lh.narcissusinchains-第98章

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　〃Because　that　wasn't　Narcissus's　voice　over　the　speaker　system；　and　Ulysses　said　they　had　your　lovers。　That　we　didn't　know　what　they'd　do　to　your　lovers　if　you　guys　failed　them。　Who　is　the　guy　over　the　speaker？　Who　is　'they'？　Where　the　fuck　is　Narcissus？　Why　would　the　werehyenas　let　anyone　take　them　over　like　this？〃
　〃You're　not　going　to　kill　me？〃　He　made　it　a　question。
　〃You　answer　our　questions；　and　I　give　you　my　word　that　we　won't　kill　you。〃
　〃May　I　move？〃
　〃If　you　can。〃
　He　moved　slowly；　painfully　onto　his　side。　His　hair　was　curly；　dark；　cut　very　short；　skin　pale。　He　turned　until　he　could　see　my　eyes；　and　the　effort　left　him　shaking；　his　lips　blue；　which　made　me　think　maybe　we　didn't　have　much　time　to　ask　our　questions；　that　maybe　we'd　already　killed　him；　just　not　fast　enough。
　His　eyes　were　a　strange　shade　of　gold。　〃I'm　Bacchus；〃　he　said　in　that　pain…filled　voice。
　〃Nice　to　meet　you。　I'm　Anita；　that's　Bobby　Lee；　now　start　talking。〃
　〃Ask　me　anything。〃
　I　started　asking。　Bacchus　started　answering。　He　didn't　die。　By　the　time　we　crossed　the　bridge　into　Missouri；　his　lips　were　pink　and　healthy　and　the　dazed　look　had　left　his　eyes。　I　was　really　going　to　have　to　start　packing　better　ammo。
　
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　BACCHUS　ACTUALLY　DIDN'T　know　all　that　much。　Narcissus　had　introduced　his　new　gentleman　fair；　Chimera；　and　they'd　seemed　to　be　having　a　wonderful　time　together。　If　not　true　love；　then　the　rough　trade　they　both　wanted。　Then　Narcissus　had　gone　into　one　of　the　rooms　and　not　e　back　out。　For　twenty…four　hours　the　werehyenas　had　thought　it　was　just　sex；　but　after　that；　they　stopped　believing　Chimera's　assurances　that　Narcissus　was　alright。　Ajax　had　managed　to　get　inside；　and　that's　when　it　went　bad。
　〃Ajax　told　us　Narcissus　was　being　tortured；　really　tortured。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　rescue　him？〃　I　asked。
　〃Chimera　came　with　his　own　bodyguards。　They　took　。。。　〃　Bacchus　had　to　stop　and　fight　to　take　a　deep　breath；　as　if　something　inside　him　was　hurting。　〃You　don't　know　what　they've　done　to　our　people。　You　don't　know　what　they've　threatened　to　do　to　them　if　we　fail　them。〃
　〃Tell　us；　then　we'll　know；〃　I　said。
　〃Have　you　met　Ajax？〃　he　asked。
　I　nodded。
　〃They　cut　his　arms　and　legs　off　and　burned　the　ends　of　the　wounds　so　he　couldn't　heal　the　damage。　Chimera　said　they'd　put　him　in　a　metal　box　and　just　get　him　out　on　special　occasions。〃　Bacchus　choked；　and　I　wasn't　sure　if　it　was　from　injuries　or　horror。
　Bobby　Lee　said；　〃He's　upset　enough　that　I　can't　tell　if　he's　lying　or　not；　but　I　think　he's　telling　the　truth。〃　His　voice　was　a　little　hoarse；　as　if　he　were　seeing　the　images　in　his　head　that　I　was　trying　very　hard　not　to　imagine。　I'd　gotten　better　lately　at　simply　refusing　to　let　my　imagination　run　away　with　me。　Maybe　it　had　something　to　do　with　being　a　sociopath；　if　so；　let's　hear　it　for　dementia。　I　sat　there　in　the　Jeep；　my　mind　carefully　blank；　no　visuals。　Bobby　Lee　looked　ill。
　〃How　many　bodyguards　does　this　Chimera　have？〃　I　asked。
　〃About　twenty…five；　before　you　started　killing　them。〃
　〃I　thought　there　were　like　five　hundred　of　you　guys。　How　could　twenty…five　men　keep　you　down？〃
　Bacchus　looked　at　me　with　stricken　eyes。　〃If　someone　had　your　Ulfric；　Richard；　and　was　cutting　pieces　off　of　him；　crippling　him；　wouldn't　you　do　anything　to　save　him？〃
　I　stayed　quiet　and　thought　about　that　one。　I　gave　the　only　truthful　answer　that　I　could。　〃I　don't　know。　It　would　depend　on　what　'anything'　covered。　I　see　your　point；　but　why　didn't　you　just　rush　them？〃
　Bacchus　propped　himself　up　against　the　side　of　the　Jeep。　Nathaniel　took　a　corner　a　little　fast；　and　Bacchus　tried　to　grab　something　so　he　wouldn't　slide。　I　gave　him　my　hand；　caught　him；　and　he　looked　both　grateful　and　uncertain。　He　kept　hold　of　my　hand　and　gave　really　good　eye　contact。　〃We　didn't　have　an　alpha。　Ajax　and　Ulysses　were　the　next　in　mand；　and　once　they　started　cutting　up　Ajax；　Ulysses　told　us　to　do　what　they　said。〃　He　squeezed　my　hand；　not　too　tight。　〃The　rest　of　us　aren't　leaders；　Anita。　Our　alphas　were　all　telling　us　to　cooperate　with　Chimera。　We're　followers；　that's　it；　that's　all。　We　need　an　alpha　with　a　plan。〃
　My　eyes　widened。　〃What　are　you　saying；　Bacchus？〃
　He　drew　me　close　to　him　with　our　clasped　hands。　〃There　are　still　almost　one　hundred　and　fifty　ablebodied　hyenas。　God　knows　what　they'll　do　to　the　prisoners　now　that　we've　failed　them。〃
　〃Why　do　they　want　Ms。　Blake？〃　Bobby　Lee　asked。
　〃Chimera　wants　Anita　for　his　mate。〃
　That　raised　my　eyebrows。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃He's　got　a　real　hard…on　where　you're　concerned。　I　don't　know　why。〃
　I　tried　to　draw　my　hand　out　of　Bacchus's　grip；　but　he　kept　me　close。　〃He's　tried　to　kill　me　at　least　twice。　That　doesn't　sound　so　friendly。〃
　〃He　wanted　you　dead；　now　he　doesn't；　I　don't　know　why。　Chimera's　crazy；　he　doesn't　need　a　reason　to　change　his　mind。〃　He　gazed　up　at　me；　still　holding　my　hand。　〃Please　help　us。〃
　〃Can　you　guarantee　that　the　other　hyenas　will　follow　Ms。　Blake？〃　Bobby　Lee　asked。
　Bacchus　looked　down；　his　grip　loosened；　then　it　tightened；　and　he　looked　up　again。　〃I　know　that　if　we'd　had　any　alphas　that　would　have　stood　up　for　us　all；　we'd　have　taken　these　guys　out　by　now。　But　Ulysses　loves　Ajax；　really　loves　him。　He　didn't　know　what　to　do。〃
　〃What　about　Narcissus？　He's　not　still　all　mushy　about　Chimera；　right？〃　I　said。
　〃No；　but　the　only　time　we've　been　allowed　to　see　Narcissus；　he　was　gagged。〃
　〃Narcissus　has　a　reputation；〃　Bobby　Lee　said；　〃of　being　a　tough　bastard。　I　don't　think　he　would　have　rolled　over　for　them。〃
　Bacchus　shrugged；　and　I　finally　freed　my　hand。　〃I　don't　know；〃　the　werehyena　said；　〃but　he　couldn't　tell　us　to　attack　them。　For　all　I　know　Chimera　may　have　taken　his　tongue。　He　did　that　to　Dionysus；　my　。。。　lover。〃　He　hugged　himself；　head　down；　eyes　closed。　〃He　gave　me　the　tongue　in　a　box　wrapped　with　a　ribbon。〃
　I'd　been　given　a　box　once　with　pieces　of　people　I　cared　about　in　it。　I'd　killed　the　ones　who'd　hurt　them；　killed　them　all。　But　the　damage　done　to　my　friends　had　been　permanent。　Nothing　I　could　do　would　fix　it；　because　they'd　been　human；　they　didn't　grow　back　lost　body　parts。
　Bacchus　kept　his　eyes　closed；　his　face　very　still；　as　if　he　were　holding　himself　tight；　afraid　to　lose　control。　I　didn't　know　what　to　say　in　the　face　of　his　pain。　How　did　I　go　from　trying　to　kill　him　to　feeling　bad　for　him？　Maybe　it　was　a　girl　thing；　or　maybe　I'd　been　oversocialized　as　a　child。　Whatever　the　reason；　I　found　myself　wanting　to　help　him；　but　not　wanting　to　risk　any　of　my　own　people。　Cris　was　dead　on　the　floor　of　Narcissus　in　Chains。　I　hadn't　known　Cris　long；　his　loss　wasn't　that　great　to　me；　it　just　wasn't。　But　if　I　went　in　there　in　force；　I'd　be　risking　people　I　would　miss。
　Still　。。。　〃Can　you　draw　a　plan；　a　layout　of　the　club；　mark　where　everybody　is　being　held？〃
　He　opened　his　eyes；　his　expression　surprised；　the　tears　he'd　been　holding　back　trailing　down　his　cheeks；　forgotten。　〃You'll　help　us？〃
　I　shrugged；　unfortable　at　the　frantic　relief　in　his　eyes。　〃I'm　not　sure　yet；　but　it　doesn't　hurt　to　find　out　what　we'd　be　up　against。〃
　Bacchus　took　my　hand　again；　pressed　it　to　his　cheek。　I　thought　at　first　it　was　going　to　be　some　kind　of　hyena　greeting；　but　he　laid　a　soft　kiss　on　my　hand　and　let　me　go。　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Don't　thank　me　yet；　Bacchus；　don't　thank　me　yet。〃　I　didn't　say　out　loud　that　if　the　club　looked　too　hard　to　take；　like　it　would　cost　too　many　lives；　I　wouldn't　do　it。　I　kept　it　to　myself；　because　he　might　lie；　make　it　seem　easier。　The　person　he　loved　was　being　tortured。　People　will　do　a　lot　of　things　for　the　person　they　love；　even　stupid　things。
　
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　BOBBY　LEE　INSISTED　on　calling　Rafael　first　thing。　Nathaniel　and　Caleb　helped　me　get　Bacchus　settled　in　the　kitchen。　He　was　still　walking　like　things　hurt。　Gil　had　sat　down　at　the　end　of　the　couch　first　thing；　huddling。　He'd　been　withdrawn　since　I　told　him　to　stop　screaming。　Normally；　I'd　have　asked　what　was　wrong；　but　screw　it；　I　didn't　have　time　to　baby…sit　him　right　now。
　The　kitchen　was　dim　and　depressing　with　all　the　windows　and　the　sliding　glass　door　boarded　over。　We　had　to　turn　on　all　the　lights。　My　sunny　kitchen　had　been　turned　into　a　cave。
　An　hour　later　we　had　a　fair　map　of　the　inside　of　the　club。　Bacchus　knew　the　guard　schedule　for　the　hyenas　but　not　for　Chimera's　men。　He　did　the　best　he　could　but　said；　〃Chimera　changes　his　routine；　sometimes　every　day；　at　least　every　three　days。　One　day　he　kept　changing　his　orders　every　hour　or　so。　It　was　weird；　weirder　even　than　normal　for　Chimera。〃
　〃How　unstable　is　he？〃　Bobby　Lee　asked。
　Bacchus　actually　seemed　to　think　about　that　for　a　second　or　two。　I'd　thought　it　was　a　rhetorical　question；　maybe　I　was　wrong。　〃Sometimes　he　seems　fine。　Sometimes　he's　so　crazy　it　scares　me。　I　think　it　even　scares　his　own　people。〃　Bacchus　frowned　then　said；　〃I　heard　them　say　things；　like　he　literally　was　getting　crazier　and　they　were　afraid　of　him；　too。〃
　The　doorbell　rang。　It　made　me　jump。　Nathaniel　jumped　off　the　kitchen　counter；　where　he'd　been　sitting。　〃I'll　get　it。〃
　〃Check　and　see　who　it　is　first；〃　I　said。
　He　looked　back　over　his　shoulder；　the　look　on　his　face　clearly　saying　that　I　was　telling　him　something　he　already　knew。　After　months　of　sharing　room　and　board　with　me；　he　knew　to　check　the　door　before　he　opened　it。
　〃You　used　to　just　open　the　door；〃　I　said。
　〃I　know　better　now；〃　he　said　and　vanished　into　the　living　room。
　He　came　back　almost　immediately。　〃It's　the　werewolf　that　was　at　Narcissus　in　Chains；　the　one　called　Zeke。〃　Nathaniel　looked　a　little　pale。
　Bobby　Lee　and　I　both　had　guns　in　our　hands。　I　didn't　really　remember　drawing　mine。　I　was　looking　at　the　boarded…up　windows。　The　wood　was　a　little　more　protection　than　the　glass　had　been；　but　we　couldn't　see　through　the　wood　either。　The　bad　guys　could　sneak　up　on　us　better。　〃Is　he　alone？〃　I　asked。
　〃He's　the　only　one　standing　on　the　porch；〃　Nathaniel　said；　〃but　that　doesn't　mean　he's　alone。〃　His　eyes　were　a　touch　wide　when　he　said；　〃I　don't　smell　snakes　or　lions。〃　I　could　see　the　pulse　in　his　neck　jumping　under　his　skin。
　〃It's　going　to　be　alright；　Nathaniel；〃　I　said。
　He　nodded；　but　the　look　on　his　face　told　me　he　wasn't　convinced。　Gil　joined　us　in　the　kitchen。　〃What's　happening？〃
　〃Bad　guys；〃　I　said。
　〃More　of　them？〃　he　said；　voice　plaintive。
　〃You　might　have　been　safer　on　your　own；　Gil；〃　I　said。
　He　nodded。　〃I'm　beginning　to　see　that。〃　His　eyes　were　so　wide　it　looked　painful。
　I　had　brought　the　mini…Uzi　in　from　the　car　and　had　reloaded　it　from　the　gun　safe　upstairs。　I　took　it　off　the　kitchen　cabinet　and　debated　between　it　and　the　Browning。　The　doorbell　rang　again。　I　didn't　jump　this　time。　I　hung　the　Uzi　over　my　shoulder　by　its　strap　and　settled　the　Browning　more　fortably　in　my　hand。　The　Uzi　was　really　an　emergency　weapon。　The　fact　that　I'd　even　thought　about　answering　my　door　with　it　on　my　person　was　probably　a　bad　sign。　If　I　needed　more　than　a　9mm　to　answer　my　own　front　door；　I　should　just　leave　town。
　I　peered　out　at　the　living　room；　but　there　was　nothing　to　see　but　the　closed　front　door。　I　was　going　to　have　to　look　out　the　side　window　to　see　what　was　waiting　on　the　porch。　I　approached　the　door　with　the　Browning　in　a　two…handed　grip；　staying