cspector.worldwithoutend-第25部分

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n　open。　There；　standing　in　the　doorway　was　the　Horror；　Ysrthgrathe。
　
　He　was　as　I　remembered。　Cloaked　in　deep　brown；　power　radiating　off　him　like　a　corona。　Though　his　face　was　shadowed　by　his　hood；　I　knew　how　it　would　appear：　cadaverous；　with　the　sienna　flesh　pulled　taut　against　his　skull。　The　collapsed　nose；　the　yellowed　teeth；　the　heavily　muscled　arms　that　burned　my　flesh　as　he　held　it。　Under　the　cloak　was　his　tail。　Thick　as　a　man's　waist；　with　protruding　bony　ridges。
　
　〃Ah；　I　see　I　must　again　rescue　you　from　those　who　would　deprive　me　of　my　pleasure；〃　Ysrthgrathe　said。　〃You　look　quite　faint；　my　dear。　Is　it　such　a　shock　to　see　me　again　after　all　this　time？　I'm　wounded。　I　thought　you　would　have　expected　me　by　now。〃
　
　The　air　was　gone。　It　felt　as　though　everything　was　going　black。　I　thought　I　heard　Glasgian's　panicked　cry；　but　it　seemed　to　e　from　some　far…off　place。　I　struggled　to　overe　my　panic。　In　the　seconds　it　took　me　to　regroup；　Ysrthgrathe　had　slid　across　the　floor　and　grabbed　Glasgian。
　
　Backing　away　from　me；　he　held　Glasgian　against　his　chest　as　a　shield。　Around　Glasgian's　neck　were　Ysrthgrathe's　long　fingers　tipped　by　razor…sharp　nails。　Glasgian　was　making　little　hiccuping　noises。　
　〃Let　him　go；〃　I　said。　〃This　doesn't　concern　him。〃
　
　Ysrthgrathe　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。　It　bounced　off　the　walls　and　echoed　inside　me　like　a　low…throbbing　ache。
　
　〃Aina；　it　has　indeed　been　too　long。　I've　missed　these　little　tete…a…tetes。　Do　you　think　I　don't　know　who　this　child　is？　e　now；　I'm　not　that　much　of　a　fool。　The　irony　is　almost　too　perfect。　Is　it　not？〃　Then　he　gave　a　sigh　of　such　perfect　rapture　that　I　felt　as　though　a　shaft　of　ice　had　been　driven　into　my　heart。
　
　〃How　long　have　you　denied　me　this　most　perfect　of　pleasures？〃　he　asked。　〃I've　been　waiting　for　you　patiently。　You've　denied　me　for　far　too　long。　And　now　you　shall　pay。〃
　
　He　began　to　draw　his　nails　across　Glasgian's　neck。　The　blood　welled　up　after　a　moment　and　trickled　down　into　the　white　shirt。　Glasgian　gave　a　moan；　and　a　dark　spot　appeared　on　the　front　of　his　trousers　and　grew。
　
　〃Stop　it；〃　I　shrieked。
　
　Just　then；　there　was　a　violent　flash；　a　purple　jolt　of　energy；　behind　Ysrthgrathe。　The　force　of　it　lifted　him　and　Glasgian　off　the　floor　and　hurtled　them　toward　me。　I　dropped　to　the　floor；　but　still；　my　shout…der　was　caught　by　one　of　them　as　they　flew　by。　The　force　of　the　impact　rolled　me　over　and　over　until　I　came　to　rest　against　a　table。
　
　I　looked　up　and　saw　Caimbeui　standing　just　beyond　the　door　to　his　bedroom。　There　was　a　crackling　of　energy　around　him。　Then　I　heard　another　sound　and　turned　my　head　to　see　what　it　was。　Ysrthgrathe's　robes　burst　into　flame。　With　the　briefest　nod　of　the　head；　he　extinguished　the　flames；　and　turned　to　Harlequin　with　a　smile。　But　he'd　also　let　go　of　Glasgian；　who　was　making　whimpering　noises　and　clutching　his　throat。
　
　Cursing　my　long　skirts；　I　struggled　to　my　feet　and　raced　over　to　him。　I　pulled　his　hands　away　from　his　neck　and　looked　at　the　wound。　It　was　bleeding　profusely；　but　wasn't　as　deep　as　I'd　feared。　Placing　my　hands　on　the　wound；　I　began　to　pull　the　weave　of　his　life　together。　My　hands　grew　warm；　then　hot　as　the　magic　worked　its　way　into　his　flesh。　Glasgian　tried　to　move　away　from　me；　but　I　tightened　my　hands　and　that　stopped　him。
　
　I　heard　a　cry；　and　looked　up　to　see　Caimbeui　falling　backwards；　arms　and　legs　splayed　out。　A　bright　orange　flash　blinded　me　for　a　moment；　and　when　I　could　see　again；　Ysrthgrathe　stood　over　Caimbeui。　The　sweet　smell　of　burning　flesh　came　to　me　and　I　fought　against　the　memories　it　called　forth。
　
　I　opened　my　arms；　and　a　blue　light　leapt　between　my　palms。　It　coalesced　into　a　ball　of　blue…white　bril…hance。　Turning　my　palms　outward　toward　Ysrthgrathe；　I　pushed　the　ball　away　from　me。　It　hurtled　across　the　room　and　slammed　into　Ysrthgrathe's　side。
　
　The　impact　spun　him　around；　and　then　he　crashed　into　the　wall　with　a　howl　of　indignation。
　
　〃Ah；　Aina；〃　he　said；　holding　his　side。　〃You　still　care。　But　despite　my　gratitude　to　find　that　you　are　as　I　remember；　our　sweet　reunion　must　be　cut　short。　I　cannot　say　I　approve　of　your　choice　of　pany；　but　rest　assured；　I　will　rectify　that　in　the　future。〃
　
　With　that；　he　vanished。
　
　I　sank　to　the　floor　just　as　someone　began　banging　on　the　door　to　the　penthouse。
　No　more　dreams　now。
　
　The　nightmares　have　merged　with　the　waking　world。　The　time　for　running　is　over。
　
　Now　her　sleep　is　covered　by　nothing。　Nothing　except　darkness。
　
　The　pounding　at　the　door　continued。　Through　the　thick　steel　door　I　could　hear　a　voice　calling。
　
　〃This　is　hotel　security。　Is　everything　all　right　in　there？　If　we　don't　hear　an　answer　in　twenty　seconds；　we're　ing　in。〃
　
　〃Damn；　damn；　damn；〃　I　muttered　as　I　pushed　myself　off　the　floor　and　stumbled　to　the　door。　The　left　sleeve　on　my　dress　was　torn；　and　it　slid　off　my　arm。　I　shoved　it　up；　but　it　fell　down　again。　Reaching　the　door；　I　flung　it　open。
　
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　said；　trying　to　keep　a　bal…ante　between　annoyance　and　huskiness　in　my　tone。
　
　〃There　was　a　report　from　the　floor　below；〃　said　one　of　the　uniformed　guards。　There　were　two　of　them…big　troll　bruisers　lugging　heavy…duty　artil…lerp。　〃Something　about　a　lot　of　shooting　and　banging　around。　Is　everything　all　right？〃
　
　〃Of　course；〃　I　said。
　〃Mind　if　we　e　in？〃
　〃I　don't；　but　my　panion　might；〃　I　said。　〃He's　a　bit。。。　tied　up　at　the　moment。〃　I　gave　them　a　hot　smoldering　look；　and　one　of　them　looked　distinctly　unfortable。
　〃Oh。。。〃
　〃But　we're　always　to　open　to　variety；〃　I　continued。　〃I　can't　remember　the　last　time　we　had　pany。　That　is；　if　your　boss　won't　mind　letting　you　off…duty　for　a　while。〃
　〃Uh。。。〃
　〃Well；　what's　it　to　be？〃
　〃I　don't　think　we　need　to　stay。　As　long　as　everything　is　all　right。〃
　〃We're　both　fine；〃　I　purred。　〃Really。〃
　
　The　trolls　backed　away　down　the　hall。　I　watched　them　for　a　moment；　then　gave　them　a　slow；　nasty　smile　and　shut　the　door。
　
　〃What　are　we　going　to　do　about　Glasgian？〃　Caimbeui　asked　me。　He'd　just　finished　off　a　spell　to　。　take　care　of　the　wounds　he'd　suffered　in　the　struggle　with　Ysrthgrathe。
　
　Unfortunately；　Glasgian　was　in　no　condition　to　offer　an　opinion　about　his　plans。　A　thin　dribble　of　saliva　hung　from　one　corner　of　his　gaping　mouth。　His　eyes　were　vacant　and　glassy。　When　I　touched　his　cheek　it　was　cold　and　clammy。
　
　〃We'll　keep　him　here　until　after　the　Council　meets。　If　necessary；　we　can　use　him　as　a　demonstration；〃　I　said。
　
　〃That　wouldn't　be　advisable；〃　replied　Caimbeui。　
　〃Aithne；〃　I　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃Help　me　with　him；〃　I　said；　taking　one　of　Glasgian's　arms。
　
　Together；　we　managed　to　drag　him　to　my　room　and　lay　him　down　on　the　bed。　I　disconnected　the　tele；　then　cast　a　spell　to　protect　and　hold　him。　Back　in　the　living　room；　we　righted　the　furniture　toppled　during　the　fight。　I　went　to　the　terrace　doors　and　shut　them。
　
　After　a　couple　of　medicinal　drinks；　I　felt　more　like　myself。
　
　〃I　told　you；〃　I　said　as　I　finally　came　to　sit　beside　Caimbeui　on　the　sofa。　〃I　told　you　he　was　here。　That　he'd　found　a　way　through。〃　My　hands　shook　and　I　took　another　deep　drink。　And　wished　for　something　else。　Something　more　potent。
　
　〃I　believed　you；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　didn't　think　the　threat　was　all　that　great。〃
　〃Because　you　thought　you'd　already　dealt　with　them。　But　they're　ing　like　locusts。　And　they　won't　stop　until　they've　all　made　it　through。〃
　〃Things　are　different　now。〃
　〃How？〃
　　〃The　weapons。　The　Matrix。　And　the　magic。　There　is　always　the　magic。〃
　
　I　snorted；　then　got　up　to　pour　myself　another　drink。　〃Have　you　forgotten　everything？〃　I　asked。　〃They　leam。　They're　patient。　The　first　few　may　die；　but　there's　no　end　to　them。〃
　
　〃Don't　you　think　you've　had　enough？〃　
　I　turned　and　threw　my　glass　at　him。　It　disappeared　a　moment　before　it　would　have　hit　his　face。
　
　〃Aina；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　on　your　side。　I　just　can't　stand　to　see　you　destroying　yourself　over　this。〃
　〃For　heaven's　sake；　Caimbeui；　I've　just　seen　the　face　of　my　most　dreaded　enemy　after　six　thousand　years；　and　you're　carping　about　a　couple　of　drinks。　It　would　take　far　more　than　that　to　slow　me　down　right　now。〃
　〃Pax；〃　he　said；　holding　up　his　hands。　〃I　want　no　more　fights　tonight。　One　was　quite　enough。　Let's　put　up　a　ward；　then　get　some　sleep。〃
　〃So；　are　you　sleeping　on　the　couch　or　am　I？〃　I　asked。
　〃Well；　it's　my　bedroom；〃　he　said。
　〃Very　well；〃　I　replied。　〃I　should　have　known　better　than　to　expect　you　to　be　a　gentleman　about　it。〃
　〃You're　a　real　pain；　you　know。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　fatally　wounded；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you　have　an　extra　blanket？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Look；　why　don't　we　just　share　the　bed？　It's　not　like　we　haven't　before。〃
　I　looked　away。　〃That　was　different；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　a　long　time　ago。〃
　〃I　promise　to　restrain　myself；〃　he　said。
　〃I　don't　know　whether　to　be　flattered　or　offended。〃
　〃You'll　be　whatever　annoys　you　the　most。〃
　I　swept　by　him；　going　toward　his　bedroom。　〃You're　right；〃　I　said。
　
　
　There　was　more　than　enough　room　in　the　bed　for　both　of　us。　Three　full…sized　orks　would　have　been　fortable　in　it。　Despite；　or　maybe　because　of；　Caimbeul's　promise；　I　couldn't　sleep。　I'd　been　afraid　to　sleep　because　of　the　dreams。　But　now　I　suspected　there　would　be　no　more　dreams。
　
　Ysrthgrathe；　my　old　enemy。　More　faithful　than　any　lover。　The　weight　of　my　past　with　him　hung　in　my　mind。　I　shut　my　eyes；　but　images　kept　ing　to　me。　The　trail　of　death　and　blood　that　followed　me　because　of　him。
　
　A　sick　feeling　settled　into　my　stomach　and　worked　its　way　up　my　throat。　I　shuddered　at　the　thought　of　the　pain　and　suffering　that　I　knew　Ysrthgrathe　would　inflict。　All　in　my　name。
　
　A　low　moan　escaped　my　lips。
　
　〃Aina；〃　said　Caimbeui。
　〃Did　I　wake　you？〃　I　asked。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　can't　sleep。　I'm　feeling　cold。　Do　you　mind　if　I　hold　you？　Strictly　for　warmth。〃
　I　slid　across　the　vast　expanse　of　the　bed　into　the　warmth　of　his　arms。　And　still　it　was　many　hours　before　I　slept。
　
　A　banging　woke　me　the　next　morning。　〃Doesn't　anyone　just　knock　in　this　hotel？〃　asked　Caimbeui。　We　were　tangled　up　together；　just　like　we　used　to　be　in　other；　happier　times。　He　threw　off　t