lh.narcissusinchains-第16章

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　〃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　only　a　snarl　of　very　sharp；　very　white　teeth。
　〃Wele；　Nimir…Ra；　I　am　Marco；　we　have　been　waiting　for　you。〃　He　made　a　sweeping　gesture　to　either　side　with　his　clawed　human　hands。　I　glanced　around　at　the　〃we〃。　They　were　small　to　medium…sized　men　with　short　black　hair　and　dark　skin。　Most　groups；　prides；　packs；　whatever；　were　mixed　ethnically。　But　there　was　a　sameness　to　these　dark　men；　almost　a　family　look　about　them。　Two　on　either　side　wore　hooded　cloaks；　with　the　hoods　thrown　back；　the　wide　cloaks　spread　like　curtains。　I　glimpsed　blond　hair　behind　the　blackness　to　the　left。　I　couldn't　see　Nathaniel's　hair　over　the　blackness　but　I　knew　he　had　to　be　on　the　right。
　There　was　blood　on　the　white　floor；　pooling　into　a　little　depression　in　the　concrete。　A　drain　was　in　the　middle　so　they　could　hose　the　floor　down　when　they　were　finished。　There　was　another　guard　in　the　far　corner　who　looked　very　unhappy　to　be　there。　Three　women　that　I　did　not　know　were　chained　to　the　wall　on　either　side　of　the　door。　Two　blonds　on　the　right　side；　a　brunette　on　the　left。　They　weren't　wereleopards；　or　at　least　none　that　were　mine。
　〃Let　me　see　my　people；〃　I　said。
　〃Will　you　not　greet　us　formally？〃　Marco　asked。
　〃You're　not　the　alpha　anything；　Marco。　You　get　your　head　lion　in　here　and　I'll　greet　him；　but　you；　I　don't　have　to　greet。〃
　Marco　gave　a　small　bow；　the　gaze　of　those　odd　tawny　eyes　never　leaving　my　face。　It　was　the　way　you　bow　in　martial　arts　when　you're　afraid　the　other　person　will　hit　you　if　you　glance　away。
　Jamil　had　moved　up　beside　me；　not　ahead　of　me；　but　close　enough　that　our　shoulders　brushed。　I　didn't　tell　him　to　move　back。　He'd　saved　my　life　once；　I'd　let　him　do　his　job。
　〃Then　greet　me；　Nimir…Ra。〃　It　was　another　male　voice。　He　stepped　out　from　behind　the　cloaks　to　the　left。　As　he　stepped　out；　the　cloaks　dropped　and　I　could　see　Gregory　clearly。
　He　was　turned　towards　the　wall；　nude　except　for　his　pants　that　had　been　peeled　down　to　his　lower　thighs；　his　boots　still　on。　Chains　held　his　wrists　above　his　head；　his　legs　were　wide　apart。　His　curling　blond　hair　fell　just　below　his　shoulders。　His　body　was　slender　but　muscled；　butt　tight。　You　have　to　take　care　of　your　body　if　you're　going　to　strip　professionally。　There　was　no　mark　on　his　body　that　I　could　see；　but　blood　had　spattered　on　the　floor　in　front　of　him；　below　him；　pooling；　dark；　drying。　They　hadn't　cut　anything　on　his　back。　My　stomach　clenched　tight；　my　breath　squeezing　down　in　my　throat。
　〃Gregory；〃　I　said；　softly。
　〃He's　gagged；〃　said　the　man。　I　finally　dragged　my　gaze　away　from　Gregory；　and　the　sight　of　the　other　man；　the　alpha；　made　me　stare。
　He　wasn't　a　lion　man；　he　was　a　snake　man。　His　head　was　wider　than　my　shoulders；　covered　in　olive　green　scales　with　large　black　spots。　One　arm　was　bare；　and　it　looked　very　human　except　for　the　scales　and　the　hands　that　ended　in　twisted　claws　that　would　have　made　any　predator　proud。　He　turned　his　head　to　look　at　me　with　one　large　copper　gold　eye。　A　heavy　black　stripe　stretched　back　from　the　corner　of　his　eye　to　his　temple。　His　movements　were　vaguely　birdlike。　Other　black…cloaked　figures　stepped　away　from　the　walls；　dropping　hoods　to　show　themselves　scaled；　with　the　same　stripes　near　metallic　eyes　and　hands　with　curling　claws。
　My　people　fanned　out　around　me；　two　going　to　either　side。　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃I　am　Coronus　of　the　Black　Water　Clan；　though　I　doubt　that　will　mean　anything　to　you。〃
　〃Marco　mentioned　you　were　new　in　town。　I'm　Anita　Blake；　Nimir…Ra　of　the　Blooddrinkers　Clan。　By　what　right　do　you　harm　my　people？〃　What　I　wanted　to　do　was　start　screaming；　but　there　are　rules。　I　couldn't　be　furry；　or　scaly；　but　I　could　follow　the　rules。
　Coronus　walked　to　the　wall　and　stood　next　to　the　brunette　chained　to　it。　She　made　small　panicked　sounds　as　he　reached　for　her。　Sylvie　moved　a　little　closer　to　him；　to　the　girl；　as　if　she　was　waiting　for　an　excuse。　Coronus　traced　a　finger　down　the　girl's　cheek；　the　barest　of　touches；　yet　she　closed　her　eyes　and　shivered。
　〃I　came　here　seeking　swanmanes；　and　I　found　three　of　them。　They　had　already　tied　up　the　male。　We　thought　it　was　their　leader；　their　swanking；　or　we　would　not　have　harmed　him。　By　the　time　we　found　we　had　the　wrong　animal；　it　was　late　in　the　game。〃
　I　glanced　at　the　cloaks　still　held　firmly　in　place；　the　impassive　faces　of　the　men　as　impossible　to　read　as　if　they'd　already　bee　snakes。　I　noticed　that　one　of　the　figures　had　breasts。　It　was　nearly　naked　where　they　showed　above　a　scoop　neck　T…shirt。　I　could　see　the　chains　reaching　for　the　ceiling　and　down　to　the　floor。　There　was　more　blood；　a　lot　more　blood；　on　that　side。
　〃Let　me　see　Nathaniel。〃
　〃Would　you　not　like　to　see　your　blond　leopard　up　close　and　personal　first？〃
　I　started　to　ask　why。　I　didn't　like　the　fact　that　he　seemed　reluctant　for　me　to　see　Nathaniel。　〃You　want　me　to　see　Gregory　first？〃
　The　man　seemed　to　think　about　it；　head　to　one　side。　The　movement　looked　animal…like；　yet　not　exactly　snakelike。　〃Up　close　and　personal；　yes；　yes；　I　do。〃
　I　didn't　like　the　way　he　kept　saying　personal；　but　I　let　it　go。　〃Then　you've　made　a　request　of　me；　Coronus。　If　I　do　it；　I　can　make　one　of　you。〃　Sometimes　the　rules　are　helpful。　Rarely；　but　sometimes。
　〃What　would　you　have　of　me？〃
　〃I　want　him　unchained。〃
　〃He　was　easily　taken　once　by　my　people。　I　see　no　reason　why　not。　Go；　gaze　upon　him；　touch　him；　then　we　will　unchain　him。〃
　Jamil　stayed　at　my　side　as　I　walked　towards　Gregory。　My　gut　was　tight。　What　had　they　done　to　him？　I　could　still　remember　the　scream　over　the　phone。　A　glance　from　Jamil　cleared　the　snake　people　away。　They　stood　as　far　away　as　the　room　would　allow　them　to；　on　either　side。　I　had　to　step　over　the　chains　on　the　floor　and　under　the　ones　that　held　Gregory's　wrists　up。　I　came　around　to　look　in　his　blue　eyes。　A　black　ball　gag　was　stuffed　in　his　mouth；　the　string　tucked　under　his　hair　so　it　hadn't　been　visible　from　the　back。　His　eyes　were　wide；　panicked。　His　face　was　untouched；　and　my　gaze　followed　down　the　line　of　his　body　almost　against　my　will；　as　if　I　knew　what　I'd　find。　His　groin　was　a　red　ruin；　healing；　covered　in　dried　blood。　They'd　ripped　him　up。　If　he'd　been　human　he'd　have　been　ruined。　I　wasn't　a　hundred　percent　sure　that　he　wasn't　anyway。　I　had　to　close　my　eyes　for　a　second。　The　room　felt　hot。
　Jamil　had　let　out　a　hissing　breath　when　he　saw　what　they'd　done　to　Gregory；　and　his　energy　burned　over　my　skin；　fed　by　anger　and　horror。　Strong　emotions　make　shapeshifters　leak　all　over　you。　My　voice　came　out　in　a　squeezed　whisper；　〃Will　he　heal？〃
　Jamil　had　to　e　closer　to　inspect　the　wound。　He　touched　it　reluctantly；　and　Gregory　writhed　in　pain　at　the　gentlest　of　touches。　〃I　think　so；　if　they　allow　him　to　change　form　soon。〃
　I　tried　to　pull　the　gag　out　of　Gregory's　mouth　and　couldn't。　It　was　too　tight。　I　broke　the　leather　string　that　held　it　in　place　and　threw　it　on　the　floor。
　Gregory　took　a　sobbing　breath　and　said；　〃Anita；　I　thought　you　weren't　ing。〃　His　blue　eyes　glistened　with　unshed　tears。
　We　were　almost　the　same　size；　so　I　could　touch　my　forehead　to　his；　hands　on　either　side　of　his　face。　I　couldn't　stand　to　see　the　tears　in　his　eyes；　and　I　couldn't　afford　to　cry　in　front　of　the　bad　guys。　〃I'll　always　e　for　you　Gregory；　always。〃　Seeing　him　like　this；　I　meant　it。　I　needed　to　find　a　real　wereleopard　to　protect　them。　But　how　was　I　going　to　give　them　away　like　stray　puppies　to　some　stranger？　But　that　was　a　problem　for　another　night。
　〃Unchain　him；〃　I　said。
　Jamil　moved　to　the　manacles　and　seemed　to　know　just　how　they　worked。　No　key　was　needed。　Great。　Gregory　sagged　as　soon　as　the　first　chain　went；　and　I　caught　him；　holding　him　under　the　arms。　But　when　the　second　wrist　restraint　opened；　his　body　fell　against　my　leg　and　he　screamed。　Jamil　undid　the　last　ankle　chain；　and　I　lowered　Gregory　to　the　ground　as　gently　as　I　could。　I　was　stroking　his　hair；　his　upper　body　cradled　in　my　arms；　across　my　lap；　when　I　had　a　sense　of　movement　to　either　side。
　Jamil　couldn't　guard　both　sides　at　the　same　time。　The　knives　in　my　boots　were　trapped　under　Gregory's　body。　It　was　beautifully　timed。　I　rolled　over　Gregory's　body；　and　felt　the　cloak　rush　over　me；　as　talons　slashed　where　I'd　been。　I　went　for　the　boot　knife；　but　never　had　a　chance。　I　saw　the　clawed　hand　ing　for　me。　Everything　slowed　down；　like　images　caught　in　crystal　so　that　you　see　every　detail。　I　seemed　to　have　all　the　time　in　the　world　to　draw　the　knife；　or　to　try　and　dodge　the　slashing　talons；　yet　a　part　of　my　brain　was　screaming　that　there　was　no　time。　I　threw　myself　back　onto　the　floor；　felt　the　air　rush　over　me　as　the　snake　man　stumbled；　so　sure　of　its　target　that　it　hadn't　been　prepared　for　me　to　move。　The　rest　was　instinct。　I　foot…swept　the　snake；　and　it　was　suddenly　on　its　back。　I　got　a　knife　in　my　right　hand；　but　the　snake　was　on　its　feet；　kicking　upward　like　it　had　springs　in　its　spine。
　I　felt　more　than　saw　something　large　and　dark　leap　through　the　air　over　me；　landing　behind　me。　My　attention　was　diverted　for　a　fraction　of　a　second；　but　that　was　enough。　The　one　in　front　darted　in；　a　movement　so　fast　my　eyes　couldn't　follow　it。　I　put　my　left　arm　out；　taking　the　blow；　as　my　right　tried　to　stab　forward。　My　left　arm　went　numb　like　it　had　been　hit　with　a　baseball　bat。　I　could　have　stabbed　into　the　stomach；　but　I　caught　movement　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye　and　threw　myself　on　my　side　on　the　floor　as　the　second　claw　swept　over　me。　I　slashed　at　the　legs　and　opened　a　gash　even　through　the　boots。　The　snake　screamed　and　limped　away。
　The　second　snake　came　for　me；　claws　outstretched。　I　didn't　have　time　to　get　off　the　floor　or　anything　else。　I　held　the　knife　ready；　my　left　arm　only　partially　useable；　and　watched　the　thing　fall　on　me　like　an　iridescent　nightmare。　A　smaller　black　blur　hit　it　from　the　side；　and　they　both　crashed　into　the　wall。　It　was　Meng　Die。　The　claws　ripped　into　her　pale　flesh　as　I　watched。
　I　didn't　have　time　to　see　more；　because　Coronus　loomed　up　over　me；　blood　dripping　from　his　neck　and　shoulder；　his　shirt　shredded。　Sylvie　was　behind　him；　struggling　with　Marco；　trying　to　get　past　him　to　follow　Coronus。　Her　lovely　hands　had　turned　into　claws；　though　the　rest　of　her　was　still　human。　The　really　powerful　shapeshifters　could　do　that　　partially　change　at　will。
　Jamil　was　in　the　far　corner；　fighting　with　two　of　the　snake　men。　Gregory　was　flowing　with　fur；　changing　shape；　helpless　until　he　was　finished。　I　didn't　have　time　to　look　at　the　other　half　of　the　room。　Coronus　was　almost　on　me；　and　I　was　out　of　time。　I　did　the　only　thing　I　could　think　of。　I　up…ended　the　knife　and　threw　it　at　him。　I　didn't　wait　to　see　if　it　would　hit。　I　was　already　moving　towards　the　nearest　wall　and　the　collection　of　blades。　I　had　my　hand　on　the　hilt　of　a　sword　when　Coronus　slashed　my　back　open。　I　fell　to　my　knees　screaming；　but　my　right　hand　stayed　on　the　sword；　and　I　jerked　it　from　the　wall　brackets　as　I　fell。　I　turned；　putting　my　left　side　to　him。　He　sliced　open　my　left　shoulder；　but　it　didn't　hurt　like　my　back　had。　Either　the　wound　was　deeper；　or　I　was　losing　the　feeling　in　that　arm。　I　used　the　seconds　I　had　　the