lh.narcissusinchains-第88章

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　Jean…Claude　raised　up；　blood　in　a　crimson　wash　across　his　mouth；　chin；　down　his　neck。　There　was　so　much　blood；　it　made　me　afraid　to　look　at　Micah's　neck。　Micah's　claws　stayed　in　Jean…Claude's　back。　I　could　see　the　tension　as　if　every　muscle　were　poised　to　drive　the　claws　farther　in。
　〃The　Nimir…Raj　holds　me　in　place；　ma　petite。　I　cannot　move。〃
　〃Micah；　let　him　up。〃
　Micah　didn't　move；　and　I　guess　I　couldn't　blame　him；　but　。。。　I　aimed　the　gun　at　his　head　because　that　was　the　only　clear　shot　I　had。　I　had　a　small　spurt　of　panic　that　I　might　have　to　pull　the　trigger；　then　a　calmness　welled　over　me；　and　I　stood　in　that　well　of　silence；　that　buzzing　white　noise　that　I　went　to　when　I　killed。　There　was　no　feeling　here；　there　was　almost　nothing　here。
　〃I　。。。　will　。。。　kill　you；　Micah。〃　My　voice　sounded　as　empty　as　I　felt。
　Micah　turned　his　head　slowly　to　look　at　me。　Blood　flowed　from　the　left　side　of　his　neck　down　his　shoulder；　his　chest。　He　was　drenched　in　his　own　blood。　I　could　see　more　of　it　welling　up；　sliding　down；　but　not　constant；　the　blood　pumped　out　with　his　pulse。　Shit。
　〃Let　him　up；　Micah；　he's　pierced　your　carotid。〃　I　lowered　the　gun　and　started　to　close　the　distance　between　them。
　Micah　looked　up　at　the　vampire；　still　poised　with　his　claws　in　Jean…Claude's　flesh。　〃If　I　die；　I　want　him　to　go　with　me。〃
　〃It　should　be　simple　enough　for　a　Nimir…Raj　of　your　power　to　heal　such　a　small　wound；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　still　pressed　around　the　other　man's　body；　intimate。
　Micah　withdrew　the　claws　from　Jean…Claude's　back。　Jean…Claude　moved　enough　to　prop　himself　up　on　his　hands。　I　saw　Micah　tense　a　second　before　his　arm　swung　in　that　unbelievable　speed；　so　fast；　so　fast。　Jean…Claude's　throat　hadn't　even　started　to　bleed　when　Micah's　hand　was　back　at　his　side。　Then　blood　spilled　in　a　fountain　from　Jean…Claude's　throat。
　〃Heal　that；〃　Micah　said。
　I　was　left　standing　there；　watching　them　both　bleed　to　death。　Mother　fucking　son　of　a　bitch。
　
　51
　
　JEAN…CLAUDE　HALF　FELL；　half　moved　off　of　Micah。　Blood　sprayed　in　a　red　rain　as　he　knelt　on　all　fours；　coughing；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　clear　his　throat。　It　made　the　blood　pump　faster。
　I　screamed；　at　first　wordless；　then　I　thought　of　something　better。　I　screamed；　〃Asher！〃
　Micah　was　already　rolling　in　black　fur；　bones　sliding　in　and　out；　muscles　rolling　in　glimpses　of　pinkish　flesh。　He'd　shapeshift　and　heal　himself；　but　Jean…Claude　couldn't　shapeshift。
　I　grabbed　Jean…Claude's　arm；　and　the　moment　I　touched　him　the　marks　flared　between　us。　I　was　choking　on　my　own　blood；　drowning　in　it。　Strong　hands　were　digging　into　my　arms；　fingers　like　cold　stone。　I　blinked　and　found　Jean…Claude's　face　glowing　like　carved　alabaster　with　white　light　inside　it。　His　skin　glowed　behind　the　coating　of　blood　on　his　lower　face；　like　rubies　spread　across　diamonds。　His　eyes　were　pools　of　molten　sapphire　flame；　if　fire　could　be　cold；　achingly　cold。　A　wind　sprang　from　his　body；　from　our　bodies；　and　it　was　the　cold　of　the　grave　that　danced　around　us；　fluttered　our　hair　around　our　faces。　We　reached　that　cold　power　out；　out；　to　find　Richard；　and　as　before　the　answer　came　against　our　skin。　Jason　was　kneeling　beside　us。　I　didn't　have　time　to　marvel　that　he　was　healed。　He　touched　us　and　the　mark　that　was　Richard　flared　through　his　body；　a　warmth　to　dance　with　our　coldness。　And　I　knew　Micah　was　kneeling　behind　me；　furred　and　clawed。　I　felt　him　at　my　back　the　way　I　felt　Jason；　as　if　he　were　tied　to　us。
　Micah　fell　back；　screaming；　〃Nooo！〃　The　tie　was　cut　and　for　a　second　I　swayed；　as　if　part　of　my　support　was　gone；　then　Nathaniel　was　there；　and　the　world　was　solid　again。
　We　knelt；　bound　by　flesh；　magic；　and　blood。　I　watched　the　flesh　in　Jean…Claude's　throat　reknit；　reform；　remake；　reshape　itself　until　the　flesh　was　perfect　and　white；　surrounded　by　a　coating　of　wet　blood。　He'd　healed　so　fast　that　the　blood　hadn't　had　time　to　dry。
　I　smelled　roses；　not　the　faint　perfume　of　potpourri；　but　thick；　melt…on…your…tongue；　old…fashioned　garden　roses；　as　if　I　were　drowning　in　the　cloying　sweetness　of　them。　It　was　like　being　dipped　in　honey　that　you　knew　had　poison　in　it。
　Honey；　honey　brown　eyes。　I　remembered　the　pale　honey　brown　of　Belle　Morte's　eyes。　〃Do　you　smell　the　roses？〃　I　asked。
　Jean…Claude　turned　drowning　blue　eyes　to　me。　〃Roses？　I　smell　nothing　but　the　scent　of　your　perfume；　and　skin。〃　He　scented　the　air；　〃And　blood。〃
　Nathaniel　and　Jason　were　lost　in　the　wonder　of　the　power　rush；　but　no　one　smelled　roses　but　me。　Once　upon　a　time　I'd　smelled　perfume　when　a　certain　Master　Vampire　had　been　using　her　magic。　My　friend　and　fellow　animator；　Larry　Kirkland；　had　smelled　the　perfume；　too；　but　no　one　else　around　us　had　been　able　to　scent　it。
　I　looked　into　Jean…Claude's　eyes；　not　with　my　sight；　but　with　my　magic；　and　found　something；　something　that　wasn't　him。　It　was　subtle。　What　she'd　done　with　me　earlier　had　been　like　a　sledgehammer　between　the　eyes；　this　was　a　stiletto　in　the　dark。
　I　found　the　thread　of　her　power　coiled　in　him；　and　the　moment　my　magic；　my　necromancy；　hit　it；　the　power　uncoiled；　opened；　and　it　was　like　a　window　thrown　wide。　I　saw　her　sitting　in　her　room　by　fire　and　candlelight；　as　if　electricity　hadn't　been　invented。　She　was　dressed　in　a　white　lace　dressing　gown；　all　that　black　hair　falling　around　her；　and　a　bowl　of　pink　roses　next　to　her　pale　hand。　She　turned　those　huge　pale　brown　eyes　to　me；　and　I　saw　the　surprise　on　her　face；　the　shock。　She　saw　me　kneeling　with　the　men；　as　I　saw　her　before　her　dressing　table　with　her　roses。
　I　cut　her　off；　cast　her　out　of　Jean…Claude；　as　I'd　cast　her　out　of　me　earlier。　It　was　easier；　because　she　hadn't　tried　to　possess　him；　only　to　tamper　with　him；　to　be　that　dark　voice　in　his　ear　that　pushed　him　a　little　over　the　edge。
　Jean…Claude　slumped　suddenly；　as　if　dizzy。　He　raised　eyes　to　me　that　were　as　normal　as　they　ever　got；　his　usual　midnight　blue。　There　was　fear　on　his　face；　no　hiding　it。　〃I　thought　I　saw　Belle；　sitting　before　her　mirror。〃
　I　nodded。　〃You　did。〃
　He　looked　at　me；　and　I　think　that　only　all　our　hands　on　him　kept　him　from　falling　to　the　floor。　〃She　weakened　my　control　of　the　ardeur。〃
　〃And　your　control　of　your　temper；〃　I　said。
　〃What　has　happened？〃　Asher　asked。
　I　looked　up　to　find　that　everyone　was　back　in　the　room。　〃Any　of　this　blood　yours；　ma'am？〃　Bobby　Lee　asked。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Not　a　scratch　on　me。〃
　〃Then　I　guess　we　won't　get　blacklisted　from　the　bodyguard　union　for　leaving　you　alone　with　a　shapeshifter　and　a　vampire；　so　they　could　fight　over　you。〃　He　was　shaking　his　head。　〃The　next　time　you　ask　us　to　leave　you　alone　because　it's　your　love　life；　we　aren't　going　to　listen　to　you。〃
　I　shook　my　head；　again。　〃We'll　talk　about　it　later。〃
　〃No；　ma'am；〃　he　said；　〃we　won't。〃
　I　let　the　argument　go。　There　was　always　time　to　fight　later。　Besides；　he　was　too　close　to　right。　If　I'd　gotten　between　them　at　the　wrong　moment；　who　knew　what　accident　might　have　happened？
　Jean…Claude　spoke　softly；　voice　urgent；　to　Asher。　They　were　speaking　French　and　I　still　didn't　know　enough　to　catch　more　than　a　word　here　and　there。　I　heard　Belle；　clearly；　several　times。
　In　English　Asher　said；　〃Do　you　remember　Marcel？〃
　〃Oui。　He　went　mad　one　night　and　slew　his　entire　household。〃
　〃Including　his　human　servant；〃　Asher　said；　〃which　is　what　killed　him。〃
　The　two　vampires　stared　at　each　other。　〃No　one　ever　understood　what　had　caused　it；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃So　fortuitous；〃　Asher　said；　〃only　two　nights　before　he　would　have　fought　Belle　for　her　Council　seat。〃
　Jean…Claude　took　Asher's　offered　hand　and　let　him　help　him　to　his　feet。　Asher　had　to　steady　Jean…Claude　with　a　hand　on　his　elbow。　〃So　fortuitous　that　many　tried　to　prove　she　had　poisoned　him；　or　some　such；〃　Asher　said。
　Jean…Claude　nodded；　passing　a　hand　over　his　face；　as　if　he　were　still　dizzy。　I　felt　nothing；　as　if　my　necromancy　protected　me　from　whatever　Belle　had　done　to　him。　〃The　Council　themselves　tried　to　prove　her　at　fault　and　failed；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃Did　they　hire　a　witch　to　look　into　the　magic　angle？〃　I　asked。　I　stood　on　my　own；　just　fine。　Nathaniel　and　Jason　got　to　their　feet；　again　with　no　ill…effects；　except　for　Jason's　stupid　grin；　which　he　often　wore　after　a　power　rush
　The　vampires　looked　at　me。　〃Non；〃　Asher　said；　〃no　one　thought　of　it。〃
　〃Why　the　hell　not？〃
　〃Because；　ma　petite；　she　should　not　be　able　to　do　what　she　did　to　a　Master　of　the　City；　even　one　of　her　own　bloodline。　That　she　could　do　this　to　a　Master　of　the　City　that　was　not　her　bloodline　would　be　unthinkable。〃
　〃Impossible；〃　Asher　added。
　〃I　think　it's　like　real　possible；〃　I　said。　〃I　caught　her　in　the　act。〃
　〃Who's　Belle？〃　Micah　asked　in　his　growling　leopard　voice。
　I　turned　to　him；　slowly；　and　something　must　have　shown　on　my　face；　because　Merle　moved　in　front　of　him；　and　suddenly　the　two　wererats　were　alert；　starting　to　move　up　beside　me。　I　don't　know　what　I　was　about　to　say；　probably　something　really　angry；　because　Micah　beat　me　to　it。
　〃He　pierced　my　jugular　vein；　Anita。　I'm　allowed　to　defend　myself　when　someone　tries　to　eat　my　throat　out。〃
　〃Remember　I'm　his　human　servant。　He　dies；　so　might　I。〃
　He　stalked　around　Merle；　gliding　on　bent　legs　and　kitty…cat　feet。　〃So　I'm　just　supposed　to　let　him　kill　me？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　〃no；　but　your　wound　wasn't　life…threatening。　You　proved　that　already。　There's　not　a　scratch　on　you　now。〃
　〃I　healed　it；　yes；　but　not　every　shapeshifter　could　have　healed　it。　A　vampire　wound　is　a　lot　like　silver；　it　can　kill；　and　most　of　us　heal　from　those　wounds　like　we　were　human。〃　He　was　standing　very　close　to　me；　those　green…gold　eyes　sparkling　with　anger。　〃He　meant　to　kill　me；　Anita；　don't　think　he　didn't。〃
　〃He　is　right；　ma　petite；　if　he　had　not　held　me　off　more；　I　would　have　torn　his　throat　out。〃
　I　turned　back　to　Jean…Claude。　〃What　are　you　saying？〃
　〃I　saw　him　on　top　of　you；　and　I　was　drowning　in　jealousy。　I　meant　him　harm；　ma　petite。　He　defended　himself。〃
　〃He　didn't　have　to　do　that　last　blow。　The　fight　had　stopped。〃
　Jean…Claude　looked　past　me　at　Micah；　and　there　was　something　on　his　face　　respect；　I　think。　〃If　he　had　done　to　me　what　I　did　to　him；　then　I　would　have　had　no　choice　but　to　make　my　point；〃　he　seemed　to　consider　several　words　and　settled　for；　〃strongly。〃
　〃Strongly？　He　damn　near　slit　your　throat。〃
　〃After　I　had　tried　to　do　the　same　to　him。〃
　I　was　shaking　my　head。　〃No；　no；　I　don't　。。。　〃
　〃What；　ma　petite；　are　you　truly　saying　that　if　someone　had　torn　your　throat　out；　tried　for　your　life；　that　you　wouldn't　have　shot　them？〃
　I　opened　my　mouth　to　argue；　closed　it；　tried　again；　and　stopped。　I　looked　at　him；　then　back　at　Micah；　then　back　to　Jean…Claude。　〃Well；　damn。〃
　〃The　Nimir…Raj　has　made　his　point；　ma　petite。　He　is　willing　to　be　acmodating　up　to　a　point　　beyond　that　point　there　is　no　promise。〃
　Micah　nodded；　and　the　movement　looked　awkward　in　his　furred　body。　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　have　the　same　rule；　ma　petite；　as　do　I。　The　three　of　us　merely　have　different　places　where　the　line　is　drawn。　But　the　line　is　there　for　all　of　us。〃
　〃How　can　you　both　be　so　reasonable　about　this？　You　both　nearly　just　killed　each　other！〃
　They　looked　at　each　other；　around　me；　again；　and　there　was　something　in　that　look。　It　was　something　m