lh.narcissusinchains-第15章

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　at　Asher's　naked　back；　with　Narcissus　gazing　up　at　him　with　a　look　somewhere　between　adoration　and　terror；　I　just　wasn't　in　the　mood　anymore。
　
　7
　
　THE　UPPER　HALLWAY　stretched　white　and　empty。　There　was　a　silver　wallpaper　border　high　up　on　the　wall；　more　silver　ran　in　thin　lines　down　the　walls；　an　opulent　yet　tasteful　display。　It　looked　like　the　hallway　of　some　upscale　hotel。　I　didn't　know　if　it　was　camouflage　or　if　Narcissus　just　liked　it　that　way。　After　downstairs'　black　techno…punk　and　Narcissus's　own　Marquis　de　Sade　bedroom；　it　was　almost　startling；　as　if　we'd　stepped　from　some　dark　nightmare　into　a　quieter；　more　peaceful　dream。
　We　were　the　ones　who　looked　out　of　place。　All　of　us　in　black；　too　much　skin　showing。　Jamil　paced　up　the　stairs　on　point；　his　muscular　upper　body　showing　in　tantalizing　glimpses　through　a　series　of　black　leather　straps。　The　pants　fit　his　narrow　hips　like　a　second　skin；　and　I'd　learned　long　ago　from　watching　Jean…Claude　undress　that　you　didn't　get　that　smooth　line　if　there　was　underwear　between　the　skin　and　the　pants。　He　turned；　his　waist…length　corn…rows　flaring　out　around　him。　He　was　a　contrast　in　darkness；　the　black　of　the　leather；　the　dark；　dark　brown　of　his　skin。　He　moved　like　a　shadow　in　that　white　hallway。
　Faust　went　next。　He　was　the　new　male　vampire　I'd　met　downstairs。　In　the　better　light；　his　hair　was　obviously　tinted　burgundy；　like　a　shade　of　red　gone　wrong；　but　somehow　it　suited　him。　His　leather　pants　were　covered　in　more　zippers　than　seemed　necessary　to　get　them　on　and　off；　and　his　black　shirt　had　a　zipper　up　the　front。　It　reminded　me　of　Asher's　shirt；　except　for　the　color。　I　tried　not　to　think　too　much　about　what　Asher　might　be　doing　right　this　moment。　I　still　didn't　know　if　Asher　was　pimping　himself　out　for　us　or　whether　he　truly　wanted　to　be　with　Narcissus。　I　was　more　fortable　with　the　idea　of　self…sacrifice。
　I　brought　up　the　middle　with　the　two　women　behind　me。　Sylvie　still　didn't　look　like　herself　to　me。　The　black　skirt　was　so　short　that　whoever　was　in　back　of　her　couldn't　help　but　get　a　flash　of　whatever　was　under　the　skirt。　The　hose　climbed　her　legs　all　the　way　up；　making　them　look　long　and　shapely；　though　she　was　only　three　inches　taller　than　me。　She　was　also　wearing　three…inch　black　spikes；　which　may　have　added　to　the　illusion　of　long　legs。　Her　leather　top　showed　a　very　discreet　line　of　flesh　from　neck　to　waist　where　a　belt　cinched　in　her　tiny　waist。　Her　breasts　seemed　to　stay　magically　on　either　side　of　the　line　of　skin；　as　if　they　were　held　in　place　by　something　more　than　a　bra。
　She　smiled　up　at　me；　but　her　eyes　had　already　bled　to　that　pale　wolfish　color。　They　didn't　match　the　careful　makeup　and　the　short；　curly　brown　hair。
　Meng　Die　brought　up　the　rear。　Where　her　pale　flesh　showed　around　the　vinyl　cat　suit；　colorless　body　glitter　sparkled。　There　was　a　touch　of　glitter　at　the　corner　of　each　up…tilted　eye；　plementing　pale　eyeshadow　and　dramatic　eyeliner。　She　was　smaller　than　me；　more　delicate　of　bone；　smaller　of　breast；　more　slender　of　waist；　like　a　dainty　bird。　But　the　look　she　gave　me　was　more　vulture　than　canary。　She　didn't　like　me；　and　I　didn't　know　why。　But　Jean…Claude　had　assured　me　she'd　do　the　job。　Jean…Claude　had　a　lot　of　faults；　but　if　he　trusted　Meng　Die　to　keep　me　safe；　then　she'd　do　it。　He　was　never　careless　with　me；　not　in　that　way。
　Faust　just　seemed　to　be　amused　as　hell　about　it　all。　Everything　made　him　smile；　pleasantly。　Most　vampires　went　for　arrogance　to　mask　how　they　felt。　He　seemed　to　use　mild　amusement。　Of　course；　maybe　Faust　was　just　a　happy　guy；　and　I　was　being　too　cynical。
　Why　weren't　Jean…Claude　and　Richard　with　me？　Because　the　wereleopards　were　mine。　If　I　took　other　dominants　with　me；　it　would　be　seen　as　weakness。　I　was　planning　to　interview　other　alphas　to　take　over　the　wereleopards；　but　until　I　found　someone　to　do　that；　I　was　all　they　had。　If　people　began　thinking　I　was　weak；　the　leopards　would　be　marked　as　anyone's　meat。　It　wouldn't　just　be　out…of…town　shapeshifters　that　were　trying　to　take　them　away　from　me；　it　would　be　every　shapeshifter　in　town。　It　was　funny　how　many　shifters　could　be　assholes　unless　you　were　strong　enough　to　stop　them。
　I　had　to　save　the　leopards；　not　Richard；　not　Jean…Claude；　me。　But　I　had　to　stay　alive　to　do　that；　so　I　did　take　backup。　I'm　stubborn；　not　stupid。　Though　I　know　a　few　people　who　might　argue　that。
　Each　white　door　had　a　silver　number　on　its　surface。　Again　like　a　very　discreet　hotel。　We　were　looking　for　room　nine。　There　was　absolutely　no　sound　from　behind　the　doors。　The　only　noises　I　heard　were　the　distant　thud　of　the　music　downstairs　and　the　faint　whisper　of　leather　and　vinyl　　our　body　movements。　I'd　never　been　so　aware　of　how　loud　small　noises　could　be。　Maybe　it　was　the　eerie　silence　of　the　hallway；　or　maybe　I'd　gained　something　new　from　the　marriage　of　the　marks。　Better　hearing　wouldn't　be　a　bad　thing；　would　it？　So　many　of　the　〃gifts〃　from　the　vampire　marks　tended　to　be　double…edged　swords；　at　best。
　I　shook　off　the　gloomy　thoughts　and　walked　with　my　foursome　of　bodyguards　down　the　carpeted　hallway。　I　was　trusting　them　to　give　their　lives　for　mine。　That's　what　a　bodyguard　does。　Jamil　had　taken　two　shotgun　blasts　for　me　last　summer。　It　hadn't　been　silver　shot；　so　he'd　healed；　but　he　hadn't　known　that　when　he　put　himself　between　the　gun　barrel　and　me。　Sylvie　owed　me　one；　and　a　woman　her　size　doesn't　get　to　be　second　in　the　pack　hierarchy　without　being　one　tough　werewolf。　I　didn't　really　trust　the　vampires　to　give　up　their　undead　lives　for　me。　It's　been　my　experience　that　the　longer　something　semi…immortal　lives；　the　more　tightly　it　hugs　its　existence。　So　I　counted　on　the　wolves；　and　knew　I　could　work　around　the　vampires。　It　didn't　matter　that　Jean…Claude　trusted　them。　It　mattered　that　I　didn't。　I'd　have　preferred　to　just　bring　along　more　werewolves；　except　if　I　showed　up　with　nothing　but　wolves　at　my　back；　it　would　be　like　saying　that　I　couldn't　do　this　without　Richard's　pack。　Not　true。　Or　not　pletely　true。　We'd　see　how　deep　the　shit　was　once　we　opened　the　door。
　Room　nine　was　nearly　at　the　end　of　the　long　hallway。　The　building　had　been　a　warehouse；　and　the　upstairs　had　simply　been　divided　into　long　hallways　with　huge　rooms　scattered　along　them。　Jamil　was　standing　to　one　side　of　the　door。　Faust　was　standing　in　front　of　it。　Not　smart。
　I　stood　to　the　other　side　of　the　door　and　said；　〃Faust；　the　werehyenas　had　to　take　guns　off　these　guys。〃
　The　vampire　raised　an　arched　eyebrow　at　me。
　〃They　may　not　have　found　all　the　guns；〃　I　said。
　He　still　looked　at　me。
　I　sighed。　Over　a　hundred　years　of　〃life；〃　power　enough　to　be　a　master　vamp；　and　he　was　still　an　amateur。　〃It　would　be　bad　to　be　standing　in　the　center　of　the　door　when　a　shotgun　blast　went　off　on　the　other　side。〃
　He　blinked；　and　a　little　of　that　humor　leaked　away；　showing　that　arrogance　that　most　vamps　acquire。　〃I　think　Narcissus　would　have　found　a　shotgun。〃
　I　leaned　my　shoulder　against　the　wall　and　smiled　at　him。　〃Do　you　know　what　a　cop…killer　is？〃
　He　raised　both　eyebrows　at　me。　〃A　person　who　kills　policemen。〃
　〃No；　it's　a　type　of　ammunition　designed　to　go　through　body　armor。　The　cops　have　no　defense　against　it。　You　can　carry　armor…piercing　bullets　in　handguns；　Faust。　I　used　the　shotgun　as　an　example；　but　it　could　be　so　many　things。　And　they　would　all　take　out　your　heart；　most　of　your　spine；　or　all　of　your　head；　depending　on　where　the　shooter　was　aiming。〃
　〃Get　out　of　the　fucking　doorway；〃　Meng　Die　said。
　He　turned　and　looked　at　her；　and　it　was　not　a　friendly　look。　〃You　are　not　my　master。〃
　〃Nor　you　mine；〃　she　said。
　〃Children；〃　I　said。　They　both　looked　at　me。　Great。　〃Faust　if　you're　not　going　to　be　helpful　then　go　back　downstairs。〃
　〃What　did　I　do？〃
　I　glanced　at　Meng　Die；　shrugged；　and　said；　〃Get　out　of　the　fucking　doorway。〃
　I　could　see　his　shoulders　tighten；　but　he　gave　a　graceful　bow　at　odds　with　the　burgundy　hair　and　leather。　〃As　Jean…Claude's　lady　wishes；　so　shall　it　be。〃　He　stepped　to　the　side　closest　to　me。　Sylvie　moved　up　close　to　me；　not　exactly　between　us；　but　close。　It　made　me　feel　better。　Bossing　around　vampires　was　always　chancy。　You　never　knew　when　they'd　try　to　boss　back。　I　really；　really　wanted　my　gun　back。
　〃What　now？〃　Jamil　asked。　He　was　watching　the　vampires　like　he　wasn't　any　happier　with　their　pany　than　I　was。　All　good　bodyguards　are　paranoid。　It　goes　with　the　job。
　〃I　guess　we　knock。〃　I　kept　my　body　well　to　the　side；　extended　just　enough　arm　to　get　the　job　done；　and　gave　three　solid　knocks。　If　they　shot　through　the　door；　they'd　probably　miss　me。　But　no　one　shot　through　the　door。　In　fact；　nothing　happened。　We　waited　for　a　few　moments；　but　patience　has　never　been　my　best　thing。　I　started　to　knock　again；　but　Jamil　stopped　me　and　said；　〃May　I？〃
　I　nodded。
　He　knocked　hard　and　loud　enough　to　shake　the　door。　It　was　a　solid　door。　If　the　door　didn't　open　this　time；　they　were　deliberately　ignoring　us。
　The　door　opened；　revealing　a　brown…haired　man　as　muscled　as　Ajax；　but　taller。　What　did　Narcissus　do；　recruit　from　all　the　weight…lifting　gyms　in　town？　He　frowned　at　us。　〃Yeah？〃
　〃I'm　Nimir…Ra　for　the　wereleopards。　I　think　you've　been　waiting　for　me。〃
　〃About　fucking　time；〃　he　said。　He　opened　the　door　wide；　pushing　it　flush　against　the　wall；　putting　his　back　to　it；　arms　crossed　across　his　chest。　His　arms　apparently　weren't　as　muscular　as　they　looked；　if　he　could　cross　his　arms　that　way。　But　he　did　demonstrate　that　there　was　no　one　hiding　behind　the　door。　Good　to　know。
　The　room　was　white　　white　floor；　white　ceiling；　white　walls　　like　a　room　carved　of　hard　snow。　There　were　blades　on　the　walls　　knives；　swords；　daggers；　tiny　glittering　blades；　swords　the　length　of　a　tall　man。　The　bodyguard　by　the　door　said；　〃Wele　to　the　room　of　swords。〃　It　sounded　formal；　like　he　was　supposed　to　say　it。
　From　the　door　I　couldn't　see　anyone。　I　took　a　deep　breath；　let　it　out　slowly；　and　walked　inside。　Jamil　followed　a　step　behind　at　my　shoulder；　Faust　was　at　my　other　side。　Sylvie　and　Meng　Die　brought　up　the　rear。
　A　figure　stepped　into　the　middle　of　the　room。　At　first　glance　I　thought　it　was　a　man；　but　on　second　glance；　not　exactly。　He　was　man…sized；　almost　six　feet；　broad　shouldered；　muscular；　but　what　I'd　thought　was　a　golden　tan　was　golden　tan　fur；　very　thin　and　fine。　Covering　the　whole　body。　The　face　was　almost　human；　though　the　bone　structure　was　a　little　odd。　A　wide　face；　a　lipless　mouth　that　was　almost　a　round　muzzle。　The　eyes　were　a　dark　orange　gold　with　an　edge　of　blue　in　them；　as　if　they；　like　the　body；　were　only　partly　through　their　change。　It　was　as　if　his　body　had　frozen；　stopping　just　short　of　attaining　human　form。　I'd　never　seen　anything　like　it。　Pale　skin　showed　in　patches　on　his　bare　chest　and　stomach。　I　couldn't　tell　if　the　dark　gold　hair　and　edge　of　beard　that　encircled　his　face　was　actually　hair　or　what　was　left　of　a　mane。　The　longer　I　stared　at　him；　the　more　like　a　lion　he　looked；　until　I　couldn't　see　the　man　I'd　thought　I'd　seen　for　the　light　coating　of　beast　that　covered　him。
　He　gave　a　snarling　smile。　〃Do　you　like　what　you　see？〃
　〃I've　never　seen　anything　like　you；〃　I　said；　nice；　calm；　even　empty。
　He　didn't　like　that；　my　lack　of　reaction。　His　smile　vanished　and　became　on