Jean…Claude　looked　up　at　him　sharply；　a　harsh　look　on　his　face。　〃Exactement。〃
　Narcissus　spoke。　〃I　knew　Marcus　and　Raina　could　share　their　power；　their　beasts；　but　Anita　is　not　a　werewolf。　You　should　not　be　able　to　share　your　beast　with　each　other；　wolf　to　leopard。〃
　〃I'm　not　a　wereleopard；〃　I　said。
　〃Me　thinks　the　lady　doth　protest　too　much；〃　Narcissus　said。
　〃Or　wereanimal　to　vampire；〃　Asher　said。
　I　looked　at　Asher。　〃Don't　you　start。〃
　He　smiled　at　me。　〃I　know　that　you　are　not　a　true　shapeshifter；　but　your　。。。　magic　has　changed　because　of　the　addition　of　Richard。　There　is　something　about　you；　that　if　I　did　not　know　better；　I　would　say　you　were　indeed　one　of　them。〃
　〃Richard　said　the　wolf　is　Jean…Claude's　animal　to　call；〃　Narcissus　said。
　〃That　doesn't　explain　this；〃　Asher　said。　He　knelt　by　Jean…Claude；　reaching　towards　him。
　Jean…Claude　caught　his　hand　before　it　could　touch　his　face；　and　Asher　jerked　back。　〃You're　hot　to　the　touch。　Not　just　warm；　hot。〃
　〃It　is　like　the　rush　after　we　feed；　but　more　。。。　more　alive。〃　He　gazed　up　at　us；　and　his　eyes　were　still　drowning　blue。　〃Go　save　your　leopards；　ma　petite；　and　let　us　retire　before　dawn。　I　want　to　see　how　hot；〃　he　took　a　deep　breath；　and　I　knew　he　was　drawing　in　the　scent　of　us；　〃this　power　will　grow。〃
　〃It　is　all　very　impressive；〃　Narcissus　said；　〃but　I　will　have　my　pound　of　flesh。〃
　〃You're　beginning　to　get　on　my　nerves；〃　I　said。
　He　smiled。　〃Be　that　as　it　may；　I　still　have　a　right　to　ask　for　the　insult　to　be　avenged。〃
　I　looked　at　Richard。　He　nodded。　I　sighed。　〃You　know；　it's　usually　me　that　gets　us　into　this　kind　of　trouble。〃
　〃We're　not　in　trouble　yet；〃　Richard　said。　〃Narcissus　is　grandstanding。　Why　do　you　think　I　didn't　change？〃　He　stared　at　the　smaller　man。
　Narcissus　smiled。　〃And　here　I　thought　you　were　just　decorative　muscle　standing　behind　Marcus。〃
　〃You　won't　fight　unless　you　run　out　of　options；　Narcissus；　so　no　more　games。〃　There　was　a　coldness　in　Richard's　voice；　a　firmness　that　could　not　be　crossed　or　reasoned　with。　Again　it　echoed　me　more　than　him。　Just　how　tough　had　the　last　few　months　been　on　him　and　his　wolves？　There　are　only　a　few　things　that　will　harden　you　this　fast。　Death　of　those　close　to　you；　police　work；　or　bat　where　people　are　actually　dying　around　you。　In　civilian　life；　Richard　was　a　junior　high　science　teacher；　so　it　wasn't　police　work。　I　think　someone　would　have　mentioned　if　he'd　lost　family　members。　That　left　bat。　How　many　challengers　had　he　fought？　How　many　had　he　killed？　Who　had　died？
　I　shook　my　head　to　clear　away　the　thoughts。　One　problem　at　a　time。　〃You　can't　have　any　of　us；　or　our　people；　Narcissus。　You're　not　going　to　start　a　war　over　the　refusal；　so　where　does　that　leave　us？〃
　〃I　will　take　my　men　out　of　the　room　with　your　cats；　Anita。　I　will　do　that。〃　He　came　to　stand　in　front　of　me；　his　back　to　the　bedpost；　one　hand　playing　with　the　chains　attached　to　it；　making　the　metal　jingle。　〃The　。。。　people　that　have　them　are　not　terribly　creative；　but　they　have　a　certain　raw　talent　for　pain。〃　He　stared　at　me　with　human　eyes　again。
　〃What　do　you　want；　Narcissus？〃　Richard　said。
　He　wrapped　the　chain　around　one　wrist　over　and　over。　〃Something　worth　having；　Richard；　someone　worth　having。〃
　Asher　said；　〃Do　you　merely　want　someone　to　dominate；　or　are　you　interested　in　being　dominated？〃
　Narcissus　looked　back　at　him。　〃Why？〃
　〃Answer　the　question　truthfully；　Narcissus；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　〃You　may　find　it　worthwhile。〃
　Narcissus　looked　from　one　vampire　to　the　other；　then　back　to　Asher；　standing　there　in　his　brown　leather　outfit。　〃I　prefer　to　dominate；　but　with　the　right　person　I'll　allow　myself　to　be　topped。〃
　Asher　walked　towards　us；　making　his　tall；　slender　body　sway。　〃I'll　top　you。〃
　〃You　do　not　have　to　do　this；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃Don't　do　it；　Asher；〃　I　said。
　〃We'll　find　another　way；〃　Richard　said。
　Asher　looked　at　us　with　those　pale；　pale　blue　eyes。　〃I　thought　you'd　be　happy；　Jean…Claude。　I've　finally　agreed　to　take　a　lover。　Isn't　that　what　you　wanted　me　to　do？〃　His　voice　was　mild；　but　the　mockery　came　through　just　the　same；　the　bitterness。
　〃I　have　offered　you　nearly　all　in　my　power；　and　you　have　refused　all。　Why　him？　Why　now？〃　Jean…Claude　got　to　his　knees；　and　I　offered　him　a　hand　up；　not　a　hundred　percent　sure　that　I　should。
　He　looked　at　the　offered　hand。
　〃If　you　think　it's　safe；〃　I　said。
　He　wrapped　his　hand　around　mine；　and　the　power　flowed　in　a　burning　rush　down　my　hand　over　his；　down　his　arm；　and　I　felt　it　hit　his　heart　like　a　blow。　He　closed　his　eyes；　swayed　for　a　second；　then　looked　at　me。　〃It　was　unexpected　the　first　time。〃　He　started　to　stand；　and　Richard　went　to　his　other　side；　so　that　we　held　him　between　us。
　〃I　don't　know　if　this　is　good　for　you；　or　not；〃　I　said。
　〃You　fill　me　with　life；　ma　petite。　You　and　Richard。　How　can　it　be　bad？〃
　I　didn't　say　the　obvious；　but　I　thought　it　really　hard。　If　you　could　fill　the　walking　dead　with　life；　should　you？　And　if　you　did；　what　would　happen　to　that　walking　dead？　So　much　of　what　we　were　doing　between　us　magically　had　never　been　done　before；　or　only　once　before。　Unfortunately　we'd　had　to　kill　the　other　triumvirate　that　consisted　of　a　vamp；　a　werewolf；　and　a　necromancer。　They'd　been　trying　to　kill　us；　but　still；　they　might　have　been　able　to　answer　questions　that　no　one　else　could　have　answered。　Now　we　were　just　swinging　in　the　dark；　hoping　we　didn't　hurt　each　other。
　〃Look　at　you；　Jean…Claude；　between　them　like　a　candle　with　two　wicks。　You　will　burn　yourself　up；〃　Asher　said。
　〃That　is　my　concern。〃
　〃Yes；　and　what　I　do　is　mine。　You　ask；　'Why　him？'　'Why　now？'　First；　you　need　me。　Which　of　the　three　of　you　would　be　willing　to　do　this？〃　Asher　moved　around　Narcissus　as　if　he　weren't　there；　eyes　on　Jean…Claude；　on　us。　〃Oh；　I　know　that　you　could　have　topped　him。　You　can　do　it　when　you　want；　and　make　a　virtue　of　necessity；　but　he's　had　you　beneath　him；　and　nothing　less　will　satisfy　him　now。〃　He　stood　close　enough　that　the　energy　swirled　outward；　over　him　like　a　lip　of　hot　ocean　water。　His　breath　came　out　in　a　shuddering　sigh。　〃Mon　Dieu！〃　He　stepped　back　until　his　legs　touched　the　bed；　then　he　sat　down　on　the　black　sheets。　His　brown　leather　didn't　match　as　well　as　the　rest　of　us　had。
　〃Such　power；　Jean…Claude；　and　yet　none　of　you　wishes　to　pay　the　price　for　Richard's　temper　tantrum。　But　I　will　pay　that　price。〃
　〃You　know　my　rule；　Asher。　I　never　ask　of　others　what　I'm　not　willing　to　do　myself；〃　I　said。
　He　looked　at　me　curiously；　face　unreadable　behind　the　mask；　except　for　his　eyes。　〃Are　you　volunteering？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃No。　But　you　don't　have　to　do　this。　We　will　find　another　way。〃
　〃And　what　if　I　want　to　do　it？〃　he　asked。
　I　looked　at　him　for　a　second；　then　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know　what　to　say　to　that。〃
　〃It　disturbs　you　that　I　might　want　to　do　this；　doesn't　it？〃　His　eyes　were　intense。
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　That　intense　gaze　moved　past　me　to　Jean…Claude。　〃It　bothers　him；　too。　He　wonders　if　I　am　ruined　and　all　that　is　left　for　me　is　pain。〃
　〃You　once　told　me　that　everything　worked。　That　you　were　scarred；　but　。。。　functional；〃　I　said。
　He　blinked　and　looked　at　me。　〃Did　I？　Well；　a　man　does　not　like　to　admit　such　things　to　a　pretty　woman。　Or　to　a　handsome　man。〃　He　looked　up　at　us；　but　the　only　person　he　was　really　looking　at　was　Jean…Claude。　〃I　will　pay　the　toll　for　our　handsome　Monsieur　Zeeman's　display　of　strength。　But　I　will　not　be　the　whipping　boy。　Not　this　time。〃
　Not　ever　again；　hung　heavy　in　the　air；　unsaid；　but　there　all　the　same。　Asher　had　had　two　hundred　years　of　being　at　the　mercy　of　the　people　who　had　given　Jean…Claude　the　memories　that　Richard　and　I　had　flashed　on。　Two　centuries　more　of　that　kind　of　care　and　torment。　When　Asher　had　first　e　to　us　he'd　been　cruel　occasionally。　I　thought　we'd　cured　him　of　it。　But　watching　the　look　in　his　eyes　now；　I　knew　we　hadn't。
　〃And　do　you　know　the　best　part　of　all？〃　Asher　asked。
　Jean…Claude　just　shook　his　head。
　〃It　will　cause　you　pain　to　think　of　me　with　Narcissus。　And　even　after　I　am　with　him；　he　will　still　not　answer　the　question　you　have　been　wanting；　so　desperately；　to　have　answered。〃
　Jean…Claude　stiffened；　hand　tightening　on　mine。　I　felt　him　slam　his　own　shields　into　place；　keeping　us　out