lhamilton.thekillingdance-第58部分

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was：　something　that　would　kill　you　before　it　would　kiss　you。
　We　walked　out　of　the　bathroom　and　found　Edward　and　Harley　waiting　for　us。　They　had　brought　two　straight…backed　chairs　to　sit　on　the　white　carpet；　facing　the　bathroom　door。　I　froze　as　Edward　stared　at　me。　He　didn't　say　a　word；　just　sat　there　with　a　sort　of　half…smile　on　his　face。
　〃Well；　say　something；　dammit。〃
　〃I　would　say　it　isn't　you；　but　in　a　way；　it　is。〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Yeah。〃
　Harley　stared　at　me　with　vacant　eyes。　He　was　smiling；　but　not　at　the　outfit。　Smiling　at　some　internal　music　or　vision　that　only　he　could　perceive。
　There　was　a　long　leather　coat　on　the　bed。　〃One　of　the　vampires　dropped　it　off；〃　Edward　said。　〃Thought　you　might　want　something　to　cover　up　with　until　the　big　unveiling。〃
　〃You're　enjoying　this；　aren't　you？〃
　〃I'd　feel　better　if　I　could　guard　your　back。〃
　〃You're　going　to　do　that　with　a　rifle　from　the　closest　hill；　remember。〃
　〃Night　vision　and　scope；　fine；　but　I　can't　kill　them　all　from　a　distance。〃
　〃You　couldn't　kill　them　all　if　you　were　johnny　on　the　spot；　either；〃　I　said。
　〃No；　but　I'd　feel　better。〃
　〃Worried　about　me？〃
　He　shrugged。　〃I'm　your　bodyguard。　If　you　die　under　my　protection；　the　other　bodyguards　will　make　fun　of　me。〃
　It　took　me　a　second　to　realize　he　was　making　a　joke。　Harley　looked　back　at　him　with　an　almost　surprised　look。　I　don't　think　either　of　us　heard　humor　from　Edward　much。
　I　walked　towards　Edward。　The　leather　made　that　little　creaking　sound　it　makes。　I　stopped　in　front　of　him；　legs　a　little　apart；　staring　down　at　him。
　He　widened　his　eyes　a　little。　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　can't　imagine　anyone　making　fun　of　you；　Edward。〃
　He　touched　one　of　the　leather　straps。　〃If　I　went　around　dressed　like　this；　they　might。〃
　I　had　to　smile。　〃You　probably　would　be　dressed　like　this　if　you　were　going　to　be　down　in　the　clearing　with　us　tonight。〃
　He　turned　pale　blue　eyes　to　me。　〃I've　worn　worse　than　this；　Anita。　I'm　a　fine　actor　when　I　have　to　be。〃　The　humor　drained　away　from　his　face；　leaving　something　feral　and　determined　behind。　Edward　would　still　do　things　that　I　wouldn't；　still　had　fewer　rules　than　I　did；　but　in　some　ways；　Edward　was　a　mirror　for　me。　A　warning　of　what　I　was　being；　or　maybe　a　preview。
　Richard　would　have　said　it　was　a　warning。　I　hadn't　made　up　my　mind　yet。
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　Richard　came　in　without　waiting　for　an　invitation。　He　was　scowling；　but　the　grumpy　look　faded　when　he　got　a　good　look　at　me。　His　eyes　widened。　〃I　was　going　to　e　in　and　plain　about　my　outfit。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃If　I　plain；　will　you　just　shoot　me？〃　A　smile　spread　across　his　face。
　〃No　laughing；〃　I　said。
　The　smile　got　wider。　His　voice　was　a　little　choked；　but　he　managed；　〃Wonderful。　You　look　wonderful。〃
　There　are　only　two　things　you　can　do　when　you're　dressed　like　Barbie　Does　Bondage；　you　can　be　embarrassed　or　you　can　be　aggressive。　Guess　what　my　choice　was。
　I　stalked　towards　him；　putting　a　little　extra　sway　into　my　walk。　The　boots　made　it　easier；　somehow；　giving　just　the　right　roll。　I　put　into　my　eyes；　my　face；　what　the　outfit　promised：　sex；　violence；　heat。
　The　humor　faded　from　Richard's　face；　replaced　by　an　answering　heat　and　a　hesitation；　like　he　wasn't　exactly　sure　we　should　be　doing　this　in　public。
　He　was　wearing　black　leather　pants　with　soft　suede　boots　that　were　almost　a　match　to　my　own。　His　hair　had　been　slicked　back；　tied　off　with　a　black　ribbon。　His　shirt　was　silk　and　a　vibrant　blue；　somewhere　between　turquoise　and　royal。　It　looked　splendid　against　his　tanned　skin。
　I　stopped　just　in　front　of　him；　legs　apart。　I　stared　up　at　him；　defying　him　to　think　it　was　funny。　I　put　a　finger　to　his　lips；　trailing　my　fingertip　down　his　cheek；　his　neck；　caressing　the　edge　of　his　collarbone；　tracing　the　skin　until　it　vanished　down　the　buttoned　front　of　his　shirt。
　I　stalked　to　the　bed；　fetching　the　leather　coat。　I　threw　it　over　one　shoulder　so　that　it　trailed　down　like　a　limp　body；　not　hiding　much　of　the　outfit。　I　opened　the　door　and　stood　for　just　a　moment　framed　in　it。　〃ing？〃　I　said。　I　walked　away　without　waiting　for　an　answer。　The　look　on　his　face　was　enough。　He　looked　like　I'd　hit　him　between　the　eyes　with　a　sledgehammer。
　Great。　Now　all　I　had　to　do　was　try　the　outfit　out　on　Jean…Claude；　and　we　could　go。
　
　
　36
　
　The　May　woods　were　a　warm；　close　darkness。　Richard　and　I　stood　outside　the　barn　where　Raina　shot　dirty　pictures。　The　pack　meeting　place　was　among　the　trees　around　the　farmhouse。　There　were　so　many　cars　that　they　were　parked　on　every　bit　of　spare　ground；　some　so　close　to　the　woods　that　they　touched　the　trees。
　There　may　have　been　a　full　moon　up　there　somewhere；　but　the　clouds　were　so　thick；　the　darkness　so　plete；　that　it　was　like　standing　inside　a　cave。　Except　this　cave　had　movement。　A　small　oozing　wind　trailed　through　the　thick；　night…darkened　leaves。　It　was　like　some　invisible　giant　trailed　fingertips　through　the　trees；　bending　them；　rattling　the　leaves；　giving　movement　to　the　night　that　made　my　shoulders　tight。　It　was　like　the　night　itself　was　alive　in　a　way　that　I'd　never　seen　before。
　Richard's　hand　was　warm　and　slightly　moist。　He'd　dampened　that　creeping　energy　so　that　it　wasn't　unfortable　to　touch　him。　I　appreciated　the　effort。　His　leather　cloak　whispered　as　he　moved　closer。　It　was　tied　across　his　chest；　covering　only　one　shoulder。　The　cloak；　bined　with　the　full　sleeves　of　the　brilliant　blue　shirt；　made　the　whole　outfit　seem　antique。
　Richard　pulled　on　my　hand；　bringing　me　against　his　body；　into　the　circle　of　his　arms；　the　brush　of　the　leather　cloak。　The　clouds　slid　apart　and　suddenly　we　were　bathed　in　a　thick；　silver　glow。　Richard　was　staring　outward。　He　seemed　to　be　listening　to　something　that　I　couldn't　hear。　His　hands　convulsed　around　my　hands；　an　almost　painful　squeeze。　He　stared　down　at　me　as　if　just　remembering　I　was　there。
　He　smiled。　〃Can　you　feel　it？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃The　night？〃
　I　started　to　answer；　no；　then　stopped。　I　looked　around　at　the　hurrying　woods；　the　feeling　of　movement。　〃The　woods　seem　more　alive　tonight。〃
　His　smile　widened；　a　brief　flash　of　teeth；　almost　a　snarl。　〃Yes。〃
　I　tried　to　pull　away；　but　his　hands　tightened。　〃You're　doing　it；〃　I　said。　My　heart　was　suddenly　thudding　in　my　throat。　I'd　thought　to　be　afraid　of　a　lot　of　things　tonight；　but　not　of　Richard。
　〃We're　supposed　to　share　power。　That's　what　I'm　doing。　But　it　has　to　be　my　power；　Anita。　The　pack　won't　be　impressed　with　zombies。〃
　I　swallowed　past　my　beating　heart　and　forced　myself　to　stand　very　still。　Made　myself　return　the　grip　of　his　hands。　I　hadn't　thought　what　it　would　mean。　I　wasn't　going　to　be　in　charge。　Not　my　power　but　his。　I　was　going　to　be　fuel　for　his　fire；　not　the　other　way　around。
　〃It's　Jean…Claude's　mark；〃　I　said。　〃That's　what's　doing　it。〃
　〃We　hoped　it　would　work　this　way；〃　Richard　said。
　And　I　knew　that　the　we　he　was　referring　to　didn't　include　me。　〃How　does　it　work？〃
　〃Like　this。〃　That　trembling　energy　broke　over　his　skin　like　a　rush　of　warmth。　It　plunged　through　his　hands　into　my　hand。　It　rode　like　a　wave　over　my　body；　and　everywhere　it　touched；　the　hair　and　skin　of　my　body　raised　and　shivered。
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃Sure；〃　but　my　voice　was　a　breathless　whisper。
　He　took　me　at　my　word。　Some　barrier　went　down；　and　Richard's　energy　crashed　into　me　like　a　fist。　I　remembered　falling；　and　the　feel　of　Richard's　arms　around　my　waist；　catching　me；　then　it　was　like　I　was　elsewhere。　I　was　everywhere。　I　was　over　there　in　the　trees；　staring　at　us　with　eyes　that　tried　to　turn　and　see　me；　but　I　wasn't　there。　It　was　like　the　wind　that　opened　inside　me　when　I　walked　a　cemetery；　except　it　wasn't　power　that　was　spreading　outward。　It　was　me。　I　flashed　through　a　dozen　eyes；　brushed　bodies；　some　furred；　some　still　skinned。　I　hurried　outward；　outward；　and　touched　Raina。　I　knew　it　was　her。　Her　power　lashed　out　like　a　shield；　casting　me　away　from　her；　but　not　before　I　felt　her　fear。
　Richard　called　me　back；　though　call　implies　a　voice。　I　slipped　back　inside　myself　in　a　rush　of　curling　golden　energy。　I　could　see　the　color　behind　my　eyes；　though　there　was　actually　nothing　to　see。　I　opened　my　eyes；　though　I　wasn't　a　hundred　percent　sure　that　they'd　been　closed。　That　golden　energy　was　still　there；　swirling　inside；　along　my　skin。　I　curled　my　hands　over　Richard's　shoulders　and　felt　an　answering　energy　in　him。
　I　didn't　have　to　ask　what　I　had　just　experienced。　I　knew。　It　was　what　it　meant；　at　least　for　someone　as　powerful　as　Richard；　to　be　alpha。　He　could　fling　his　essence　outward　and　touch　his　pack。　It　was　how　he　kept　the　werewolf　from　changing　form　two　days　ago。　It　was　how　he　could　share　blood。　Marcus　couldn't　do　it；　but　Raina　could。
　Jean…Claude's　power；　even　my　own　power；　never　felt　so　alive。　It　was　like　I　was　drawing　energy　from　the　trees；　the　wind；　like　being　plugged　into　a　vast　battery；　as　if　there　was　enough　magic　to　go　on　forever。　I　had　never　felt　anything　like　it。
　〃Can　you　run？〃　Richard　asked。
　The　question　meant　more　than　just　the　words；　and　I　knew　that。　〃Oh；　yeah。〃
　He　smiled；　and　it　was　joyous。　He　took　my　hand　and　flung　us　into　the　trees。　Even　if　he'd　been　human；　I　couldn't　have　kept　up　with　Richard　in　a　dead　run。　Tonight；　he　didn't　run　so　much　as　flowed　into　the　woods。　It　was　like　he　had　sonar　telling　him　where　every　branch；　every　tree　root；　every　fallen　trunk　would　be。　It　was　like　the　trees　moved　away　from　him　like　water；　or　maybe　moved　into　him　like　something　else　that　I　had　no　words　for。　He　pulled　me　with　him。　Not　just　with　his　hand；　but　with　his　energy。　It　was　like　he'd　entered　me　and　tied　us　together　somehow。　It　should　have　been　intrusive　and　frightening；　but　it　wasn't。
　We　spilled　into　the　great　clearing　and　Richard's　power　filled　it；　flowed　over　the　lycanthropes　like　a　fire　springing　from　one　dry　branch　to　another。　It　filled　them　and　made　them　turn　to　him。　Only　Marcus；　Raina；　Jamil；　Sebastian；　and　Cassandra　were　untouched。　Only　they　kept　him　out　by　force　of　will。　He　swept　everyone　else　before　him；　and　I　knew　that　part　of　what　let　him　do　that　was　me。　Distant　as　a　dream　or　a　half…remembered　nightmare；　was　Jean…Claude；　down　that　twisting　power　that　was　almost　buried　under　Richard's　shining　light。
　I　felt　every　movement。　It　was