anner.vittoriothevampire-第17部分

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　There　were　so　many　interlocking　circles　of　figures　moving　to　the　throb　and　beat　of　the　music　that　they　made　a　series　of　arabesques。　The　costumes　embraced　a　great　nationality　of　styles；　from　the　very　French　to　the　modern　Florentine；　and　everywhere　there　were　gay　circles　of　red…dyed　silk　or　the　red　field　covered　with　flowers　or　some　other　design　which　looked　very　like　stars　or　crescent　moons；　I　could　not　quite　see　it。　It　was　a　somber　yet　tantalizing　picture；　all　of　them　in　this　same　rich　color　which　held　sway　somewhere　between　the　putrid　ghastliness　of　blood　and　the　stunning　splendor　of　scarlet。
　I　noted　the　sconces；　candlesticks；　torches　galore。　How　easy　it　would　be　to　set　their　tapestries　afire。　I　wondered　if　they　could　burn；　they　themselves；　like　other　witches　and　heretics。
　I　heard　Ursula　let　out　a　little　gasp。　〃Vittorio；　be　wise；〃　she　whispered。
　At　her　whisper；　the　man　at　the　center　of　the　table　below　…　he　who　held　that　very　high…backed　chair　of　honor；　which　my　father　would　have　held　at　home　…　looked　up　at　me。　He　was　blond…haired；　blond　as　the　shaggy　one　I'd　slain；　but　his　long　locks　were　pampered　and　silky　on　his　broad　shoulders。　His　face　was　youthful；　far　more　so　than　my　father's　yet　plenty　older　than　my　own；　and　as　inhumanly　pale　as　all　the　rest；　his　searing　blue　eyes　fixing　upon　me。　He　returned　at　once　to　his　study　of　the　dance。
　The　whole　spectacle　seemed　to　shiver　with　the　hot　smoking　quaver　of　the　flames；　and　as　my　eyes　watered；　I　realized　with　a　start　that　the　figures　worked　into　the　tapestry　were　not　the　quiet　ladies　and　unicorns　of　the　small　studious　chamber　from　which　we'd　e；　but　devils　dancing　in　Hell。　Indeed；　there　were　quite　hideous　gargoyles　in　the　most　violent　and　cruel　style；　carved　beneath　the　porch　all　around；　on　which　we　stood；　and　I　could　see　at　the　capitals　of　the　branching　columns　that　held　up　the　ceiling　above　us　more　of　the　demonic　and　winged　creatures　carved　into　the　stone。　Grimaces　of　evil　were　emblazoned　on　the　walls　behind　me；　across　from　me。　In　one　tapestry　below；　the　circles　of　Dante's　Hell　climbed　one　upon　another　ever　higher　and　higher。
　I　stared　at　the　shining　bare　table。　I　was　dizzy。　I　was　going　to　be　sick；　lose　consciousness。
　〃Make　you　a　member　of　the　Court；　that　is　what　she　asks；〃　said　the　Elder；　pushing　me　hard　against　the　rail；　not　letting　me　free；　not　letting　me　turn　away　His　voice　was　unhurried　and　low　and　without　the　slightest　opinion　on　the　matter。　〃She　wants　us　to　bring　you　into　our　Court　as　a　reward　for　the　fact　that　you　slew　one　of　us；　that　is　her　logic。〃
　His　glance　to　me　was　thoughtful；　cool。　His　hand　on　my　collar　was　neither　cruel　nor　rough；　merely　simple。
　I　was　a　tempest　of　half…uttered　words　and　curses；　when　suddenly　I　realized　I　was　falling。
　In　the　Elderly　one's　grasp；　I　had　fallen　over　the　rail；　and　in　a　second　descended　to　the　thick　layers　of　carpet　below；　where　I　was　yanked　to　my　feet；　as　the　dancers　made　way　for　us　on　either　side。
　We　stood　before　the　Lord　in　the　high…backed　chair；　and　I　saw　that　the　wood　figures　of　his　regal　throne　were；　of　course；　animalian；　feline　and　diabolical。
　All　was　black　wood；　polished　so　that　one　could　smell　the　oil；　and　it　mingled　sweetly　with　the　perfume　of　all　the　lamps；　and　there　came　a　soft　crackling　from　the　torches。
　The　musicians　had　stopped。　I　couldn't　even　see　them。　And　then　when　I　did；　saw　the　little　band　quite　high　up　in　their　own　little　balcony　or　loft；　I　perceived　that　they　too　had　the　porcelain…white　skin　and　the　lethal　cats'　eyes；　as　they　gazed　down　at　me；　all　of　them　slender　males；　modestly　clothed；　and　seemingly　apprehensive。
　I　stared　at　the　Lord。　He　had　not　moved　or　spoken。　He　was　a　fine；　imperial　figure　of　a　man；　his　thick　bulky　blondish　hair　bed　back　from　his　face　and　falling；　as　I　had　seen　before；　in　carefully　bed　locks　on　his　shoulders。
　His　clothes　too　were　of　the　old　fashion；　a　great　loose　tunic　of　velvet；　not　a　soldier's　tunic；　but　almost　a　robe　unto　itself；　trimmed　in　darkly　dyed　fur　to　match　its　lurid　color；　and　beneath　it　he　wore　big　beautiful　full　sleeves　ballooning　out　loosely　over　his　elbows　and　then　tapering　around　his　long　narrow　forearms　and　wrists。　A　huge　chain　of　medallions　hung　about　his　neck；　each　heavily　worked　circle　of　gold　set　with　a　cabochon　stone；　a　ruby；　red　as　his　clothing。
　He　held　one　slender　naked　hand　curled　on　the　table；　simply。　The　other　I　could　not　see。　He　gazed　at　me　with　blue　eyes。　There　was　something　puritanical　and　scholarly　about　his　bare　hand；　and　the　refinement　and　cleanliness　of　it。
　Across　the　thick　overlapping　carpets；　Ursula　came　with　a　quick　step；　holding　her　skirts　in　two　dainty　hands。　〃Florian；〃　she　said；　making　a　deep　bow　to　the　Lord　behind　the　table。　〃Florian；　I　am　begging　you　for　this　one；　on　account　of　character　and　strength；　that　you　bring　him　into　the　Court　for　my　sake；　for　my　heart。　It's　as　simple　as　that。〃　Her　voice　was　tremulous　but　reasoning。
　〃Into　the　Court？　Into　this　Court？〃　I　demanded。　I　felt　the　heat　rise　in　my　face。　I　looked　from　right　to　left。　I　stared　at　their　white　cheeks；　their　dark　mouths；　which　were　all　too　often　the　color　of　fresh　wounds。　I　stared　at　the　blanched　and　colorless　expressions　with　which　they　regarded　me。　Were　their　eyes　full　of　demonic　fire；　or　was　it　only　that　every　other　bit　of　humanity　had　been　taken　from　their　countenances？
　I　saw　my　own　hands　as　I　looked　down；　my　own　clenching　fists；　very　ruddy　and　human；　and　quite　suddenly；　as　if　I　were　meant　to　smell　it；　I　caught　my　own　scent；　the　scent　of　my　sweat　and　the　dust　from　the　road　clinging　to　me　and　mingling　with　whatever　in　me　was　simply　human。
　〃Yes；　you　are　quite　the　morsel　to　us；〃　said　the　Lord　himself；　speaking　from　the　table。　〃You　are　indeed；　and　the　hall　is　filled　with　your　scent。　And　it　is　too　early　for　us　to　feast。　We　feast　when　the　bell　rings　twelve　times；　that　is　our　infallible　custom。〃
　It　was　a　beautiful　voice；　a　voice　of　ringing　clarity　and　charm；　tinged　with　the　accent　of　the　French；　which　can　in　itself　be　so　beguiling。　It　was　with　a　French　restraint　and　regality　that　he　expressed　himself。
　He　smiled　at　me；　and　his　smile　was　gentle；　as　was　Ursula's　smile；　but　not　pitying；　and　not　at　all　cruel　or　sarcastic。
　I　had　no　eyes　now　for　the　other　faces　to　the　left　and　the　right　of　him。　I　knew　only　that　there　were　many；　and　some　were　men　and　some　women；　and　the　women　wore　the　stately　French　headdresses　of　olden　times；　and　somewhere　in　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　thought　I　saw　a　man　got　up　like　a　jester。
　〃Ursula；　such　a　thing　as　this；〃　the　Lord　said；　〃requires　long　consideration。〃
　〃Does　it！〃　I　cried　out。　〃You　mean　to　make　me　one　of　your　Court？　That　takes　no　consideration。〃
　〃Oh；　e　now；　my　boy；〃　the　Lord　said　in　his　soft；　calming　voice。　〃We　are　not　subject　to　death　or　decay　or　disease　here。　You　squirm　on　the　end　of　a　hook；　you're　a　doomed　catch　from　the　sea；　and　you　do　not　even　know　that　you　are　no　longer　in　the　life…sustaining　water。〃
　〃My　Lord；　I　do　not　wish　to　be　part　of　your　Court；〃　I　said。　〃Spare　yourself　your　kindnesses　and　your　advice。〃　I　looked　about。　〃Don't　talk　to　me　of　your　Feast。〃
　These　creatures　had　adopted　an　abominable　stillness；　a　frozen　regard　which　was　in　itself　utterly　unnatural　and　menacing。　A　wave　of　revulsion　came　over　me。　Or　was　it　panic；　panic　which　I　would　not　allow　to　form　inside　of　me；　no　matter　how　pletely　and　hopelessly　I　was　surrounded　by　them；　and　how　alone　I　stood。
　The　figures　at　the　table　might　have　been　made　of　china；　so　fixed　they　were。　Indeed　it　seemed　that　the　very　act　of　posing　to　perfection　was　inherently　part　of　their　attentiveness。
　〃Oh；　if　I　had　but　a　crucifix；〃　I　said　in　a　soft　voice；　not　even　thinking　about　what　I　was　saying。
　〃That　would　mean　nothing　to　us；〃　said　the　Lord　matter…of…factly。
　〃Oh；　how　well　I　know；　your　lady　here　came　into　my　very　chapel　to　take　my　brother　and　sister　prisoner！　No；　crosses　mean　nothing　to　you。　But　it　would　mean　something　to　me　just　now。　Tell　me；　do　I　have　angels　about　me　that　protect　me？　Are　you　always　visible？　Or　do　you；　now　and　then；　melt　with　the　night　and　vanish？　And　when　that　is　so；　can　you　see　the　angels　that　defend　me？〃　The　Lord　smiled。
　The　Elderly　one；　who　had　let　go　of　my　collar；　for　which　I　was　very　thankful；　laughed　softly　under　his　breath。　But　there　came　no　easy　mirth　from　anyone　else。
　I　glanced　at　Ursula。　How　loving　and　desperate　she　looked；　how　bold　and　steadfast　as　she　glanced　from　me　to　this　Lord；　whom　she　had　called　Florian。　But　she　was　no　more　human　than　any　of　them；　she　was　the　deathly　semblance　of　a　young　woman；　past　all　description　in　gifts　and　graces　but　long　out　of　life；　as　they　were。　Some　grail　was　this　Ruby　Grail。
　〃Hear　his　words；　Sir；　in　spite　of　what　he　actually　says；〃　she　begged。　〃It's　been　so　very　long　since　there　was　a　new　voice　within　these　walls；　one　that　would　remain　with　us；　be　one　of　us。〃
　〃Yes；　and　he　almost　believes　in　his　angels；　and　you　think　him　wondrously　clever；〃　said　the　Lord　understandingly。　〃Young　Vittorio；　let　me　assure　you；　there　are　no　guardian　angels　that　I　can　see　about　you。　And　we　are　always　visible；　as　you　know；　for　you　have　seen　us　at　our　best　and　at　our　worst。　No；　not　really　truly　at　our　best；　not　at　our　finest。〃
　〃Oh；〃　I　said；　〃and　for　that　I　can't　wait；　my　Lord；　for　I　am　so　in　love　with　you　all；　and　your　style　of　slaughtering；　and　there　is　of　course　the　matter　of　what　your　corruption　has　done　to　the　town　below　and　how　you've　stolen　the　souls　of　the　very　priests　themselves。〃
　〃Hush；　you　work　yourself　into　a　mortal　fever；〃　he　said。　〃Your　scent　fills　my　nostrils　as　if　the　pot　is　boiling　over。　I　might　devour　you；　child；　cut　you　up　and　give　your　pulsing　parts　up　and　down　the　table　to　be　suckled　while　the　blood　is　still　very　hot；　and　your　eyes　blink　…〃
　On　those　words　I　thought　I　would　go　mad。　I　thought　of　my　dead　sister　and　brother。　I　thought　of　the　hideous　and　hopeless　tender　expressions　of　their　severed　heads。　I　couldn't　bear　this。　I　shut　my　eyes　tight。　I　sought　for　any　image　to　banish　these　horrors。　I　raised　from　memory　the　spectacle　of　Fra　Filippo　Lippi's　Angel　Gabriel　on　his　knees　before　the　Virgin；　yes；　angels；　angels；　fold　your　wings　about　me；　now；　oh；　God；　send　me　your　angels！
　〃I　curse　your　damned　Court；　you　sweet…tongued　devil！〃　I　cried　out。　〃How　did　you　get　your　foot　into　this　la