lhamilton.thekillingdance-第50部分

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y　melted　away？〃
　Magnus　Bouvier　had　been　Serephina's　mortal　servant。　It　had　been　his　job　to　keep　me　near　Serephina's　coffin　until　she　rose　to　finish　me　off。　I　scrubbed　at　my　face；　trying　to　get　rid　of　the　tears。　Always　ruins　the　effect　when　you　cry。　〃You　know　the　answer；〃　I　said。　My　voice　sounded　strained　and　small。
　〃Say　it　aloud；　ma　petite；　let　me　hear　it　from　your　own　lips。〃
　〃I　feel　like　I'm　missing　part　of　this　conversation；〃　Richard　said；　〃What　are　you　two　talking　about？〃
　〃Tell　him；　ma　petite。〃
　〃The　vampire　grabbed　Magnus　around　the　waist　and　held　on。　I'd　planned　on　it　slowing　him　down；　nothing　else。　I　got　to　the　door　and　ran　outside。　The　sunlight　hit　the　vampire　and　it　burst　into　flames。　I　expected　Magnus　to　go　back　inside；　but　he　didn't。　He　kept　ing；　dragging　her　into　the　light。〃　Saying　it　fast　didn't　make　it　any　better。
　I　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　dead　I　had　called；　hugging　myself。　I　still　had　dreams　about　Serephina。　Still　saw　Magnus　reaching　out　to　me；　begging　me　to　save　him。　I　could　have　shot　him　and　never　lost　a　moment's　sleep；　but　burning　him　alive　was　torture。　I　didn't　do　torture。　Not　to　mention　that　Ellie　Quinlan　had　already　risen　as　a　vampire；　which　made　her　legally　alive。　I'd　killed　them　both；　and　it　hadn't　been　pretty。
　Richard　was　looking　at　me；　a　look　of　something　close　to　horror　on　his　face。　〃You　burned　the　man　and　the　vampire　alive？〃　I　watched　the　brown　in　his　eyes　swim　back　to　the　surface。　The　entire　shape　of　the　eye　changed　while　I　watched。　It　looked　almost　like　it　should　hurt。　If　it　did　hurt；　he　never　showed　it。
　〃I　didn't　plan　it；　Richard。　I　didn't　want　it　to　happen；　but　I　would　have　done　anything　to　escape　Serephina。　Anything。〃
　〃I　don't　understand　that。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。
　〃There　is　no　shame　in　surviving；　ma　petite。〃　I　turned　to　Jean…Claude。　There　was　no　shock　on　his　face。　It　was　lovely　and　unreadable　as　a　doll's。
　〃Then　why　can't　I　read　your　face　right　now？〃
　Life　flowed　back　into　his　face；　filled　his　eyes；　moved　behind　his　skin　until　he　was　there；　staring　at　me。　The　look　in　his　eyes　wasn't　what　I　expected。　Fear　was　still　there　and　surprise；　but　underneath　was　worry。
　〃Better？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes。〃　I　frowned。　〃What's　worrying　you？〃
　He　sighed。　〃All　honesty　is　eventually　punished；　but　not　usually　this　quickly。〃
　〃Answer　me；　Jean…Claude。〃
　His　eyes　went　past　me　to　the　werewolves　waiting　at　Richard's　back。　〃No　one　must　speak　of　what　has　happened　here；　not　to　anyone。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Richard　asked。
　〃It　would　embarrass　ma　petite。〃
　〃That's　true；〃　I　said；　〃but　that's　not　what　you　mean。　You　don't　mind　embarrassing　me。　Hell；　this　story　would　make　a　great　threat　for　all　your　vampires。　It'd　scare　the　hell　out　of　them。〃
　〃That；　ma　petite；　is　the　point。〃
　I　sighed。　〃Stop　being　obtuse　and　just　tell　us。〃
　〃I　do　not　want　this；〃　he　waved　at　the　vampires；　〃ing　to　the　attention　of　the　vampire　council。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Richard　and　I　asked　together。
　〃Put　simply；　ma　petite；　they　will　kill　you。〃
　〃I'm　your　registered　human　servant；〃　I　said；　〃you　said　you　did　that　to　keep　me　safe。〃
　〃For　this　they　will　e　and　see　for　themselves；　ma　petite。　Whoever　they　send　will　know　instantly　that　you　do　not　bear　my　marks。　You　are　my　servant　in　name　only。　That　will　not　be　enough　for　them。　Without　any　binding　between　us；　they　will　not　trust　you。〃
　〃So　they'll　kill　her；　just　like　that？〃　Richard　asked。　He　moved　closer　to　me　as　if　he'd　touch　me；　but　his　hands　hesitated　above　my　shoulders。
　Without　looking　at　him；　I　said；　〃One　story　about　burning　people　alive　and　you　don't　want　to　touch　me。　You　prejudiced　little　werewolf；　you。〃　I　tried　to　keep　my　voice　light　but　a　harsh　edge　crept　in。
　His　hands　gripped　my　shoulders　tightly。　〃It　really　bothers　you；　what　you　did；　doesn't　it？〃
　I　turned　to　see　his　face；　his　hands　still　on　my　shoulders。　〃Of　course　it　bothers　me。　I　didn't　just　kill　Magnus；　I　tortured　him　to　death。　Ellie　Quinlan　didn't　deserve　to　be　burned　alive。〃　I　shook　my　head　and　tried　to　step　away　from　him。　He　slid　his　arms　across　my　back；　holding　me　gently　against　him。
　〃I'm　sorry　you　had　to　do　it。〃　He　touched　my　hair　with　one　hand；　the　other　still　against　my　back。　〃Your　eyes　are　haunted　by　it；　by　what　you　did。　Don't　take　this　wrong；　but　it　makes　me　feel　better　to　see　that　pain　in　your　eyes。〃
　I　pushed　away　from　him。　〃Did　you　think　I　could　kill　someone　by　torture　and　feel　nothing？〃
　He　met　my　eyes　but　it　seemed　like　it　was　an　effort。　〃I　wasn't　sure。〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　Jean…Claude　took　my　left　hand；　the　other　was　still　holding　the　Firestar。　He　turned　me　to　face　him。　He　raised　my　hand　towards　his　lips　as　he　bowed　slowly　towards　me。　He　spoke　as　he　moved；　〃There　is　nothing　that　you　could　ever　do　that　would　make　me　not　desire　the　touch　of　your　body。〃　He　kissed　my　hand。　His　lips　lingered　a　little　longer　than　was　polite。　His　tongue　licked　across　my　skin；　and　I　pulled　away。
　〃It　scares　you　that　I　can　raise　vampires　like　this。〃
　〃Perhaps；　ma　petite；　but　I　have　frightened　you　for　years　and　yet　you　are　still　here。〃
　He　had　a　point。　I　stared　at　Willie。　〃Let's　see　if　we　can　put　everyone　back　where　they　belong。〃　I　hoped　I　could　do　it。　I　wanted　Willie　back；　even　if　it　was　only　a　lie。　He　walked；　he　talked；　it　was　still　Willie。　Or　maybe；　I　just　wanted　it　to　be　Willie。　Maybe　I　needed　it　to　be　Willie。
　
　
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　〃Take　me　to　the　coffin　room；〃　I　said。
　〃Why？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。　There　was　something　in　the　way　he　said　that　one　word　that　made　me　stare　at　him。
　〃Because　I　asked。〃
　〃How　would　my　flock　feel　if　I　allowed　the　Executioner　to　enter　their　private　chamber　while　they　slept　helpless？〃
　〃I'm　not　going　to　kill　anybody　today；　not　on　purpose。〃
　〃I　do　not　like　the　way　you　said　that；　ma　petite。〃
　〃Uncontrolled　power　is　unpredictable；　Jean…Claude。　All　sorts　of　unpleasant　things　can　happen。　I　need　to　see　where　the　vampires　will　be　resting。　I　want　to　try　and　put　them　back　in　a　controlled　manner。〃
　〃What　sorts　of　unpleasant　things？〃　Richard　asked。
　It　was　a　good　question。　Since　I　was　pretty　much　flying　blind；　I　didn't　have　a　good　answer。　〃It　takes　less　power　to　put　back　than　it　does　to　raise。　If　we　just　call　it　up　wild　and　try　to　will　them　back　。　。　。〃　I　shook　my　head。
　〃You　could　extinguish　their　life　force；〃　Cassandra　said。
　I　looked　at　her。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃You're　going　to　put　them　back　in　their　coffins　as　you　would　a　zombie；　but　with　a　zombie　you　will　it　to　be　dead　again；　correct？〃
　I　hadn't　really　thought　of　it　that　way；　but　she　was　right。
　〃If　you　will　the　vampires　back　in　their　coffins；　you're　in　effect　willing　them　dead　again　like　a　zombie；　right？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃But　you　don't　want　them　permanently　dead。〃
　My　head　was　beginning　to　hurt。　〃No；　I　don't　want　them　permanently　dead。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　so　very　much　about　necromancy；　Cassandra？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　〃I　have　a　master's　degree　in　magical　theory。〃
　〃That　must　be　useful　on　a　resume；〃　I　said。
　〃Not　in　the　least；〃　she　said；　〃but　it　might　be　useful　now。〃
　〃Did　you　know　your　newest　pack　member　was　so　well…educated；　Richard？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it's　one　of　the　reasons　I　gave　her　permission　to　move　here。〃
　〃Permission　to　move　here？〃　I　said。　〃Why　did　she　need　your　permission？〃
　〃A　werewolf　has　to　get　the　permission　of　the　local　pack　leader　before　they　can　enter　a　new　territory。　If　they　don't；　it's　considered　a　challenge　to　his　authority。〃
　〃Did　she　have　to　ask　your　permission　or　Marcus's？〃
　〃Both；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃Most　werewolves　won't　e　near　Saint　Louis　while　this　power　struggle　is　going　on。〃
　〃Why　did　you　e；　then；　my　wolf？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　〃I　liked　what　I　heard　about　Richard。　He's　trying　to　bring　the　pack　into　the　twentieth　century。〃
　〃Did　you　e　planning　to　be　his　lupa？〃　I　asked。　Yes；　a　little　twinge　of　jealousy　had　reared　its　ugly　head。
　Cassandra　smiled。　〃Maybe；　but　the　job's　filled。　I　came　here　to　avoid　fighting；　not　to　start　it。〃
　〃You　have　e　to　the　wrong　place；　I　fear；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　She　shrugged。　〃If　I　waited　until　the　battle　was　over　and　it　was　safe；　I　wouldn't　be　worth　much；　would　I？〃
　〃You　came　to　fight　at　Monsieur　Zeeman's　side？〃
　〃I　came　because　I　agree　with　what　he's　trying　to　do。〃
　〃You　don't　approve　of　killing？〃　I　asked。
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃Why；　Richard；　you　have　found　a　kindred　spirit；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　smiling；　and　far　too　pleased。
　〃Cassandra　believes　in　the　sanctity　of　life；　a　lot　of　people　do；〃　Richard　said。　He　wouldn't　look　at　me。
　〃If　she's　a　better　match　for　you　than　I　am；　I　won't　stand　in　your　way。〃
　He　turned　to　me；　a　look　of　astonishment　on　his　face。　〃Anita　。　。　。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　in　love　with　you。〃
　〃You'd　get　over　it；〃　I　said。　My　chest　was　tight　with　the　offer；　but　I　meant　it。　Richard　and　I　had　a　basic　fundamental　difference　of　opinion。　It　wasn't　going　away。　One　of　us　was　going　to　have　to　promise；　and　it　wasn't　going　to　be　me。　I　couldn't　quite　meet　Richard's　eyes；　but　I　didn't　take　it　back。
　He　stepped　in　front　of　me；　and　all　I　could　see　was　his　bare　chest。　There　was　a　scratch　just　below　his　left　nipple；　blood　drying　on　his　skin　in　darkening　strings。　He　touched　my　chin；　raising　my　face　until　I　met　his　eyes。　He　studied　my　face　like　he'd　never　seen　it　before。
　〃I　would　never　get　over　losing　you；　Anita。　Never。〃
　〃Never's　a　long　time　to　tie　yourself　to　a　killer。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　be　a　killer；〃　he　said。
　I　stepped　away　from　him。　〃If　you're　hanging　around　me　waiting　for　me　to　soften　up　and　bee　this　good　little　girl；　you　might　as　well　leave　now。〃
　He　grabbed　my　arms；　pulling　me　against　his　body。　〃I　want　you；　Anita；　all　of　you。〃　He　kissed　me；　arms　locked　behind　my　back；　raising　me　up　against　him。
　I　slid　my　hands　behind　his　back；　Firestar　still　in　one　hand。　I　pressed　my　body　against　his　hard　enough　to　know　he　was　happy　to　see　me。
　We　came　up　for　air；　and　I　pulled　back；　but　not　out　of　his　arms；　half…laughing。　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　Jean…Claude　standing　to　one　side。　The　look　on　his　face　wiped　the　smile　from　my　lips。　It　wasn't　jealousy。　It　was　hunger。　Desire。　Watching　us　together　had　excited　him。
　I　drew　back　from　Richard　and　found　blood　on　my　hands。　It　was　hard　to　tell　on　the　navy　blue　shirt　but　there　were　wet　spots　where　I'd　pressed　myself　against　the　bloody　scratches。　Some　of　the　wounds　were