lhamilton.thekillingdance-第48部分

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　〃Yep；　so　get　off　me。　You　can　fight　later；　but　right　now；　we　need　to　check　on　what　I　did。〃
　〃We　did；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　He　eased　away　from　Richard；　and　after　a　second；　Richard　released　his　hand。
　〃What　we　did；〃　I　said。
　Richard　stood；　the　muscles　in　his　bare　legs　moving　under　the　skin；　and　it　was　hard　not　to　touch　them；　feel　the　movement　of　him。　He　offered　me　a　hand　up。
　〃Give　me　a　minute；〃　I　said。
　Jean…Claude　stood　as　if　drawn　to　his　feet　by　strings。　He　offered　me　a　hand；　too。
　They　stood　glaring　at　each　other。　Their　anger　played　through　the　air　like　invisible　sparks。　I　shook　my　head。　I　seemed　to　be　more　worse　for　wear　than　either　of　them；　poor　human　that　I　was。　I'd　have　actually　taken　a　hand　up；　which　was　rare　for　me。　I　sighed；　got　my　feet　under　me；　and　stood　without　help　from　either　of　them。
　〃Behave　yourselves；〃　I　said。　〃Can't　you　feel　what's　in　the　air？　Anger　works　just　fine　to　call　whatever　it　is；　so　stop　it。　We　may　have　to　do　it　again　to　lay　to　rest　what　we've　already　called　from　the　grave。〃
　Jean…Claude　looked　instantly　relaxed；　at　ease。　He　gave　a　low　bow。　〃As　you　like；　ma　petite。〃
　Richard　rotated　his　neck；　trying　to　loosen　his　shoulders。　His　hands　were　still　balled　into　fists；　but　he　nodded。　〃I　don't　understand　how　what　we　did　called　zombies。〃
　〃I　can　act　as　a　focus　for　other　animators。　It's　a　way　to　bine　powers　and　raise　an　older　zombie　or　more　than　one　or　two　zombies。　I　don't　know　how　to　do　anything　else　but　raise　the　dead；　so　when　you　shoved　that　much　power　in　my　face　。　。　。〃　I　shrugged。　〃I　did　what　I　know　how　to　do。〃
　〃Did　you　raise　all　of　Nikoloas's　old　cemetery？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　〃If　we're　lucky；〃　I　said。
　He　put　his　head　to　one　side；　puzzled。
　Richard　looked　down　at　himself。　〃Can　I　get　some　pants　on？〃
　I　smiled。　〃Seems　a　shame；〃　I　said；　〃but　yeah。〃
　〃I　will　fetch　my　robe　from　the　bathroom；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃Help　yourself；〃　I　said。
　〃No　ment　about　how　it　is　a　shame　that　I　am　getting　dressed？〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃Cruel；　ma　petite；　very　cruel。〃
　I　smiled　and　gave　him　a　little　bow。
　He　returned　the　smile；　but　there　was　a　challenge　to　his　eyes　as　he　walked　towards　the　bathroom。
　Richard　was　sliding　into　his　jeans。　I　watched　him　zip　them　up　and　button　them　into　place。　It　was　fun　just　to　watch　him　dress。　Love　makes　the　smallest　movements　fascinating。
　I　walked　past　him；　towards　the　door；　leaving　him　to　put　a　shirt　on　if　he　was　going　to。　The　only　way　to　ignore　him　was　to　just　not　look。　The　same　theory　worked　with　Jean…Claude　most　of　the　time。
　I　walked　to　the　door。　My　hand　was　reaching　for　the　knob　when　Richard　grabbed　me　from　behind；　lifting　me　off　my　feet；　carrying　me　back　from　the　door。
　My　feet　were　literally　dangling　off　the　ground。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？　Put　me　down。〃
　〃My　wolves　are　ing；〃　he　said；　as　if　that　explained　everything。
　〃Put　me　down。〃
　He　lowered　me　enough　for　my　feet　to　touch　the　floor；　but　his　arms　stayed　wrapped　around　me；　as　if　he　was　afraid　I'd　go　for　the　door。　His　face　was　distant；　listening。　I　heard　nothing。
　A　howl　echoed　up　the　corridor　and　raised　the　hairs　on　my　arms。　〃What's　going　on；　Richard？〃
　〃Danger；〃　he　almost　whispered　it。
　〃Is　it　Raina　and　Marcus？〃
　He　was　still　listening　to　things　I　could　not　hear。　He　pushed　me　behind　him　and　went　to　the　door；　still　shirtless；　wearing　nothing　but　his　jeans。
　I　ran　for　the　bed　and　the　weapons。　I　got　the　Firestar　out　from　under　the　pillow。　〃Don't　go　out　there　empty…handed；　dammit。〃　I　dragged　the　Uzi　out　from　under　the　bed。
　A　chorus　of　howls　went　up。　Richard　flung　the　door　open　and　raced　down　the　hallway。　I　called　his　name；　but　he　was　gone。
　Jean…Claude　came　out　of　the　bathroom　in　his　black；　fur…lined　robe。　〃What　is　it；　ma　petite？〃
　〃pany。〃　I　slipped　the　Uzi's　strap　across　my　chest。
　The　sounds　of　snarling　wolves　came　distant。　Jean…Claude　ran　past　me；　the　long　robe　flying　out　behind　him。　He　ran　like　a　dark　wind。　When　I　got　out　to　the　corridor；　he　was　nowhere　in　sight。
　I　was　going　to　be　the　last　one　there。　Dammit。
　
　
　27
　
　Running　full　tilt　towards　a　fight　was　not　the　best　way　to　stay　alive。　Caution　was　better。　I　knew　that；　and　it　didn't　matter。　Nothing　mattered　but　getting　there　in　time。　In　time　to　save　them。　Them。　I　didn't　dwell　on　that；　I　ran；　the　Firestar　gripped　tightly　in　my　right　hand；　the　Uzi　in　my　left。　I　was　running　like　an　idiot；　but　at　least　I　was　armed。
　A　roaring　shout　thundered　off　the　walls　ahead。　Don't　ask　me　how；　but　I　knew　it　was　Richard。　I　didn't　think　I　could　run　any　faster。　I　was　wrong。　I　spilled　into　the　open；　breath　ing　in　throat…closing　gasps；　not　looking　left　or　right。　If　someone　had　had　a　gun；　they　could　have　blown　me　away。
　Richard　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　a　zombie　held　at　arm's　length　above　his　head。　A　wolf　the　size　of　a　pony　had　pinned　another　zombie　to　the　floor；　savaging　it。　Stephen　stood　at　Richard's　back　in　human　form；　but　crouched　and　ready　to　fight。　Cassandra　stood　back　from　them。　She　turned　to　me　as　I　skidded　into　the　room。　There　was　a　look　on　her　face　that　I　couldn't　quite　read；　and　didn't　have　time　to　puzzle　over。
　Jean…Claude　was　at　the　far　left；　away　from　the　werewolves。　He　was　staring　at　me；　too。　I　couldn't　read　his　face；　but　he　was　in　no　danger。　He　hadn't　waded　into　the　zombies。　He　knew　better。　Richard　didn't。
　The　room　had　been　a　narrow　rectangle；　but　the　far　wall　had　blasted　outward；　scattering　rubble　across　the　floor。　It　looked　like　the　zombies　had　crawled　out　from　behind　the　wall。　A　graveyard　that　I；　at　least；　hadn't　known　was　there。
　The　dead　stood　in　front　of　the　ruins。　Their　eyes　shifted　to　me　as　I　saw　them；　and　I　felt　the　weight　of　their　gaze　like　a　blow　to　my　heart。
　The　fear　for　everyone's　safety　was　gone；　washed　away　in　a　rush　of　anger。　〃Richard；　put　it　down；　please；　it　won't　hurt　you。　Call　Jason　off　the　other　one。〃　It　had　to　be　Jason　unless　there　was　another　werewolf　down　here。　And　if　it　was　someone　else；　where　was　Jason？
　Richard　turned　his　head　to　look　at　me；　the　zombie；　once　a　human　male；　still　held　effortlessly　above　his　head。　〃They　attacked　Jason。〃
　〃They　wouldn't　have　done　anything　without　orders。　Jason　jumped　the　gun。〃
　〃They　didn't　attack　us；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃They　started　pouring　out　of　the　wall。　Jason　changed　and　attacked　them。〃
　The　giant　wolf　had　opened　the　zombie's　stomach　and　was　tearing　at　intestines。　I'd　had　enough。　〃Grab　the　wolf；〃　I　said。　The　zombie　under　him　locked　its　arms　around　the　wolf's　forequarters。　The　wolf　sank　teeth　into　the　corpse's　throat　and　tore　it　out　in　a　spurt　of　dark　fluid　and　flesh。
　The　rest　of　the　zombies；　somewhere　between　sixty　and　eighty；　surged　toward　the　wolf。　〃Let　him　up；　Jason；　or　I'll　show　you　what　it's　like　to　be　attacked　by　zombies。〃
　Richard　bent　his　elbow　and　tossed　the　zombie　away　from　him。　The　body　tumbled　through　the　air　and　landed　in　the　mass　of　waiting　zombies。　They　fell　like　bowling　pins；　except　that　these　bowling　pins　got　to　their　feet；　though　one　lost　an　arm　in　the　process。
　Richard　crouched　by　his　wolves。　〃You're　attacking　us？〃　He　sounded　outraged。
　〃Pull　your　wolf　off　my　zombie　and　it　stops　here。〃
　〃You　think　you　can　take　us？〃　Cassandra　said。
　〃With　this　many　dead；　I　know　I　can；〃　I　said。
　Stephen's　face　crumpled；　almost　like　he'd　cry。　〃You'd　hurt　us。〃
　Shit；　I'd　forgotten。　I　was　their　lupa　now。　I'd　threatened　to　kill　Raina　if　she　hurt　Stephen　again；　and　here　I　was　about　to　feed　him　to　zombies。　There　was　a　logic　gap　somewhere。
　〃If　I'm　supposed　to　protect　you　all；　then　you　have　to　obey　me；　right？　So　Jason　gets　the　fuck　off　my　zombie　or　I　beat　the　hell　out　of　him。　Isn't　that　pack　protocol？〃
　Richard　turned　to　me。　There　was　a　look　on　his　face　I'd　never　seen　before：　anger　and　arrogance；　or　something　close　to　it。　〃I　don't　think　Jason　really　expected　you　to　demand　his　obedience。　I　don't　think　any　of　us　did。〃
　〃Then　you　don't　know　me　very　well；〃　I　said。
　〃Mes　amies；　if　we　kill　each　other；　won't　Marcus　be　pleased。〃
　We　all　turned　to　Jean…Claude。　I　said；　〃Stop。〃　All　the　zombies　stopped　at　once　like　a　freeze　frame。　One　tumbled　to　the　floor；　caught　in　midshuffle；　rather　than　take　that　last　partial　step。　Zombies　were　terribly　literal。
　The　giant　wolf　tore　another　piece　out　of　the　zombie。　The　dead　man　made　a　small　involuntary　cry。　〃Drag　Jason　off　of　it　now；　or　we　are　going　to　do　this　dance。　Fuck　Marcus。　I'll　worry　about　it　later。〃
　〃Off　of　him；　Jason；　now；〃　Richard　said。
　The　wolf　reared　back；　tearing　at　the　zombie's　arm。　Bone　cracked。　The　wolf　worried　the　arm　like　a　terrier　with　a　bone。　Blood　and　thicker　fluids　flew　in　a　spray。
　Richard　grabbed　the　wolf　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck；　jerking　it　off　its　feet。　He　grabbed　the　front　of　its　furry　throat　and　turned　it　to　face　him。　The　muscles　in　his　arms　corded　with　the　effort。　The　wolf's　claws　scrambled　in　the　air　while　it　strangled。　The　massive　claws　raked　Richard's　bare　skin。　Blood　flowed　in　thin　crimson　lines。
　He　threw　the　wolf　across　the　room　into　the　waiting　dead。　〃Never　disobey　me　again；　Jason；　never！〃　His　voice　was　lost　in　a　growling　that　turned　into　a　howl。　He　threw　back　his　head　and　bayed。　The　sound　rose　from　his　human　throat。　Cassandra　and　Stephen　echoed　him。　Their　howls　filled　the　room　with　a　strange；　ringing　song。
　I　realized　then　that　Richard　might　avoid　killing　Marcus；　but　he'd　never　control　the　lukoi　without　brutality。　He　was　already　casual　about　it。　Almost　as　casual　as　Jean…Claude。　Bad　sign　or　good　sign？　I　wasn't　sure。
　Jason　scrambled　out　of　the　dead。　He　turned　pale　green　wolf　eyes　to　me；　as　if　waiting　for　something。　〃Don't　look　at　me；〃　I　said；　〃I'm　pissed　with　you；　too。〃
　Jason　stalked　towards　me　on　paws　bigger　across　than　my　hands。　The　fur　at　his　neck　rose　in　a　prickling　brush。　His　lips　curled　back　from　his　teeth　in　a　silent　growl。
　I　pointed　the　Firestar　at　him。　〃Don't　do　it；　Jason。〃
　He　kept　ing；　each　step　so　stiff　and　full　of　tension　that　it　looked　robotic。　He　gathered　his　body；　legs　squirming　into　position　for　a　leap。　I　wasn't　going　to　let　him　finish　the　movement。　If　he'd　been　in　human　form；　I'd　have　aimed　to　wound；　but　in　wolf　form；　I　wasn't　taking　any　chances。　One　scratch　and　I'd　be　alpha　female　for　real。
　I　sighted　down　the　barrel　and　felt　that　quietness　fill　me。　I　felt　nothing　while　I　stared　down　the　gun　at　him。　Nothin