lhamilton.thekillingdance-第37部分

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rifle。　Stop　it；　Anita。　Stop　tormenting　yourself。
　I　hadn't　truly　realized　how　crowded　the　opening　would　be。　Edward　by　himself　searching　for　one　lone　assassin　in　this　mass　of　people　would　have　been　poor　odds。　Maybe　the　vamps　and　werewolves　were　amateurs；　but　their　extra　eyes　couldn't　hurt。
　The　lights　began　dimming　until　the　only　illumination　was　the　spotlight　on　Jean…Claude。　He　seemed　to　glow。　I　wasn't　sure　if　it　was　a　trick　or　if　he　was　making　his　own　light　from　the　skin　outward。　Hard　to　tell。　Whichever；　I　was　in　the　dark　with　an　assassin；　maybe；　and　I　was　not　a　happy　camper。
　Hell　with　it。　I　put　the　Seecamp　in　my　lap。　Better。　Not　perfect；　but　better。　The　fact　that　just　the　touch　of　a　gun　in　my　hand　made　me　feel　better　was　probably　a　bad　sign。　The　fact　that　I　missed　my　own　guns　was　a　worse　one。
　Willie　touched　my　shoulder　and　made　me　jump　enough　that　people　near　us　glanced　back。　Shit。
　He　whispered；　〃I　got　your　back　covered。　Easy。〃
　Willie　would　make　great　cannon　fodder；　but　he　wasn't　up　to　protecting　me。　He'd　been　a　bit　player　before　he　died；　and　dying　hadn't　changed　that。　I　realized　if　the　shooting　started　and　the　bad　guys　were　using　silver　bullets；　I　was　worried　about　Willie。　Worrying　about　your　bodyguard　is　not　good。
　Jean…Claude's　voice　rose　through　the　darkness；　filling　it　with　a　sound　that　caressed　my　skin。　A　woman　standing　near　the　table　shivered　as　if　she'd　been　touched。　Her　date　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulders；　and　they　huddled　in　the　dark；　surrounded　by　Jean…Claude's　voice。
　〃Wele　to　Danse　Macabre。　The　night　will　be　filled　with　surprises。　Some　wondrous。〃　Two　smaller　spotlights　hit　the　crowd。　Cassandra　appeared　balanced　on　the　railing　on　the　second　floor。　She　swept　the　coat　back；　revealing　her　body；　stalking　along　the　inches…wide　iron　bar　like　it　was　the　floor；　nearly　dancing。　Wild　applause　broke　out。　The　second　spot　hit　Damian　on　the　first　floor。　He　glided　out　of　the　crowd；　swishing　the　embroidered　coat　around　him　like　a　small　cape。　If　he　felt　silly　in　the　outfit；　it　didn't　show。
　He　moved　through　the　crowd　with　the　spotlight　following　him。　He　touched　a　shoulder　here；　ran　his　hands　through　waist…length　hair；　put　his　arm　around　one　woman's　waist。　Each　one；　man　or　woman；　didn't　seem　to　mind。　They　leaned　into　him　or　whispered　in　his　ear。　He　came　to　a　woman　with　long　brown　hair　parted　in　the　middle。　She　was　dressed　rather　modestly　for　the　crowd。　Navy　blue　business　skirt　and　jacket。　Her　white　blouse　had　one　of　those　big　bows　that　are　supposed　to　look　like　a　tie　but　never　do。　Of　the　women　around　Damian；　she　looked　the　most　normal。　He　circled　her　so　closely　that　his　body　brushed　her。　She　jerked　away　from　every　touch；　eyes　wide　with　fear　I　could　see；　even　from　across　the　room。
　I　wanted　to　say；　〃Leave　her　alone；〃　but　I　didn't　want　to　yell。　Jean…Claude　wouldn't　allow　anything　illegal；　at　least　not　in　front　of　this　many　witnesses。　Bespelling　a　group　of　people　wasn't　illegal。　Mass　hypnosis　wasn't　permanent。　But　one　on　one；　it　was　permanent。　Which　meant　that　Damian　could　stand　under　the　woman's　window　and　call　her　out　some　dark　night；　no　time　limitation。
　Willie　was　leaning　forward　in　his　chair；　his　dark　eyes　on　the　woman　and　Damian。　He　didn't　seem　to　be　looking　for　assassins　right　that　second。
　I　watched　the　woman's　face　go　blank　of　all　expression；　until　she　was　like　one　asleep。　Her　empty　eyes　stared　at　Damian。　He　took　her　hand　and　leaned　against　the　railing。　He　rolled　both　legs　over；　ending　on　his　feet；　still　holding　her　hand。　She　took　two　hesitant　steps　to　the　railing　edge。　He　put　his　hands　on　her　waist；　under　her　jacket；　and　lifted　her　high　in　the　air；　effortlessly；　setting　her　down　on　the　dance　floor　in　her　sensible　black　pumps。
　The　spotlights　on　Jean…Claude　and　Cassandra　died　until　the　only　light　was　that　on　Damian　and　the　woman。　He　led　her　to　the　center　of　the　dance　floor。　She　walked；　looking　only　at　him　as　if　the　rest　of　the　world　no　longer　existed。
　Dammit。　What　Damian　was　doing　was　illegal。　Most　of　the　crowd　wouldn't　pick　it　up。　Vampires　were　allowed　to　use　their　powers　for　entertainment　purposes　so　even　the　media；　if　they　were　inside；　would　be　okay　with　it。　But　I　knew　the　difference；　I　knew　the　law。　Jean…Claude　had　to　know　I'd　recognize　what　was　happening　for　what　it　was。　Was　she　an　actress？　A　plant　for　the　show？
　I　leaned　into　Willie；　close　enough　to　brush　the　shoulder　of　his　suit。　〃Is　she　an　actress？〃
　He　turned　startled　eyes　to　me；　and　I　could　see　that　the　pupils　had　been　swallowed　by　the　brown　of　his　eyes。　Down　a　long　dark　tunnel　there　was　a　hint　of　fire。
　I　swallowed　hard　and　eased　back　from　him；　glad　of　the　gun　in　my　lap。　〃It's　real；　isn't　it？〃
　Willie　licked　his　lips　nervously。　〃If　I　say　it　is；　you're　going　to　do　something　to　mess　up　the　show。　Jean…Claude　will　get　mad　at　me。　I　don't　want　him　mad　at　me；　Anita。〃
　I　shook　my　head　but　didn't　argue　with　him。　I'd　seen　what　Jean…Claude　did　to　vamps　that　angered　him。　Torture　was　putting　it　mildly。　I　had　to　find　out　what　was　going　on　but　without　disrupting　things　and　drawing　more　attention　to　myself　than　I　wanted　tonight。
　Damian　stood　the　woman　in　the　center　of　the　light。　He　focused　her　face　on　something　we　could　not　see。　She　stood　there；　empty　and　waiting　for　his　mands。　He　stood　behind　her；　folding　his　arms　around　her　waist；　rubbing　his　cheek　against　her　hair。　He　undid　the　bow　at　her　throat；　and　the　first　three　buttons　of　her　blouse。　He　rubbed　his　lips　along　her　exposed　neck；　and　I　couldn't　take　any　more。　If　she　was　an　actress；　fine；　but　if　she　was　an　unwilling　victim；　this　had　to　stop。
　〃Willie？〃
　He　turned　to　me　slowly；　reluctantly。　His　hunger　made　him　want　to　watch。　His　fear　of　what　I　was　about　to　ask　made　him　slower。
　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Go　tell　Jean…Claude　that　the　show　is　over。〃
　Willie　shook　his　head。　〃If　I　leave　your　side　and　you　get　wasted；　Jean…Claude　will　kill　me。　Slow　and　painful。　I'm　not　leaving　your　side　until　I'm　supposed　to。〃
　I　sighed。　Fine。　I　leaned　over　the　railing　and　motioned　one　of　the　vampire　waiters　over　to　me。　He　glanced　off　in　the　dark　as　if　he　could　see　Jean…Claude；　even　though　I　couldn't；　then　he　walked　over　to　me。
　〃What　is　it？〃　he　whispered。　He　leaned　in　close　enough　that　I　could　smell　the　mints　on　his　breath。　Nearly　every　vampire　I　knew　used　breath　mints。
　I　still　had　the　Seecamp　naked　in　my　hand。　I　figured　I　could　afford　to　get　up　close　and　personal　with　the　new　dead；　so　I　leaned　in　and　whispered　back；　〃Is　she　an　actress？〃
　He　glanced　back　at　the　little　tableau。　〃Just　a　volunteer　from　the　audience。〃
　〃She　wasn't　a　volunteer；〃　I　said。　There　had　been　a　half　dozen　people　that　would　have　volunteered；　but　the　vampire　had　chosen　the　one　who　was　afraid。　That　extra　little　bit　of　sadism…they　just　couldn't　resist　it。
　〃Tell　Jean…Claude　that　if　he　doesn't　stop　this；　I　will。〃
　He　blinked　at　me。
　〃Just　do　it；〃　I　said。
　He　walked　around　the　edge　of　the　dance　floor；　vanishing　into　the　darkness。　I　could　sort　of　follow　him；　more　an　impression　of　movement　than　anything　else。　I　couldn't　see　Jean…Claude　at　all。
　Damian　passed　his　hand　above　the　woman's　face；　and　when　his　hand　came　away；　she　blinked；　awake　at　last。　Her　hands　flew　to　her　blouse；　eyes　frantic。　〃What's　happening？〃　Her　voice　carried；　thin　with　fear。
　Damian　tried　to　take　her　in　his　arms；　but　she　drew　away；　and　all　he　caught　was　a　wrist。　She　strained　against　him；　and　he　held　her　easily。　〃Let　me　go；　let　me　go；　please！〃　She　reached　out　to　someone　in　the　crowd。　〃Help　me！〃
　The　crowd　had　gone　very　quiet；　quiet　enough　that　I　could　hear　the　voice　of　her　supposed　friend；　〃Enjoy　it。　It's　just　part　of　the　show。〃
　Damian　jerked　her　around　to　face　him；　hard　enough　that　there　would　be　bruises。　As　soon　as　her　eyes　met　his；　her　face　went　blank。　She　sagged　to　her　knees；　still　held　by　one　wrist。
　He　raised　her　to　her　feet；　gently　now。　He　clasped　her　against　him　and　drew　her　hair　to　one　side；　exposing　a　long　line　of　neck。　He　turned　in　a　slow　circle　as　if　they　were　dancing；　showing　her　bare　flesh　to　all。
　Willie　leaned　forward；　tongue　dancing　over　his　lower　lip　as　if　he　could　taste　her　skin　already。　Willie　was　my　friend；　but　it　was　good　to　remember　that　he　was　also　a　monster。
　The　vampire　waiter　was　ing　back。　I　could　see　him　moving　towards　m