lh.narcissusinchains-第70章

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　Igor's　logic　was　hard　to　argue　with；　but　it　meant　that　I　had　acquired　two　tall；　muscular　shadows；　and　it　irritated　me。　But　neither　of　them　gave　a　damn　whether　I　was　happy　or　not。　They　were　following　Rafael's　orders；　and　my　wishes　didn't　count。
　So　Richard　and　his　bodyguards；　and　me；　with　mine；　stood　on　the　deck；　facing　Stephen；　who　had　stripped　off　in　preparation　for　the　change。　If　you　made　the　change　with　clothes　on；　you　ruined　them。　Shapeshifters　either　haunted　the　thrift　shops；　looking　for　old　clothes　to　wear　on　the　night　of　the　full　moon；　or　went　nude。
　We　all　stood　there　in　the　circle　of　Richard's　power。　The　energy　built　around　us　like　invisible　lightning　lashing　around　us。　The　power　literally　crackled；　raising　the　hair　on　our　arms；　raising　the　hair　on　our　heads；　like　the　hackles　on　a　dog。
　Jamil　said；　〃Richard　。。。　〃　But　one　glance　from　Richard　stopped　him　in　mid…sentence。　The　power　rose　another　notch；　squeezing　around　us　like　some　kind　of　giant　hand。
　〃What's　wrong；　Richard？　What's　with　the　power　display？〃　I　asked。
　He　turned　to　me；　and　the　anger　in　his　face　made　me　want　to　step　back；　but　I　didn't。　I　stood　my　ground；　but　it　took　effort。
　〃Do　you　want　to　save　your　cat？〃　he　asked；　voice　thick　with　the　emotion　that　showed　on　his　face；　that　crackled　in　his　power。
　My　voice　was　almost　a　whisper；　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　watch；〃　he　said。
　He　spread　his　hands　in　front　of　Stephen；　keeping　them　about　eight　inches　away　from　the　smaller　man's　shoulders。　The　energy　squeezed　tight；　and　tighter　until　I　had　to　swallow　to　try　and　clear　my　ears；　as　if　there'd　been　a　pressure　change。　But　swallowing　didn't　help。　It　wasn't　that　kind　of　pressure。
　Richard's　hands　convulsed；　as　if　his　fingers　were　digging　into　something　invisible　just　in　front　of　Stephen。　He　staggered　towards　Richard；　one　step；　and　I　was　close　enough　to　hear　a　small　pained　sound　e　from　him。　Richard　balled　his　hands　into　fists；　and　something　shimmered　between　them　like　heat　caught　in　the　close　summer　darkness。　The　bones　in　my　face　ached　with　the　building　power。　The　air　was　almost　too　thick　to　breathe；　as　if　it　had　weight。
　Richard　made　one　abrupt　movement　with　his　hands　and　the　pressure　broke；　like　a　storm　finally　bursting　to　life。　For　a　second　or　two；　I　thought　the　heavy；　clear　liquid　that　burst　around　us　was　rain；　but　it　was　hot　like　blood；　and　it　didn't　fall　from　the　sky。　It　burst　from　Stephen's　body。　I'd　seen　dozens　of　shape…shifters　change；　but　nothing　like　this。　It　was　as　if　Stephen's　body　blew　apart　in　a　rain　of　hot；　thick　fluids　and　small　bits　of　flesh。　The　beast　usually　pulls　itself　from　the　human　body；　like　a　butterfly　from　a　chrysalis；　but　not　this　time。　Stephen's　body　folded　over　on　itself；　and　his　man…wolf　shape　was　just　suddenly　standing　there。　It　collapsed　to　its　knees；　panting；　shivering。
　I　was　left　standing；　not　even　breathing；　covered　in　the　rapidly　cooling　bits　and　pieces　of　Stephen's　body。　When　I　could　breathe　again；　I　gasped。　〃Jesus　Christ。〃
　Stephen's　fur　was　the　color　of　dark；　golden　honey。　He　crouched；　shivering　at　Richard's　feet。　Again；　the　change　may　hurt　while　the　person　is　going　through　it；　but　once　it's　over；　they　usually　stand　up　and　start　moving　around。　Stephen　seemed　disoriented；　almost　like　he　was　in　pain。　What　the　hell　was　happening？
　He　crawled　the　last　few　steps　to　Richard；　laying　his　long；　teeth…filled　snout　against　his　wolf　king's　jogging　shoes。　He　was　almost　in　a　fetal　position；　great；　muscular　arms　wrapped　around　golden　fur；　lying　at　his　Ulfric's　feet。　It　was　extreme　submissive　behavior；　and　I　didn't　know　why。　Stephen　hadn't　done　anything　wrong。
　I　looked　up　at　Richard。　His　white　shirt　was　plastered　to　his　body　with　the　thick　fluids。　He　turned　his　face　to　look　at　me；　and　the　faint　light　of　stars　glistened　in　the　wetness　on　his　face。　A　thick　piece　of　something　slid　down　his　cheek　as　he　glared　at　me。　The　look　on　his　face　was　defiant；　as　if　he　expected　me　to　be　angry　with　him。
　I　raised　a　shaking　hand　and　wiped　the　worst　of　the　gunk　off　of　my　face；　flinging　it　onto　the　deck　where　it　hit　with　a　wet　splat。　I　looked　at　the　bodyguards。　They　too　were　spattered　with　the　thick　stuff；　but　not　nearly　as　messy　as　Richard　and　I。　They　hadn't　been　standing　as　close。　They　all　stared　at　Richard；　stared　at　him　with　a　mixture　of　horror　and　anger　and　astonishment　on　their　faces；　which　let　me　know　that　something　was　very；　very　wrong。
　I　had　to　try　twice　before　I　could　speak；　and　even　then　my　voice　was　breathy。　〃I've　seen　a　lot　of　shapeshifters　change　into　their　beasts；　but　I've　never　seen　anything　like　that。　Was　it　different　because　you　called　Stephen's　beast　instead　of　him　doing　it　on　his　own？〃
　〃No；〃　Richard　said。
　I　waited　for　more；　but　that　was　all　he　said；　and　it　looked　like　all　he　intended　to　say。　But　no　just　didn't　cover　it。　I　looked　at　the　others。　〃Okay；　someone　tell　me　what　just　happened　here。〃
　Jamil　started　to　speak；　then　stopped　and　looked　at　Richard。　〃With　my　Ulfric's　permission。〃　The　words　were　polite；　but　the　tone　was　angry；　almost　defiant。
　Richard　looked　at　him。　I　couldn't　see　his　face；　but　whatever　look　he　gave　Jamil；　it　was　something　that　made　the　other　man　flinch。　Jamil　dropped　to　one　knee　in　the　spreading　pool　of　thick　liquid。　He　bowed　his　head。　〃I　mean　no　offense；　Ulfric。〃
　〃That's　a　lie；〃　Richard　said；　and　his　voice　was　lower　than　normal；　just　a　tone　or　two　above　a　growl。
　Jamil　darted　a　glance　upward；　then　bowed　his　head　again。　〃I　don't　know　what　you　want　me　to　say；　Ulfric。　Tell　me；　and　I　will　say　it。〃
　Richard　turned　back　to　me；　leaving　Jamil　kneeling。　〃I　didn't　just　call　Stephen's　beast；　I　tore　it　from　his　body。〃
　I　glanced　down　at　Stephen；　who　was　still　crouched　at　Richard's　feet。　〃Why？〃　I　asked。
　〃It's　usually　punishment　to　do　it　this　way。〃
　〃What　did　Stephen　do？〃
　〃Nothing。〃　Richard's　voice　was　harsh；　almost　as　harsh　as　the　look　on　his　face。
　〃Then　why　punish　him？〃
　〃Because　I　could。〃　His　chin　lifted　when　he　said　it；　and　that　arrogance　was　back。
　〃What　the　hell　is　wrong　with　you；　Richard？〃
　He　laughed；　and　the　sound　was　so　inappropriate　that　it　made　me　jump。　He　laughed；　but　it　was　too　loud；　too　harsh。　〃Didn't　this　teach　you　how　to　call　Gregory's　beast？〃
　〃I　didn't　learn　a　damn　thing　except　that　you're　in　a　foul　mood　and　taking　it　out　on　other　people。〃
　〃You　want　to　know　what's　wrong？　You　really　want　to　know？〃
　〃Yeah；　I　do。〃
　〃Get　out　of　the　way；　Stephen；〃　he　said；　and　Stephen　didn't　even　ask　why；　he　just　crawled　out　from　between　us。
　We　were　left　staring　at　each　other；　not　quite　two　feet　apart。　What　he'd　done　to　Stephen　seemed　to　have　taken　the　edge　off　his　power；　but　it　was　still　there　like　some　great　slumbering　thing　pressing　against　the　surface。
　〃Open　the　marks；　Anita；　feel　what　I'm　feeling。〃
　〃I　opened　the　marks　already。　I　figured　I　had　to；　to　learn　how　to　do　this。〃
　〃So　it's　just　my　shielding？〃　He　made　it　a　question。
　I　nodded。　〃I　can　feel　your　rage；　Richard；　I　just　don't　know　why。〃
　〃Just　my　shields　between　us　and　。。。　〃　He　shook　his　head；　almost　smiling；　then　he　dropped　his　shields。　It　hit　me　like　a　physical　force；　drove　me　back　a　step。　Anger　so　raw　it　filled　my　throat　with　bile；　a　self…loathing　so　deep　that　it　drew　tears　down　my　cheeks　in　two　hot　lines。　I　stood　there　for　a　minute　feeling　Richard's　pain；　and　it　was　suffocating。
　I　stared　up　at　him；　the　tears　still　wet　on　my　cheeks。　〃Richard；　oh　my　God。〃
　〃Don't　feel　sorry　for　me；　don't　you　dare　feel　pity　for　me！〃　He　grabbed　my　arms　when　he　said　it；　and　the　moment　we　touched；　our　beasts　poured　up　from　inside　us　and　spread　across　our　skins　in　a　hot　dance　of　power。　His　beast　crashed　through　me；　invisible；　metaphysical　claws　ripping　through　my　body。　It　was　as　if　Richard's　beast　was　trying　to　eat　his　way　through　my　body。　I　screamed；　and　thrust　my　beast　into　his；　and　I　felt　claws　ripping　into　meat。　There　was　nothing　to　see　with　the　eye；　but　I　could　feel　it；　feel　fur　and　muscle　and　meat　under　claws　and　teeth。　I　screamed　not　just　from　the　pain；　but　from　the　sensations　of　cutting　Richard　up。　He　hurt　me；　and　I　wanted　to　hurt　him　back。　There　was　no　more　reasoning；　no　more　thinking；　just　reacting。
　Our　beasts　tore　through　each　other；　rolling；　clawing；　tearing。　We　collapsed　on　the　deck；　screaming。　Dimly　I　could　still　feel　Richard's　hands　locked　on　my　arms　as　if　he　couldn't　let　go。
　There　was　movement　all　around　us。　People　hovering；　but　no　one　interfered；　no　one　touched　us。　When　we　fell；　they　scattered；　as　if　afraid　to　touch　us。　Voices　shouting　above　our　screams；　〃What's　wrong？　What's　happening？　Anita；　Anita！　Richard；　control　it！〃
　His　beast　was　suddenly　like　a　weight　inside　me；　but　it　didn't　hurt。　The　two　energies　lay　quiet；　leaning　against　each　other；　not　mingling；　just　leaning。　I　could　almost　feel　the　solid　push　of　his　beast　against　something　inside　of　me　that　had　bones　and　fur；　and　wasn't　me。　I　couldn't　hear　anything　but　the　thundering　of　the　blood　in　my　own　head。　I　felt　Richard's　weight　on　top　of　me；　before　I　looked　down　to　find　him　collapsed　over　me。　His　head　rested　on　my　chest。　I　could　feel　the　pulse　of　the　blood　in　his　body；　his　heart　racing　against　the　skin　of　my　stomach。　I　was　covered　in　the　cool　slime　from　Stephen's　body。　One；　I　was　lying　in　a　pool　of　it；　two；　Richard　had　been　covered　in　it；　and　he'd　slid　down　my　body。　I　was　going　to　have　to　shower　before　I　could　go　to　bed；　even　if　it　was　dawn。　And　I　ached；　ached　as　if　I'd　been　beaten。　I　knew　I'd　be　stiff　when　I　moved。
　Everyone　was　standing　in　a　ring　above　us；　staring　down。　I　found　my　voice；　hoarse；　almost　raspy；　but　clear。　〃Get　off　of　me。〃
　Richard　raised　his　head；　slowly；　as　if　he　hurt；　too。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃You're　always　sorry；　Richard；　now　get　off　of　me。〃
　He　didn't　move；　in　fact　he　settled　heavier；　hands　curving　at　the　edges　of　my　waist。　〃Do　you　still　want　to　help　Gregory？〃
　〃That's　what　this　whole　show　is　about；　so　yeah。〃
　〃Then　let's　try　again。〃
　I　tensed；　and　started　trying　to　wriggle　out　from　under　him。　His　hands　tightened　at　my　waist。　〃Easy；　Anita；　it　won't　hurt。　I　don't　think。〃
　〃Says　you。　It　hurt　like　a　son　of　a　bitch。　Let　me　go；　Richard。〃　My　voice　held　the　beginnings　of　anger；　and　fear。　I　liked　the　anger；　could　have　done　without　the　fear。
　〃You　fought　me　to　a　standoff。　It's　over；〃　he　said。
　I　stopped　struggling　and　stared　at　him。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃We're　not　the　same　kind　of　animal；　Anita。　They　had　to　find　out　who's　。。。　tougher。〃
　I　stared　down　the　line　of　my　body　into　those　brown　eyes。　〃Are　you　saying　this　was　some　kind　of　dominance　display？〃
　〃Not　exactly。〃
　Strangely；　it　was　Merle　who　answered。　〃When　two　such　different　beasts　meet；　and　they　are　both　strong　dominants　　such　as　a　true　Nimir…Ra；　and　a　true　Ulfric　　the　two　animals　must　fight　and　test　each　other。　I　have　seen　it　before。　It　is　a　type　of　taming　of　one　beast　by　the　other。〃
　I　looked　way　up　at　the　tall　man。　〃No　one　tamed　anyone。〃
　Merle　knelt　beside　us。　〃I　think　you　are　right。　It　is　as　the　Ulfric　has　said；　a　standoff。　He　could　have　kept　fighting　until　one　of　you　won；　or　lost；　but　he　chose　to　let　it　be。〃
　I　remembered　someone　telling　Richard　to　control　it；　it　being　his　beast。　I　looked　at　Richard。　〃You　stopped；　didn't　you？〃
　〃I　don't　care　which　of　us　is　more　dominant；　Anita。　Those　kind　of　games　have　never　meant　anything　to　me；　unless　people　forc