lhamilton.thekillingdance-第89部分

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　He　smiled；　a　mere　twitch　of　lips。　〃Yes。〃
　A　relief　like　I'd　never　known　flowed　through　my　body。　I　collapsed　back　against　the　bed；　weak。　〃What　happened？〃
　〃You　came　in　suffering　from　lycanthrope　scratches　and　a　very　nasty　vampire　bite。　He　almost　drained　you　dry；　Anita。〃
　〃Maybe　that's　what　it　took　to　save　us。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　Edward　said。　He　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　His　jacket　gaped　enough　to　flash　his　shoulder　holster　and　gun。　He　caught　me　looking。　〃The　police　agree　that　the　monsters　might　hold　a　grudge。　There's　even　a　cop　outside　your　door。〃
　We　weren't　holding　hands　now。　He　stared　down　at　me　and　something　very　cold　passed　over　his　face。　〃Did　you　have　to　kill　Harley？〃
　I　started　to　say　yes；　but　I　stopped　myself。　I　replayed　it　in　my　mind。　Finally。　I　looked　up　at　him。　〃I　don't　know；　Edward。　When　you　were　knocked　out；　he　couldn't　see　you　anymore。　I　tried　to　talk　to　him；　but　he　couldn't　hear　me。　He　started　to　raise　the　machine　gun。〃　I　met　Edward's　empty　blue　eyes。　〃I　shot　him。　You　saw　the　body。　I　even　put　one　through　his　head。　A　coupe　de　grace。〃
　〃I　know。〃　His　face；　his　voice　gave　nothing　away。　It　was　like　watching　a　mannequin　talk；　except　that　this　mannequin　was　armed　and　I　wasn't。
　〃It　never　occurred　to　me　not　to　shoot；　Edward。　I　didn't　even　hesitate。〃
　Edward　took　a　deep　breath　through　his　nose　and　let　it　out　through　his　mouth。　〃I　knew　that's　what　had　happened。　If　you'd　lied　to　me；　I'd　have　killed　you。〃　He　walked　away　to　stand　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。
　〃While　I'm　unarmed？〃　I　tried　to　make　light　of　it；　but　it　didn't　work。
　〃Check　your　pillow。〃
　I　slid　my　hand　under　and　came　up　with　the　Firestar。　I　held　it　in　my　lap；　laying　it　on　my　sheetcovered　legs。　〃What　now？〃
　〃You　owe　me　a　life。〃
　I　looked　up　at　that。　〃I　saved　your　life　last　night。〃
　〃Our　lives　don't　count；　we'd　back　each　other　up；　no　matter　what。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about　then。〃
　〃Occasionally　I'll　need　help；　like　Harley。　Next　time　I　need　help；　I'll　call　you。〃
　I　wanted　to　argue　because　I　wasn't　entirely　sure　what　mess　Edward　would　drag　me　into；　but　I　didn't。　Looking　into　his　empty　eyes；　holding　the　gun　he'd　put　under　my　pillow；　I　knew　he'd　do　it。　If　I　refused　his　bargain；　his　trade　as　it　were；　he'd　pull　down　on　me；　and　we'd　find　out　once　and　for　all　who　was　better。
　I　stared　down　at　the　gun　in　my　hands。　〃I've　already　got　the　gun　out；　all　I　have　to　do　is　point。〃
　〃You're　injured。　You　need　the　edge。〃　His　hand　hovered　near　the　butt　of　his　gun。
　I　laid　the　gun　on　the　sheets　beside　me；　and　looked　at　him。　I　lay　back　on　the　pillows。　〃I　don't　want　to　do　this；　Edward。〃
　〃Then；　when　I　call；　you'll　e？〃
　I　thought　about　it　for　another　brief　second；　then　said；　〃Yeah；　I'll　e。〃
　He　smiled；　his　Ted　（good　of　boy）　Forrester　smile。　〃I'll　never　find　out　how　good　you　really　are　until　you　draw　down　on　me。〃
　〃We　can　live　with　that；〃　I　said。　〃By　the　way；　why　the　invitation　to　e　monster　hunting　now？　And　don't　tell　me　it's　about　Harley。〃
　〃You　killed　him；　Anita。　You　killed　him　without　thinking　about　it。　Even　now；　there's　no　regret　in　you；　no　doubt。〃
　He　was　right。　I　didn't　feel　bad　about　it。　Scary；　but　true。　〃So　you　invited　me　to　e　play　because　I'm　now　as　much　of　a　sociopath　as　you　are。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　a　much　better　sociopath；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　never　let　a　vampire　sink　his　fangs　into　my　neck。　And　I　wouldn't　date　the　terminally　furry。〃
　〃Do　you　date　anyone；　ever？〃
　He　just　smiled　that　irritating　smile　that　meant　he　wasn't　going　to　answer。　But　he　did。　〃Even　Death　has　needs。〃
　Edward　dating？　That　was　something　I　had　to　see。
　
　
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　I　got　out　of　the　hospital　with　no　permanent　scars。　That　was　a　switch。　Richard　had　touched　the　wounds　Gabriel　gave　me；　his　face　very　serious。　No　one　had　to　say　it　out　loud。　In　a　month；　we'd　know。　The　doctors　offered　to　put　me　in　one　of　the　shapeshifter　halfway　houses　（read　prisons）　for　the　first…time　furry。　It　has　to　be　voluntary；　but　once　you　sign　yourself　in；　it's　almost　impossible　to　sign　yourself　out。　I　told　them　I'd　take　care　of　it　myself。　They　scolded　me；　and　I　told　them　to　go　to　hell。
　I　spent　the　night　of　my　first　full　moon　with　Richard　and　the　pack；　waiting　to　see　if　I　was　going　to　join　the　killing　dance。　I　didn't。　Either　I'd　gotten　incredibly　lucky　or　just　as　a　vampire　can't　catch　lycanthropy；　neither　could　I。　Richard　wouldn't　have　much　to　do　with　me　after　that。　I　can't　blame　him。
　I　still　love　him。　I　think　he　still　loves　me。　I　love　Jean…Claude；　too。　But　it's　not　the　same　kind　of　love。　I　can't　explain　it；　but　I　miss　Richard。　For　brief　moments　in　Jean…Claude's　arms；　I　forget。　But　I　miss　Richard。
　The　fact　that　we　are　both　bound　to　Jean…Claude　doesn't　help。　Richard　has　accidentally　invaded　my　dreams　twice。　Having　him　that　close　to　me　is　too　painful　for　words。　Richard　fought　it；　but　he　finally　agreed　to　let　Jean…Claude　teach　him　enough　control　so　that　he　doesn't　leak　all　over　both　of　us。　He　talks　to　Jean…Claude　more　than　he　talks　to　me。
　The　triumvirate　is　useless。　Richard　is　too　angry　at　me。　Too　full　of　self…loathing。　I　don't　know　how　he's　doing　with　the　pack。　He's　forbidden　anyone　to　speak　of　pack　business　with　me；　but　he　hasn't　chosen　a　new　alpha　female。
　Willie　McCoy　and　the　rest　of　the　vampires　I　accidentally　raised　seem　fine。　Big　relief　there。　Monica's　baby　is　due　in　August。　Her　ammo　came　back　clean。　No　Vlad　syndrome。　She　seems　to　think　I'm　her　friend　now。　I'm　not；　but　I　help　out　sometimes。　Jean…Claude　is　playing　the　good　master　and　taking　care　of　her　and　the　baby。　Monica　keeps　talking　about　me　babysitting。　I　hope　she's　kidding。　Auntie　Anita；　she　calls　me。　Gag　me　with　a　spoon。　Funnier　still；　is　Uncle　Jean…Claude。
　My　dad　saw　me　on　television　in　Jean…Claude's　arms。　He　called　and　left　a　very　worried　message　on　my　answering　machine。　My　family　are　devout　Catholics。　There　is　no　such　thing　as　a　good　vampire　to　them。
　Maybe　they're　right。　I　don't　know。　Can　I　still　be　the　scourge　of　vampire　kind　when　I'm　sleeping　with　the　head　bloodsucker？
　You　bet。
　



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