lh.narcissusinchains-第93章

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ty；　and　you　force　me　to　do　such　as　I　swore　I　would　never　do。　I　have　been　in　the　box　and　been　food　for　my　master；　and　it　was　the　worst　thing　I　have　ever　endured。　And　now　because　you　and　he　had　your　moral　high　ground　to　keep　you　pure；　you　have　forced　me　to　be　more　practical　than　I　have　ever　wanted　to　be。〃
　He　released　me　so　suddenly　I　fell　back　against　the　floor；　slamming　an　elbow　into　the　stones。　He　stood　over　me；　as　angry　as　I'd　ever　seen　him；　and　I　had　no　anger　to　give　back。　I　finally　said；　〃I　didn't　know。〃
　〃That　is　being　a　poor　excuse；　ma　petite。〃　He　went　to　the　coffin　and　gazed　down　at　what　lay　inside。　〃I　gave　her　my　protection　once；　and　this　is　not　protection。〃　He　turned　and　glared　at　me。　〃I　do　what　I　must；　ma　petite；　but　I　take　no　pleasure　from　it；　and　I　tire　of　the　necessity　of　it。　If　you　would　but　meet　me　even　halfway；　we　could　avoid　so　much　pain。〃
　I　sat　up；　fighting　the　urge　to　rub　my　elbow。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　say　I'm　sorry？　I　am。　Do　you　want　permission　to　feed　off　of　me；　is　that　it？〃
　〃The　ardeur；　yes；〃　he　said。　〃But　in　truth；　if　you　are　in　the　mood　for　it；　simply　having　the　marks　open　and　married　gains　me　much。〃
　He　held　his　hand　out　to　Jason；　and　for　one　of　only　a　few　times；　I　saw　Jason　hesitate　before　taking　Jean…Claude's　hand。　Jean…Claude　didn't　even　look　at　him；　as　if　his　obedience　was　simply　a　fact；　like　gravity。　〃If　she　were　stronger　it　would　be　a　more　dangerous　feeding；　but　she　is　very　weak；　so　it　will　not　be　so　very　bad。〃　The　words　were　forting；　but　he　never　looked　at　Jason　as　he　lowered　the　younger　man's　wrist　towards　what　lay　in　that　coffin。
　I　got　to　my　feet；　watching　Jason's　face。　He　was　pale；　eyes　wide；　breath　ing　too　short；　too　fast。　He　didn't　normally　have　a　problem　letting　vamps　feed　on　him；　but　I　understood。　What　lay　in　that　coffin　was　something　out　of　a　nightmare。　Most　of　the　time　if　you　saw　a　vamp　looking　like　something　made　of　dried　sticks；　it　was　well　and　truly　dead。
　Jason　pulled　on　his　arm；　keeping　himself　just　out　of　reach；　I　think。　Jean…Claude　turned　to　him；　but　there　was　no　anger。　He　kept　the　one　hand　on　Jason's　arm；　and　the　other　he　touched　to　his　face；　gently。　〃Would　you　have　me　take　your　mind；　before　she　strikes？〃
　Jason　nodded；　wordlessly。
　Jean…Claude　cradled　his　hand　against　Jason's　face。　They　stared　into　each　other's　eyes；　one　of　those　long；　lingering　stares；　like　lovers；　except　I　felt　the　moment　that　Jason　slipped　away。　I　felt　his　mind　release；　his　will　evaporate。　His　face　went　slack；　his　mouth　half…parted；　eyes　fluttering。　Jean…Claude　kept　his　hand　on　the　other　man's　face；　as　he　guided　the　wrist　into　the　coffin。
　Jason's　body　tensed；　and　I　knew　that　Gretchen　had　bitten　him。　But　his　eyes　stayed　closed；　his　face　pleasant。　I　found　myself　beside　the　coffin　without　meaning　to　be。　The　dried　stick　hands　raised　as　I　watched；　clutching　at　Jason's　arm　holding　him　against　the　mouth。　Jean…Claude　moved　his　hand　back；　as　the　thing　in　the　coffin　pressed　Jason's　wrist　to　its　mouth。　Blood　flowed　over　that　brown　skin；　soaked　the　white　satin　pillow；　and　still　that　lipless　mouth　fed。
　The　room　was　suddenly　too　warm；　almost　hot。　I　turned　away　and　found　Micah　watching　me。　I　couldn't　read　his　expression；　wasn't　sure　I　wanted　to。　I　looked　away　from　whatever　was　in　his　eyes。　I　didn't　want　to　meet　anyone's　eyes　right　now。　I'd　fought　so　long　and　so　hard　not　to　be　what　I　was。　Not　to　be　Jean…Claude's　human　servant；　not　to　be　Richard's　lupa；　not　to　be　anything　to　anyone。　Everyone　seemed　to　be　paying　the　price　for　that。　I　hated　having　other　people　pay　the　price　for　my　problems。　It　was　against　the　rules　somehow。
　Jean…Claude's　voice　drew　me　back　to　the　coffin。　〃Drink；　Gretchen；　drink　of　my　blood。　I　gave　you　life　once；　let　it　be　so　again。〃　Jason　was　sitting　slumped　beside　the　coffin；　cradling　his　bloody　wrist　with　a　beatific　expression　on　his　face。　The　dried　thing　was　sitting　up　with　Jean…Claude's　arm　behind　its　shoulders。　It　looked　。。。　better；　but　still　not　alive；　not　even　quite　real。　He　offered　the　pale　flesh　of　his　wrist　to　that　lipless　mouth；　still　red　with　Jason's　blood；　and　it　bit　down。　I　heard　Jean…Claude　sigh；　but　that　was　the　only　sign　that　it　might　hurt。
　〃Blood　to　blood；　flesh　to　flesh。〃　Jean…Claude　spoke　the　words；　and　with　each　word；　with　each　suck　of　blood；　I　felt　the　power　grow；　felt　it　curl　in　my　stomach；　shorten　my　breath。　Gretchen's　body　began　to　stretch　and　fill。　The　pieces　of　hair　thickened　and　began　to　flow　around　her。　The　dried　things　in　her　eye　sockets　filled　and　began　to　have　a　hint　of　blue　to　them。　When　Jean…Claude　moved　his　wrist　from　her　mouth；　they　were　full…pouting　lips。　She　had　blue　eyes　and　a　wealth　of　yellow　hair。　She　was　thin；　her　bones　showing　under　the　near　translucent　paleness　of　her　skin。　Her　eyes　were　filled　with　fire；　nothing　human。　Her　hands　were　still　painfully　thin；　her　body　fragile；　but　she　looked　almost　like　the　vampire　that　had　tried　to　kill　me　years　ago。
　He　picked　her　up　in　his　arms；　her　body　didn't　fill　out　the　clothes　that　hung　from　her　frame。　〃Breath　to　breath；〃　he　said　and　leaned　in　towards　her。　They　kissed；　and　I　felt　the　power　pass　between　them。　I　knew　that　that　kiss　could　have　drained　her　life　away　again；　but　it　didn't。　When　he　raised　back　from　her；　her　face　was　full　and　rounded；　human　looking。　It　was　like　Prince　Charming　waking　Sleeping　Beauty；　except　that　this　beauty's　eyes　found　me；　and　the　hatred　in　them　was　a　burning　thing。
　I　sighed。　Some　people　never　learn。　I　met　that　hateful　gaze　and　said；　〃Gretchen；　I　promise　you　two　things；　you'll　never　have　to　go　back　in　that　box；　and　if　you　try　to　hurt　me　or　mine　again；　I'll　kill　you。　And　that　would　be　a　damn　shame　since　I'm　the　one　who　persuaded　Jean…Claude　to　let　you　out　in　the　first　place。〃
　She　just　looked　at　me　the　way　that　tigers　behind　bars　watch　the　visitors；　biding　their　time。　Jean…Claude　hugged　her　to　him。　〃If　you　try　and　harm　my　human　servant　again；　I　will　see　you　destroyed；　Gretal。〃　Gretal　had　been　her　original　name；　so　I'd　been　told。
　〃I　hear　you；　Jean…Claude。〃　Her　voice　sounded　rough；　as　if　the　time　in　the　coffin　had　damaged　it。
　〃e；　Jason；　we　need　to　warm　this　one。〃　Jason　got　to　his　feet　like　an　obedient　puppy；　still　bleeding；　still　happy。
　Jean…Claude　paused　in　the　doorway　looking；　not　at　me；　but　at　Asher。　〃I　must　take　this　one　to　the　bath；　or　all　the　work　will　be　undone。　But　Damian　is　a　revenant　now。〃
　Asher　raised　a　hand；　which　had　been　hidden　along　his　body。　He　had　a　gun；　a　10…millimeter　Browning；　the　big　brother　of　my　own　gun。　〃I　will　do　what　needs　doing。〃
　〃We　are　not　going　to　kill　Damian；〃　I　said。
　Jean…Claude　looked　at　me；　then　at　Micah；　and　Nathaniel；　and　Gil；　and　the　other　wereleopards；　and　even　the　bodyguards。　His　gaze　seemed　to　take　everyone　in；　then　he　looked　at　me　again。　〃I　ask　again；　ma　petite；　who　will　you　sacrifice　for　your　high　ideals？〃
　〃You　think　he　can't　be　saved；　don't　you？〃
　〃I　know　that　once　the　madness　takes　a　vampire；　even　the　master　who　bore　him　cannot　always　bring　him　back　to　his　senses。〃
　〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do　that　might　bring　him　back　to　himself？〃
　〃Let　him　feed；　try　to　see　he　does　not　kill　that　which　he　eats；　and　hope　when　he　tastes　your　blood；　he　regains　his　senses。　If　your　blood　does　not　sate　him；　then　Asher　will　try　to　feed　him。　If　that　fails　。。。　〃　He　gave　that　shrug　that　meant　everything　and　nothing；　even　holding　Gretchen　it　looked　graceful。
　〃I　don't　want　him　to　die　because　of　me。〃
　〃If　he　dies；　ma　petite；　it　will　be　because　he　tried　to　kill　someone　in　this　room。〃　With　that　he　walked　out；　Jason　trailing　behind。
　I　think；　perhaps；　I'd　used　up　Jean…Claude's　patience　with　me；　or　maybe　seeing　what　he'd　done　to　Gretchen　had　bothered　him　that　much。　Whatever　the　cause；　he　left　me　in　the　room　with　everyone　looking　to　me　as　to　how　to　proceed。　And　I　didn't　have　a　clue。　Who　was　I　willing　to　put　next　to　the　coffin？　Who　was　I　willing　to　risk？
　
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　THE　ANSWER；　OF　course；　was　no　one；　but　we　finally　decided　who　got　to　be　the　first　victim。　I　was　pretty　useless　for　the　discussion；　because　I　would　have　put　myself　first　in　line。　Never　ask　of　anyone　what　you're　not　willing　to　do　yourself。　But　Asher　pointed　out　that　I　couldn't　be　the　first　feed　if　I　had　any　chance　of　being　Damian's　master。　So　they　decided　among　themselves；　and　it　was　Zane　left　standing　next　to　the　coffin。
　Everybody　but　me　that　had　a　gun　had　it　out　with　a　round　chambered。　I　needed　my　hands　free　to　offer　up　a　body　part　to　get　gnawed　on。　e　to　think　of　it；　I　didn't　much　like　that　job　description　either。　But　it　wasn't　watching　Zane's　pale　back　as　he　unfastened　the　chain　that　bothered　me；　it　was　watching　Cherry's　face　as　she　watched　him　do　it。　That　much　fear　for　someone's　safety；　that　much　importance　attached　to　one　other　being　meant　that　it　was　love　for　her；　too。　They　loved　each　other；　and　he　was　about　to　cry；　cry　for　help；　and　loose　the　carrion　birds　to　feed；　and　feed；　and　feed。
　The　lid　of　the　coffin　was　only　half　raised　when　Zane　jerked　forward　and　pale　hands　showed　around　him；　holding　him。　Blood　sprayed　the　white　satin　of　the　coffin；　spattered　over　Zane's　shoulders；　and　the　only　thing　we　could　see　of　Damian　was　pale　hands　and　arms　latched　around　Zane's　back。　There　was　no　shot　to　take。
　Someone　was　screaming。　I　think　it　was　Cherry。　I　had　my　gun　out；　but　there　was　no　way　to　fire　without　killing　Zane　first。　Micah　and　Merle　were　at　the　coffin；　trying　to　pry　Zane　free。　Zane　fell　back；　his　throat　a　gaping　wound；　and　something　that　was　all　bloody　fangs　and　wild　red　hair　grabbed　Merle　and　folded　around　him；　tearing　at　the　big　man's　throat。　The　wererats　and　Asher　were　standing　back；　waiting　for　a　clear　shot；　but　there　wasn't　going　to　be　one；　not　before　someone　else　died。
　I　pushed　forward；　trying　to　shove　Micah　out　of　the　way　while　I　pressed　the　gun　to　Damian's　face；　but　Micah　was　trying　to　pry　the　vampire　off　of　Merle；　and　in　the　struggle　I　couldn't　get　my　gun　steady。　The　barrel　slipped　in　the　blood　against　Damian's　skin；　and　suddenly　green　eyes　turned　to　me；　and　there　was　nothing　in　them　but　hunger。　Damian　was　already　dead。　I　just　hadn't　pulled　the　trigger　yet。
　Then　he　was　on　me；　faster　than　anything　I'd　ever　seen。　I　was　pressed　back　against　the　satin　of　the　coffin；　my　hips　and　legs　sticking　out。　He　didn't　go　for　my　neck；　he　buried　his　fangs　in　my　upper　chest。　I　screamed　past　the　pain　and　pressed　the　barrel　of　the　Browning　against　his　temple。　Asher　was　yelling；　〃Don　t　fire；　you'll　hit　Anita！〃
　I　screamed　again　and　had　to　adjust　the　angle　of　the　gun；　because　if　I'd　pulled　the　trigger；　the　bullet　would　have　gone　through　his　head　into　my　chest。　I　moved　the　gun　a　fraction　while　he　savaged　me。　My　finger　curled　on　the　trigger　when　he　raised　his　green　eyes　to　me。　I　watched　his　eyes　fill　up　with　knowledge；　intelligence　　with　him。　He　raised　his　mouth　back　from　my　chest。　He　looked　scared。　〃Anita；　what's　happening？〃　He　seemed　to　see　my　bloody　chest　for　the　first　time；　and　his　eyes　went　wide。　〃What's　happening　to　me？〃
　The　moment　he　spoke；　the　moment　there　was　something　in　him　besides　monster；　I　felt　the　connection　between　us　click　into　place；　like　a　perfectly　tuned　string　on　a　harp。　The　power　flowed　between　us　like　warm　water；　filling　him　up；　filling　me　up；　and　I　drew　him　down　to　me；　my　blood　still　on　his　lips。
　I　heard　Asher　saying；　〃Stay　back；　it's　alright；　let　he