lhamilton.thekillingdance-第66部分

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　〃You　can　be　alpha　female。　I　don't　want　the　job；〃　I　said。
　Raina　sighed；　running　her　hand　along　my　leg；　massaging　the　muscle　in　my　upper　thigh；　almost　absently　like　you'd　pet　a　dog。　〃Richard　doesn't　want　me；　Anita。　He　thinks　I'm　corrupt。　He　wants　you。〃　She　squeezed　my　thigh　until　I　thought　she　was　going　to　grow　claws　and　tear　out　the　muscle。　She　forced　a　small　sound　out　of　my　throat　before　she　stopped。
　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　〃Your　pain。〃　She　smiled　when　she　said　it。
　I　turned　my　head　to　Cassandra。　There　had　to　be　someone　sane　in　this　room。　〃Why　are　you　helping　them？〃
　〃I　am　Sabin's　wolf。〃
　My　eyes　narrowed。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　Raina　crawled　up　on　the　bed；　lying　beside　me；　insinuating　her　body　against　mine；　one　finger　tracing　over　my　stomach。　It　was　an　idle　gesture；　as　if　she　wasn't　really　concentrating。　I　didn't　want　to　be　here　when　she　started　concentrating。
　〃Cassandra　was　a　plant　from　the　very　beginning；　weren't　you　dear？〃
　Cassandra　nodded；　ing　to　stand　beside　the　bed。　Her　hazel　eyes　were　calm；　too　calm。　Whatever　she　was　feeling　was　there　behind　that　pretty　face；　carefully　controlled。　The　trick　was；　was　there　anything　behind　that　face　that　could　help　me？
　〃Dominic；　Sabin；　and　I　are　a　triumvirate。　We　are　what　you　and　Richard　and　Jean…Claude　could　have　been。〃
　I　didn't　like　her　using　the　past　tense。　〃You're　the　woman　he　gave　up　fresh　blood　for？〃
　〃I　believe　in　the　sanctity　of　life。　I　thought　I　valued　that　above　all。　Watching　Sabin's　golden　beauty　rot　away　has　convinced　me　otherwise。　I　will　do　anything；　anything　to　help　him　recover。〃　Something　like　pain　crossed　her　eyes　and　she　looked　away。　When　she　looked　back；　her　face　was　forcibly　blank；　the　effort　trembling　down　her　hands。　She　noticed　and　hugged　her　hands　to　her　arms。　She　smiled；　but　it　wasn't　a　happy　smile。　〃I　have　to　make　it　up　to　him；　Anita。　I　am　sorry　that　you　and　yours　have　bee　entangled　in　our　problems。〃
　〃How　am　I　caught　up　in　it？〃
　Raina　slid　her　arm　over　my　stomach；　putting　her　face　very　near　mine。　〃Dominic　has　a　spell　to　cure　Sabin　of　the　rotting　disease。　A　transfer　of　magical　essence；　you　might　say。　All　he　needed　was　exactly　the　right　donor。〃　She　leaned　in　so　close　that　only　my　turning　my　head　kept　our　lips　from　touching。　She　whispered　against　my　skin；　breath　warm；　〃A　perfect　donor。　A　vampire　who　shares　Sabin's　powers　exactly；　a　perfect　match；　and　a　servant；　either　alpha　werewolf；　or　necromancer；　bound　to　that　same　vampire。〃
　I　turned　and　looked　at　her。　I　couldn't　help　it。　She　kissed　me；　pressing　her　mouth　against　mine；　trying　to　force　her　tongue　inside。　I　bit　her　lip　hard　enough　that　I　tasted　blood。
　She　jerked　back　with　a　startled　scream。　She　put　her　hand　to　her　mouth　and　stared　down　at　me。　〃That　is　going　to　cost　you　dearly。〃
　I　spit　her　blood　at　her。　It　spattered　along　my　chin。　It　was　a　stupid　thing　to　have　done。　Making　her　angrier　was　not　helpful；　but　watching　the　blood　drip　down　her　lovely　face　had　almost　been　worth　it。
　〃Gabriel；　entertain　Ms。　Blake。〃
　That　got　my　attention。　Gabriel　slid　onto　the　bed；　folding　himself　against　me　as　Raina　had　done　on　the　other　side。　He　was　taller；　six　feet；　so　he　didn't　fit　quite　as　well；　but　what　he　lacked　in　matching　size　he　made　up　for　in　technique。　He　straddled　my　body　and　leaned　over　me　in　a　sort　of　push…up；　bringing　his　mouth　close　and　closer。　He　licked　my　bloody　chin；　one　quick　flick　of　his　tongue。　I　jerked　my　head　away。
　He　grabbed　my　chin　with　one　hand；　forcing　me　to　look　at　him。　He　held　my　chin　like　a　vise；　fingers　digging　in　when　I　struggled。　The　strength　in　his　fingers　was　enough　to　crush　my　jaw　if　he　squeezed。　He　licked　the　blood　off　my　chin　and　lips　in　slow；　lingering　licks。
　I　screamed；　then　mentally　cursed　myself。　This　was　what　they　wanted。　Panic　would　not　help。　Panic　would　not　help。　I　kept　repeating　it　over　and　over　until　I　stopped　pulling　at　the　ropes。　I　would　not　lose　it；　not　yet；　not　yet。
　Cassandra　crawled　up　on　the　bed。　I　could　only　see　her　white　dress　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye。　Gabriel　still　held　me　immobile。
　〃Let　go　of　her　face　so　she　can　look　at　me。〃
　Gabriel　glanced　at　her　and　hissed。
　A　low；　rolling　growl　trickled　out　from　behind　her　lips。　〃I'm　in　the　mood　for　a　fight　tonight；　kitty；　don't　make　it　easy　for　me。〃
　〃Aren't　you　expected　at　the　ceremony？〃　Raina　said。　〃Doesn't　Dominic　need　you　there　for　it　to　work？〃
　Cassandra　reared　back；　and　the　voice　that　came　was　low　and　fell　from　her　human　lips　with　effort。　〃I　will　speak　with　Anita　before　I　go；　or　I　will　not　go。〃
　Raina　came　to　stand　on　the　other　side　of　the　bed。　〃You'll　never　find　another　master　vampire　who　matches　your　master　as　perfectly　as　Jean…Claude。　Never。　You'd　jeopardize　his　one　chance　at　a　cure？〃
　〃I　will　do　as　I　wish　on　this　one　thing；　Raina；　for　I　am　alpha。　When　Richard　is　gone；　I　will　lead　the　pack。　Do　not　forget　that。〃
　〃That　wasn't　our　bargain。〃
　〃Our　bargain　was　that　you　would　kill　the　Executioner　before　we　arrived　in　town。　You　failed。〃
　〃Marcus　hired　the　best。　Who　knew　she　would　be　so　hard　to　kill？〃
　〃I　did；　the　first　time　I　met　her。　You　are　always　underestimating　other　women；　Raina；　it　is　one　of　your　weaknesses。〃　Cassandra　leaned　towards　Raina。　〃You　tried　to　kill　Richard　before　Dominic　could　use　him　in　the　spell。〃
　〃He　was　going　to　kill　Marcus。〃
　Cassandra　shook　her　head。　〃You　panicked；　Raina。　You　and　Marcus。　Now　Marcus　is　dead；　and　you　can't　hold　the　pack。　Too　many　of　them　hate　you。　And　many　of　them　love　Richard；　or　at　least　admire　him。〃
　I　wanted　to　ask　where　Jean…Claude　and　Richard　were；　but　I　was　afraid　I　knew。　A　ceremony；　sacrifice；　but　they　needed　Cassandra　to　make　it　work。　I　didn't　want　her　to　rush　off。
　〃You　were　Dominic's　alibi；〃　I　said。　〃Not　that　I'm　plaining；　but　why　am　I　still　alive？〃
　Cassandra　looked　down　at　me。　〃Gabriel　and　Raina　want　you　on　film。　If　you　would　give　me　your　word　that　you　would　seek　no　revenge　against　any　of　us　for　the　deaths　of　your　two　men；　then　I　would　fight　to　see　you　go　free。〃
　I　started　to　open　my　mouth　and　promise。
　She　waved　a　finger　in　front　of　my　mouth。　〃No　lies；　Anita；　not　between　us。〃
　〃Too　late　for　that；〃　I　said。
　Cassandra　nodded。　〃True；　and　that　grieves　me。　Under　other　circumstances；　we　might　have　been　friends。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Of　course；　that　made　it　hurt　all　the　more。　Nothing　rubs　salt　in　the　wounds　like　betrayal。　Richard　could　probably　pare　notes　with　me　right　now。
　〃Where　are　Richard　and　Jean…Claude？〃
　She　stared　down　at　me。　〃Even　now　you　think　you　can　save　them；　don't　you？〃
　I　would　have　shrugged；　but　I　couldn't。　〃It　was　a　thought。〃
　〃You　were　a　lure　and　a　hostage　for　the　two　men；〃　Cassandra　said。
　Gabriel　had　settled　on　top　of　me；　body　pressing　along　the　length　of　my　body。　He　was　heavy。　You　never　noticed　how　heavy　a　man　was　when　you　were　enjoying　yourself。　He　had　sunk　down；　so　that　his　feet　trailed　off　the　bed；　and　he　could　fold　his　arms　across　my　chest。　His　chin　rested　on　his　arms；　and　he　stared　at　me　like　that；　like　he　knew　he　had　all　day；　all　night；　all　the　time　in　the　world。
　〃I　am　very　surprised　that　you　broke　up　with　Richard　today；　Anita；〃　Raina　said。　〃We　sent　him　a　lock　of　your　hair　with　a　note　saying　we'd　send　a　hand　next。　He　came　alone　and　told　no　one；　as　we　had　said　to　do。　He　really　is　a　fool。〃
　It　sounded　like　something　Richard　would　do；　but　it　surprised　me；　anyway。　〃You　didn't　get　Jean…Claude　to　hand　himself　over　for　a　lock　of　my　hair。〃
　Raina　moved　where　I　could　see　her　better　and　smiled　down。　Her　lip　was　already　beginning　to　heal。　〃Very　true；　we　didn't　even　try。　Jean…Claude　would　have　known　we　meant　to　kill　you；　regardless。　He'd　have　e　with　all　his　vampires；　all　the　wolves　that　are　loyal　to　him。　It　would　have　been　a　bloodbath。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　him　then？〃
　〃Cassandra　betrayed　him。　Didn't　you；　Cassandra？〃
　Cassandra　just　looked　at　us。　〃If　Richard　hadn't　broken　with　you；　you　might　have　been　able　to　cure　Sabin。　Seeking　your　aid　was　originally　only　an　excuse　to　enter　Jean…Claude's　territory；　but　you　were　more　powerful　than　Dominic　first　thought。　You　surprised　us　by　bearing　none　of　the　vampire's　marks。　You　were　supposed　to　be　part　of　the　sacrifice；　but　without　at　least　the　first　mark；　it　will　not　work。〃
　Hurrah　for　me。　〃You　saw　me　heal　Damian's　cut　and　the　zombie。　I　can　heal　Sabin。　You　know　I　can；　Cassandra。　You　saw　it。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃The　sickness　has　moved　inside　Sabin。　His　brain　is　going。　If　you　had　cured　him　today；　it　would　be　moot。　But　he　must　be　sane　for　the　spell　to　work。　Even　one　more　day　might　be　too　late。〃
　〃If　you　kill　Richard　and　Jean…Claude；　I　won't　have　the　power　to　heal　Sabin。　If　Dominic　came　here　planning　to　sacrifice　all　three　of　us；　then　the　spell　must　need　all　three　of　us　to　work。〃
　Something　flickered　across　her　face。　I　was　right。　〃Dominic's　not　sure　it　will　work　without　a　human　servant　in　the　loop；　is　he？〃
　Cassandra　shook　her　head。　〃It　has　to　be　tonight。〃
　〃If　you　kill　them　both　and　it　doesn't　cure　Sabin；　you've　destroyed　the　only　real　chance　he　has。　Our　triumvirate　can　cure　him。　You　know　it　can。〃
　〃I　know　no　such　thing。　You　would　promise　me　the　moon　itself　if　you　thought　it　would　save　you　all。〃
　〃That's　true；　but　I　still　think　we　can　cure　him。　If　you　kill　Richard　and　Jean…Claude；　the　chance　is　gone。　Let　us　at　least　try。　If　it　doesn't　work；　you　can　sacrifice　them　tomorrow。　I'll　let　Jean…Claude　give　me　the　first　mark。　We'll　either　cure　Sabin　tomorrow　or　we'll　be　the　perfect　sacrifice　for　Dominic's　spell。〃　I　willed　her　to　listen　to　me。　To　believe　me。
　〃Will　Sabin　be　able　to　read　his　part　of　the　spell　tomorrow　night？〃　Raina　asked。　She　moved　in　very　close　to　Cassandra。　〃Once　his　brain　is　rotted　away；　there　will　be　nothing　left　to　do　but　lock　him　in　a　box　with　crosses　on　it。　Hide　him　away。〃
　Cassandra's　hands　balled　into　fists。　A　fine　trembling　ran　through　her　body。　Raw　fear　showed　on　her　face。
　Raina　turned　to　me　almost　conversationally。　〃Sabin　won't　die；　you　understand。　He'll　melt　down　into　a　little　puddle　of　slime；　but　he　won't　die。　Will　he；　Cassandra？〃
　〃No；〃　Cassandra　almost　shouted。　〃No；　he　won't　die。　He'll　just　go　insane。　He'll　still　have　all　the　powers　of　the　triumvirate；　but　he'll　be　mad。　We'll　have　to　lock　him　away　and　pray　that　Dominic's　spells　can　hold　his　power　in　check。　If　we　can't　hold　his　powers　prisoner；　the　c