lh.narcissusinchains-第103部分

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ldn't　be　the　first　feed　if　I　had　any　chance　of　being　Damian's　master。　So　they　decided　among　themselves；　and　it　was　Zane　left　standing　next　to　the　coffin。
　Everybody　but　me　that　had　a　gun　had　it　out　with　a　round　chambered。　I　needed　my　hands　free　to　offer　up　a　body　part　to　get　gnawed　on。　e　to　think　of　it；　I　didn't　much　like　that　job　description　either。　But　it　wasn't　watching　Zane's　pale　back　as　he　unfastened　the　chain　that　bothered　me；　it　was　watching　Cherry's　face　as　she　watched　him　do　it。　That　much　fear　for　someone's　safety；　that　much　importance　attached　to　one　other　being　meant　that　it　was　love　for　her；　too。　They　loved　each　other；　and　he　was　about　to　cry；　cry　for　help；　and　loose　the　carrion　birds　to　feed；　and　feed；　and　feed。
　The　lid　of　the　coffin　was　only　half　raised　when　Zane　jerked　forward　and　pale　hands　showed　around　him；　holding　him。　Blood　sprayed　the　white　satin　of　the　coffin；　spattered　over　Zane's　shoulders；　and　the　only　thing　we　could　see　of　Damian　was　pale　hands　and　arms　latched　around　Zane's　back。　There　was　no　shot　to　take。
　Someone　was　screaming。　I　think　it　was　Cherry。　I　had　my　gun　out；　but　there　was　no　way　to　fire　without　killing　Zane　first。　Micah　and　Merle　were　at　the　coffin；　trying　to　pry　Zane　free。　Zane　fell　back；　his　throat　a　gaping　wound；　and　something　that　was　all　bloody　fangs　and　wild　red　hair　grabbed　Merle　and　folded　around　him；　tearing　at　the　big　man's　throat。　The　wererats　and　Asher　were　standing　back；　waiting　for　a　clear　shot；　but　there　wasn't　going　to　be　one；　not　before　someone　else　died。
　I　pushed　forward；　trying　to　shove　Micah　out　of　the　way　while　I　pressed　the　gun　to　Damian's　face；　but　Micah　was　trying　to　pry　the　vampire　off　of　Merle；　and　in　the　struggle　I　couldn't　get　my　gun　steady。　The　barrel　slipped　in　the　blood　against　Damian's　skin；　and　suddenly　green　eyes　turned　to　me；　and　there　was　nothing　in　them　but　hunger。　Damian　was　already　dead。　I　just　hadn't　pulled　the　trigger　yet。
　Then　he　was　on　me；　faster　than　anything　I'd　ever　seen。　I　was　pressed　back　against　the　satin　of　the　coffin；　my　hips　and　legs　sticking　out。　He　didn't　go　for　my　neck；　he　buried　his　fangs　in　my　upper　chest。　I　screamed　past　the　pain　and　pressed　the　barrel　of　the　Browning　against　his　temple。　Asher　was　yelling；　〃Don　t　fire；　you'll　hit　Anita！〃
　I　screamed　again　and　had　to　adjust　the　angle　of　the　gun；　because　if　I'd　pulled　the　trigger；　the　bullet　would　have　gone　through　his　head　into　my　chest。　I　moved　the　gun　a　fraction　while　he　savaged　me。　My　finger　curled　on　the　trigger　when　he　raised　his　green　eyes　to　me。　I　watched　his　eyes　fill　up　with　knowledge；　intelligence　　with　him。　He　raised　his　mouth　back　from　my　chest。　He　looked　scared。　〃Anita；　what's　happening？〃　He　seemed　to　see　my　bloody　chest　for　the　first　time；　and　his　eyes　went　wide。　〃What's　happening　to　me？〃
　The　moment　he　spoke；　the　moment　there　was　something　in　him　besides　monster；　I　felt　the　connection　between　us　click　into　place；　like　a　perfectly　tuned　string　on　a　harp。　The　power　flowed　between　us　like　warm　water；　filling　him　up；　filling　me　up；　and　I　drew　him　down　to　me；　my　blood　still　on　his　lips。
　I　heard　Asher　saying；　〃Stay　back；　it's　alright；　let　her　finish。〃
　I　whispered　as　I　drew　Damian　down　to　me；　〃Blood　of　my　blood；　flesh　of　my　flesh；　breath　to　breath；　my　heart　to　yours。〃
　And　just　before　our　lips　met　and　his　fate　was　sealed；　he　whispered；　〃Yes；　oh；　yes。〃
　
　57
　
　I　WAS　SHOULDER…DEEP　in　water　so　hot　it　made　my　skin　pink。　I　was　so　hot　I　was　almost　ill；　because　I　was　still　fully　dressed；　including　all　my　guns。　Damian　leaned　up　against　the　front　of　my　body；　my　arms　wrapped　around　him；　holding　him　close。　His　body　folded　in　against　mine；　his　arms　holding　mine　across　his　bare　chest。
　How　did　I　end　up　being　guardian　of　the　bathtub　for　Damian　once　we　reached　my　house？　He'd　gone　into　convulsions；　and　only　my　touch　had　calmed　him。　We'd　gotten　him　to　my　house　with　Nathaniel　riding　in　the　back；　cradling　Damian。　They'd　filled　the　bathtub　with　hot；　hot　water；　and　I'd　left　Asher　in　charge　of　Damian's　care。　I'd　done　my　part；　I'd　brought　him　back　to　himself。　I　had　a　bandage　over　my　left　breast　to　prove　that　I'd　donated　my　piece　of　flesh　and　blood　for　the　night。　Zane　and　Merle　were　on　their　way　to　the　lycanthrope　hospital；　with　Micah　and　Cherry　to　oversee　them。　Everyone　else　had　trooped　back　to　my　house；　and　everything　had　seemed　fine；　until　screams　from　the　bathroom　brought　me　running。
　Damian　had　been　beating　himself　against　the　floor；　convulsing　like　he'd　tear　himself　apart；　vomiting　blood　on　the　tile。　Asher　and　Nathaniel　had　been　fighting　to　hold　him　down；　to　keep　him　from　hurting　himself；　but　they　couldn't　hold　him。　I　knelt　to　help；　and　the　moment　I　touched　him；　he　quieted。　I'd　withdrawn　my　hand；　and　his　body　had　bucked　again；　hands　scrambling　at　the　slick　tile。　I'd　touched　his　shoulder；　and　he　calmed。　We'd　tried　letting　him　take　blood　from　Caleb；　but　the　moment　I　stopped　touching　him；　his　body　rejected　the　blood；　and　everything　else。　The　last　time　I'd　stopped　touching　him；　Damian　had　simply　gone　quiet；　and　I　had　felt　him　beginning　to　fade；　to　die。
　We'd　dragged　Damian　into　the　steaming　bath　water；　and　I'd　held　him。　He　had　recovered；　but　only　with　me　holding　him　while　my　clothes　stuck　to　my　body。
　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃　I　asked。
　Asher　had　answered；　〃I've　only　seen　this　reaction　between　master　and　servant。〃
　〃I'm　Damian's　master；　so　what？　It　shouldn't　cause　this；　should　it？〃
　〃No；　ma　cherie；　not　merely　master；　but　master　vampire　and　human　servant。〃
　〃Damian　is　not　my　master；〃　I　said。
　〃Damian　is　no　one's　master；〃　Asher　said　quietly；　gazing　down　at　us　from　the　edge　of　the　tub。　He　was　sitting　in　a　pool　of　the　blood　that　had　poured　out　of　Damian。
　〃What　are　you　saying；　Asher？〃
　〃You　have　made　him　your　servant。〃
　〃He　can't　be　a　human　servant；　he's　a　vampire；〃　I　said。
　〃I　did　not　say　human　servant；　ma　cherie。〃
　〃Then　what　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃A　。。。　vampire　servant　for　a　master　necromancer；　I　think。〃
　〃You　think？〃　I　made　it　a　question。
　〃We　are　dealing　with　things　of　legend；　ma　cherie；　things　that　should　not　be　possible。　I　am　having　to　。。。　guess　at　this。〃
　〃Guess？〃　I　said。
　He　sighed。　〃If　I　said　that　I　knew　for　certain　what　has　happened；　it　would　be　a　lie。　I　would　never　lie　to　you　on　purpose。〃
　I　had　protested；　demanded；　but　nothing　I　could　do　or　say　made　it　untrue。　I　had　a　vampire　servant；　and　that　was　impossible。　But　impossible　or　not；　Damian　lay　against　my　body；　clinging　to　me；　like　I　was　the　last　hope　he　had。
　Asher　glided　back　into　the　bathroom；　wearing　a　beach　towel　wrapped　around　him。　The　towel　was　big　enough　to　cover　him　from　armpits　to　mid…calf；　effectively　hiding　his　body。　Hiding　the　scars。　〃My　clothes　are　covered　in　blood。　I　hope　you　do　not　mind。〃
　I　hated　wearing　bloody　clothes　myself；　so；　〃Fine；　glad　you　found　a　towel　you　liked。〃
　He　glanced　down　at　the　colorful　towel。　〃I　do　not　fit　in　your　robe。〃
　I　was　sorry　Asher　felt　like　he　had　to　hide　himself　away；　but　I　had　other　things　to　worry　about。　〃I　think　if　I　don't　get　cooler　soon　I'm　either　going　to　throw　up　or　pass　out。〃
　He　knelt　by　the　tub；　smoothing　the　long　towel　under　his　knees　in　a　gesture　that　you　don't　see　much　in　men。　He　touched　my　face　lightly。　〃You　are　flushed。〃　He　touched　Damian。　〃His　skin　is　still　cooler　than　it　should　be。〃　He　frowned。　〃You　need　to　take　off　some　of　your　clothing；　especially　the　jeans；　I　would　think。〃
　Normally；　I　go　to　great　lengths　not　to　be　unclothed　in　front　of　all　the　boys；　but　tonight　I　was　willing　to　strip　down　a　little。　〃How　do　I　undress　and　still　hold　him？〃
　〃I　believe　that　one　of　us　could　hold　him　against　you　while　you　disrobed。〃
　〃You　really　think　that　he'll　go　into　convulsions　again？〃
　〃You　could　release　him；　and　we　could　find　out；〃　Asher　said；　voice　soft。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃I'm　tired　of　cleaning　up　blood。　Just　help　me　hold　him。〃
　Asher's　eyes　went　a　little　wide。　〃I　will　call　Nathaniel。〃
　The　heat　had　gone　to　my　head　in　a　pounding　headache。　〃Just　jump　in；　Asher；　I　promise　not　to　peek。〃
　He　curled　beside　the　tub；　tucking　every　piece　of　him　he　could　underneath　the　towel。　〃If　I　dropped　this　towel　to　the　floor；　would　you　really　not　look？〃
　His　question　stopped　me。　I　opened　my　mouth；　closed　it；　and　tried　to　think　through　the　heat；　the　headache；　the　growing　nausea；　and　finally　just　said　the　truth。　〃I　wouldn't　mean　to　look；　but　no；　you're　right。　If　you're　naked　I'm　going　to　look。　I　don't　think　I　could　stop　myself。〃
　〃Like　a　car　accident；　you　cannot　turn　away；〃　he　said。
　I　looked　up　then　and　found　he'd　turned　away；　hiding　his　face　with　that　fall　of　golden　hair。　Damn　it；　I　didn't　have　time　to　hold　everybody's　hand。　〃Asher；　please；　I　didn't　mean　that。〃
　He　wouldn't　look　at　me。　I　extracted　one　arm　from　Damian；　who　moved　around　the　remaining　arm　like　a　child　settling　in　his　sleep　around　his　favorite　Teddy　bear。　I　grabbed　Asher's　arm　through　the　towel。　〃Yes；　I'd　look　just　for　sheer　curiosity's　sake；　how　could　I　help　it？　You've　teased　and　taunted　about　how　bad　your　injuries　are。　You've　set　it　up　so　that　I'll　have　to　look；　have　to　see。〃
　He　was　looking　at　me　now；　those　pale　eyes；　empty；　hidden　from　me。
　I　dug　my　fingers　into　his　arm；　trying　to　grip　him　through　the　towel；　and　finding　mostly　cloth。　〃But　if　you　don't　know　by　now　that　I　just　want　to　see　you　nude；　then　you　haven't　been　paying　attention。〃
　His　face　told　me　nothing；　that　blank　politeness　that　both　he　and　Jean…Claude　could　pull　off　when　they　wanted　to。　〃Now　help　me　get　some　of　these　clothes　off　before　I　melt。〃
　He　gave　a　low　chuckling　laugh　that　danced　over　my　skin　and　brought　my　pulse　to　my　throat。　I　was　too　hot　to　have　goosebumps。　〃You　offering　to　disrobe　without　any　magic　to　push　you；　I　believe　that　is　a　first。〃
　I　had　to　laugh；　because　he　was　right。　But　the　laugh　forced　me　to　close　my　eyes；　because　it　felt　like　the　pulsing　of　the　headache　was　going　to　shove　my　eyeballs　out　of　their　sockets。　I　let　go　of　his　arm　and　pressed　my　hand　to　my　forehead　to　try　and　keep　my　head　from　falling　into　pieces。　〃Please；　Asher；　I　am　going　to　be　sick。〃
　I　heard　the　water　splashing；　felt　it　push　against　me　as　someone　climbed　into　the　tub。　I　opened　my　eyes　slowly；　trying　to　hold　the　headache　inside　and　found　Nathaniel　kneeling　in　the　water。　His　hair　was　still