lh.narcissusinchains-第43章

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　〃Under　some　threat；　I　assume。〃　He　was　looking　more　amused　than　angry　now。
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃And　the　other　one？〃
　〃He　tried　to　rape　me。〃
　Jean…Claude's　eyes　went　wide。　〃What　became　of　him？〃
　〃I　killed　him。〃
　He　touched　my　face；　gently。　〃I　have　only　recently　understood　why　I　was　so　very　attracted　to　you　from　almost　the　first　time　I　heard　you　interact　with　the　police。〃
　〃Not　love　at　first　sight；〃　I　said；　〃but　love　at　first　hearing。　I　don't　have　that　good　a　voice。〃
　〃Do　not　underestimate　the　dulcet　sounds　of　your　voice；　ma　petite；　but　it　was　not　the　sound　of　your　voice　that　fascinated　me。　It　was　your　words。　I　knew　from　the　moment　I　heard　you；　the　moment　I　saw　the　gun　and　realized　that　this　lovely；　petite　woman　was　the　executioner；　that　you　would　never　die　waiting　for　me　to　save　you　　that　you　would　save　yourself。〃
　I　cupped　his　hand　against　my　cheek；　looked　into　his　eyes　and　saw　again　that　sorrow　for　failing　to　save　Julianna　that　never　quite　left　him。　〃So　you　wanted　me　because　I　was　such　a　tough　broad？〃
　He　let　me　make　the　joke。　He　even　smiled；　but　it　never　reached　his　eyes。　〃Oui；　ma　petite。〃
　My　voice　was　soft　when　I　said；　〃So　Arturo　wanted　Julianna。〃
　He　took　his　hand　back；　slowly。　〃And　she　feared　him；　and　we　feared　for　her。　This　is　two　hundred　years　ago；　a　little　more　now。　Asher　was　not　as　powerful　as　he　is　now；　and　we　feared　that　his　human　servant　would　not　survive　Arturo's　attentions。〃
　〃I've　got　to　ask；　how　big　was　he？〃
　Jean…Claude　spaced　his　hands　apart　like　you'd　measure　a　fish。　〃Like　this　big。〃　It　looked　to　be　about　six　inches。
　〃That's　not　so　big。〃
　〃That　is　how　wide　he　was；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　I　just　gaped　at　him。　〃You're　exaggerating。〃
　〃No；　ma　petite；　believe　me；　I　remember。〃
　〃Then　how　long　was　he？〃
　He　made　another　measuring　movement。　I　laughed　because　I　didn't　believe　him。　〃Oh；　please。　You're　saying　he　was　what；　about　six　inches　wide　and　over　a　foot　long？　No　way。〃
　〃Yes；　way；　ma　petite。〃
　〃You　said　Arturo　was　one　of　Belle's　favorites。　Does　that　mean　she　。。。　〃
　〃Had　sex　with　him；　oui。〃
　I　frowned；　couldn't　think　of　a　slick　way　to　say　it；　so　just　blurted　out；　〃Didn't　it　hurt　her？〃
　〃She　was　a　woman　with　a　large　capacity　for　men　in　every　way。〃
　Gee；　that　was　polite。　〃Most　women　wouldn't　be　able　to　。。。　acmodate　that；〃　I　said。
　〃No；〃　he　agreed。
　〃Did　she　want　to　kill　Julianna？〃
　〃No；　she　believed　Arturo　would　not　harm　her。〃
　〃Why？〃
　He　licked　his　lips；　which　he　rarely　did；　and　looked　unfortable；　which　he　did　even　less　often。　〃Let　us　say　that　something　that　Belle　Morte　taught　Asher　and　me　to　take　pleasure　in；　we　also　did　with　Julianna。〃
　I　frowned　at　him；　because　I　so　did　not　have　a　clue。　〃If　you're　hinting；　I'm　not　getting　it。〃
　〃I　would　rather　not　discuss　it；　now。　Perhaps　at　a　later　time。〃
　I　frowned　harder。　〃What　aren't　you　telling　me？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　think；　ma　petite；　that　you　would　rather　not　know。〃
　I　looked　at　him。　〃You　know；　Jean…Claude；　there　was　a　time　　not　that　long　ago　　that　I'd　have　thrown　a　fit　and　made　you　tell　me　everything。　But　now　if　you　tell　me　I　don't　want　to　know；　then　I'll　just　believe　you。　I　really　am　not　up　to　hearing　intimate　and　shocking　details　about　your　vampire　sex　life。　I've　had　enough　shocks　in　that　area　for　one　day。〃
　〃Ma　petite；　I　think　you　are　growing　up　at　last。〃
　〃Don't　push　it。　And　I'm　not　growing　up；　I'm　just　getting　tired。〃
　〃As　are　we　all；　ma　petite；　as　are　we　all。〃
　I　let　the　royal　blue　satin　robe　fall　from　my　hands。　It　had　wide　lace　sleeves　and　more　lace　at　what　passed　for　the　lapels；　to　curve　in　flowers　down　the　sides。　It　was　beautiful　and　fit　me　perfectly。　Most　robes　are　too　long　for　me。　He'd　probably　bought　it　with　me　in　mind。　I　belted　it　in　place　and　didn't　want　to　ask　any　more　questions　about　the　ardeur　and　sex　and　vampire　stuff。　But　some　things　had　to　be　clear　between　us。
　〃I　need　to　get　this　straight；　Jean…Claude。〃
　〃Oui；　ma　petite。〃
　〃You　say　that　what　we　did　was　sex；　so　in　effect　I　had　sex　with　everyone？〃
　He　just　nodded。
　〃You　don't　seem　at　all　jealous　about　that。〃
　〃I　was　participating；　ma　petite。　Why　should　I　be　jealous？〃
　The　answer　confused　me　more。　I　frowned　up　at　him。　〃Okay；　let　me　try　this　again。　You　say　the　ardeur　may　need　to　be　fed　more　than　once　a　day。　We　can't　count　on　you　being　Johnny…on…the…spot　when　it　happens。　I　can　sleep　over　here；　but　。。。　〃
　〃You　may　need　to　feed　when　I　am　not　awake。　This　is　very　possible；　in　fact；　it　is　likely。〃
　〃Okay；　then　what　are　the　rules？〃
　It　was　his　turn　to　frown。　〃What　do　you　mean；　ma　petite？〃
　〃Rules。　I　mean　like　what　will　make　you　jealous　and　what　won't？　What；　or　who；　am　I　supposed　to　stay　away　from？〃
　He　started　to　smile；　then　stopped。　〃You　are　one　of　the　most　cynical　people　I　have　ever　met；　the　most　practical　in　a　life…and…death　context；　and　if　you　knew　some　of　the　people　I　had　met；　you　would　understand　the　pliment　that　is。　But　you　are　also　very　earnest；　like　a　child。　It　is　a　type　of　innocence　that　I　do　not　think　you　will　ever　outgrow。　But　I　find　it　hard　to　deal　with。〃
　〃It's　a　fair　question。〃
　〃Indeed　it　is；　but　most　people　would　not　need　to　ask　it　so　blandly。　They　would　either　ignore　it　and　do　the　best　they　could　when　the　need　arose；　or　they　would　ask　who　among　my　people　will　I　allow　you　to　have　sex　with；　without　being　angry。〃
　It　made　me　wince　to　hear　him　say　it；　but　。。。　〃I　like　the　way　I　phrased　the　question　better。〃
　〃I　know。　You　are　simultaneously　one　of　the　most　direct　women　I　know；　and　one　of　the　most　self…deluding。〃
　〃I　am　really　not　liking　where　this　conversation's　going。〃
　〃Fine；　but　I　will　answer　my　question；　because　it　is　the　truth。　If　Nathaniel　is　your　pomme　de　sang；　then　I　will　let　intimacy　with　him　pass。　Jason　as　my　pomme　de　sang　is　within　his　rights　to　make　love　with　my　human　servant。　It　is　considered　a　great　gift　for　a　vampire　to　share　his　servant　with　another；　and　Jason　has　earned　that。　He　has　served　me　faithfully　for　many　years。〃
　〃I'm　not　a　prize　to　be　given　away。〃
　He　held　up　a　hand。　〃Hush；　ma　petite；　I　will　answer　the　question；　and　I　will　try　for　truth；　even　though　you　do　not　want　to　hear　it　today。　There　are　many　things　I　would　have　told　you　today；　if　you　had　been　in　the　mood　for　truth。　But　you　are　right；　this　we　must　have　clear　between　us。　I　would　simply　have　urged　you　to　keep　Nathaniel　close　at　hand　and　let　the　cards　fall　as　they　may；　but　if　you　insist　on　a　list；　then　I　will　give　it　to　you；　but　not　without　reasons。　Because　I　want　it　clear　that　I　do　not　share　you　lightly；　and　there　are　men　I　will　not　share　you　with　at　all。〃
　He　was　angry　now；　and　his　eyes　had　bled　to　sapphire　flame。　The　rest　of　his　body　was　very　still；　but　the　eyes　gave　it　all　away。　He　was　in　the　grip　of　some　strong　emotion；　probably　anger；　but　I　wasn't　sure。　And　he　was　shielding　like　a　son　of　a　bitch；　so　something　he　was　feeling；　or　thinking；　he　didn't　want　me　to　share。
　〃Asher　is　acceptable。〃
　He　didn't　give　the　reasons　for　that　one；　and　I　didn't　ask；　because　there　were　too　many　of　them；　most　of　them　painful。
　〃If　Richard　es　to　his　senses；　then　of　course。〃　He　smoothed　his　hands　down　the　front　of　his　robe；　he　often　checked　his　clothes　when　he　was　nervous。　〃The　Nimir…Raj　will　have　to　be　acceptable；　because　he　calls　to　you。　Richard's　beast　calls　to　you　through　my　marks；　my　ties　to　him；　to　it；　but　the　Nimir…Raj；　he　calls　to　you；　Anita。〃　My　real　name　again。　He　was　not　happy。　〃He　calls　to　something　in　you；　in　your　power。　It　may　be　that　you　are　truly　Nimir…Ra；　and　the　full　moon　will　see　it　true。　Or　it　may　be　that；　as　with　Nathaniel；　you　have　found　your　animal　to　call。　If　you　are　drawn　more　strongly　to　all　the　leopards；　then　it　could　be　for　either　reason。　Be　wary　if　the　leopards　are　yours　to　call。　It　may　not　merely　be　Nathaniel　and　the　Nimir…Raj　that　beckon。〃
　〃Please；　don't　tell　me　that　I'm　going　to　turn　into　slut…girl。〃
　He　smiled。　〃I　do　not　think　you　need　to　fear　that。　You　are　stronger　willed　than　that。〃
　〃You　just　said　I　might　be　tempted　by　the　other　wereleopards。〃
　〃If　the　Nimir…Raj　or　Nathaniel　are　not　near　you　when　the　ardeur　rises；　then　my　advice　is　to　give　in　to　it　instantly。〃
　I　gave　him　wide　eyes。
　〃If　you　fight　it；　ma　petite；　it　grows。　If　it　grows　large　enough；　then　you　may　indeed　turn　into　slut…girl。　If　you　give　in　and　feed　immediately；　then　you　will　have　sex　with　one　person；　not　several；　and　it　will　be　more　a　person　of　your　choosing。〃
　〃So　the　real　advice　is；　keep　the　men　I　prefer　within　easy　reach。〃
　〃I　would　make　Nathaniel；　or　someone　of　your　choosing；　your　constant　panion。〃
　I　swallowed　hard　and　searched　his　face；　but　it　was　pleasantly　blank　　his　expression　when　he　didn't　want　me　to　know　what　he　was　thinking。　His　eyes　had　bled　back　to　normal。
　Something　occurred　to　me。　〃I　haven't　seen　Damian　around。〃
　〃I　speak　of　sex；　and　you　think　of　Damian。〃　His　voice　was　still　pleasant　but　the　words　held　something　harsh。
　〃You　give　me　this　list　of　people　to　sleep　with；　and　not　to　sleep　with；　but　you　leave　him　off　either　list。　And　he　wasn't　at　the　club；　and　he　didn't　e　to　the　bedroom；　attracted　by　the　power　like　Asher。　Where　is　he？〃
　Jean…Claude　rubbed　his　hands　over　his　face。　〃I　was　going　to　tell　you；　then　you　decided　you　wanted　no　more　hard　truths　today。〃　He　lowered　his　hands　and　looked　at　me。
　〃He's　alive；　I'd　know　it　if　he　wasn't。〃
　〃Yes；　I　believe　you　would。　There　was　a　time　when　my　first　master　made　my　heart　beat。　Her　power　suffused　me；　made　me　live。　But　her　power　came　from　her　Master　of　the　City；　so　it　was　in　reality　his　power　that　filled　me。　Each　master　vampire　that　I　belonged　to　demanded　blood　oaths；　and　each　one　in　turn　made　my　blood　course；　my　heart　move。　Then　Belle；　herself；　the　head　of　my　line；　brought　me　in；　and　she　filled　me。　She　was　like　the　pounding　of　the　ocean；　and　all　others　before　her　were　but　rivers　seeking　to　drown　in　her　embrace。　Gradually；　I　filled　with　my　own　power。　But　even　now　it　is　her　lineage　that　makes　me　live。　The　power　that　made　her　is　what　keeps　me　alive。　Damian　is　descended　from　her　line；　not　from　Belle　herself；　but　from　one　of　her　children；　as　I　am。　I　am　Master　of　the　City　and　the　power　that　animates　me；　animates　Damian。　When　he　took　the　oaths　that　bound　him　to　me；　that　made　him　loyal　to　me；　it　became　my　power　that　filled　him；　my　power　that　made　his　heart　beat。　And　I　broke　the　tie　with　She　who　made　him。〃
　〃You　make　all　the　vampires　under　you　alive？〃　I　made　it　a　question。
　〃The　power　es　through　me；　yes；　but　only　if　they　are　of　my　line；　my　lineage。　If　they　are　descended　from　other　than　Belle's　children；　then　no；　the　blood　oaths　do　not　bind　as　tightly。〃
　〃What　about　Asher？　You　don't　make　his　heart　beat。〃
　He　nodded。　〃Very　good；　ma　petite。　No；　I　do　not。　A　Master　Vampire　is　a　vampire　that　has　bee　enough　of　a　power　that　they　fill　themselves　up。　It　is　one　of　the　things　that　being　a　master　means；　and　one　of　the　reasons　that　many　of　the　older　vampire　masters　still　kill　their　children　when　they　feel　that　tie　break。〃
　〃You're　volunteering　an　awful　lot　of　information；　and　don't　think　I'm　not　grateful；　it's　fascinating；　but　what　does　this　all　have　to　do　with　Damian？〃
　〃You　have　raised　Damian　from　his　coffin　once；　filling　him　with　your　necromancy　like　a　zombie。　You　have　saved　his　life　twice　with　your　necromancy。　You　have　forged　a　tie　between　him　and　you。〃
　Actual