lh.narcissusinchains-第128部分

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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？
　
　56
　
　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　her　finish。〃
　I　whispered　as　I　drew　Damian　down　to　me；　〃Blood　of　my　blood；　flesh　of　my　flesh；　breath　to　breath；　my　heart　to　yours。〃
　And　just　before　our　lips　met　and　his　fate　was　sealed；　he　whispered；　〃Yes；　oh；　yes。〃
　
　57
　
　I　WAS　SHOULDER…DEEP　in　water　so　hot　it　made　my　skin　pink。　I　was　so　hot　I　was　almost　ill；　because　I　was　still　fully　dressed；　including　all　my　guns。　Damian　leaned　up　against　the　front　of　my　body；　my　arms　wrapped　around　him；　holding　him　close。　His　body　folded　in　against　mine；　his　arms　holding　mine　across　his　bare　chest。
　How　did　I　end　up　being　guardian　of　the　bathtub　for　Damian　once　we　reached　my　house？　He'd　gone　into　convulsions；　and　only　my　touch　had　calmed　him。　We'd　gotten　him　to　my　house　with　Nathaniel　riding　in　the　back；　cradling　Damian。　They'd　filled　the　bathtub　with　hot；　hot　water；　and　I'd　left　Asher　in　charge　of　Damian's　care。　I'd　done　my　part；　I'd　brought　him　back　to　himself。　I　had　a　bandage　over　my　left　breast　to　prove　that　I'd　donated　my　piece　of　flesh　and　blood　for　t