lh.narcissusinchains-第7部分

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　I　turned　back　to　Jean…Claude。　〃I'm　not　getting　into　the　club　with　my　gun；　am　I？〃
　〃I　fear　not；　ma　petite。〃
　I　sighed　and　turned　back　to　the　waiting　　what　had　Jean…Claude　called　them　　werehyenas。　They　were　the　first　I'd　met；　as　far　as　I　knew。　There　was　no　clue　from　looking　at　them　what　they　became　when　the　moon　was　full。　〃I'll　give　it　up；　but　I'm　not　happy　about　this。〃
　〃That　is　not　my　problem；〃　Narcissus　said。
　I　met　his　eyes　and　felt　my　face　slip　into　that　look　that　could　make　a　good　cop　flinch　　my　monster　peeking　out。　Ulysses　and　Ajax　started　to　move　in　front　of　Narcissus；　but　he　waved　them　back。　〃Ms。　Blake　will　behave　herself。　Won't　you；　Ms。　Blake？〃
　I　nodded；　but　said；　〃If　my　people　get　hurt　because　I　don't　have　a　gun；　I　can　make　it　your　problem。〃
　〃Ma　petite；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　his　voice　warning　me。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃I　know；　I　know；　they're　like　Switzerland；　neutral。　Personally；　I　think　neutral　is　just　another　way　of　saving　your　own　ass　at　the　expense　of　someone　else's。〃
　Narcissus　took　a　step　closer；　until　only　a　few　inches　separated　us。　His　otherworldly　energy　danced　along　my　skin；　and　as　had　happened　in　New　Mexico　with　a　very　different　wereanimal；　it　called　that　piece　of　Richard's　beast　that　seemed　to　live　inside　me。　It　brought　that　power　in　a　rush　down　my　skin；　to　jump　the　distance　between　us；　and　mingle　with　Narcissus's　power。　It　startled　me。　I　hadn't　thought　it　could　happen　with　shields　in　place。　Marianne　had　said　that　my　abilities　lay　with　the　dead；　and　that　was　why　I　couldn't　control　Richard's　power　as　easily　as　I　could　Jean…Claude's。　But　I　should　have　been　able　to　shield　against　a　stranger。　It　scared　me　a　little　that　I　couldn't。
　It　had　been　wereleopards　and　werejaguars　in　New　Mexico。　They　had　mistaken　me　for　another　lycanthrope。　Narcissus　made　the　same　mistake。　I　saw　his　eyes　widen；　then　narrow。　He　glanced　at　Jean…Claude；　and　he　laughed。　〃Everyone　says　you're　human；　Anita。〃　He　raised　a　hand　and　caressed　the　air　just　above　my　face；　touching　the　swirl　of　energy。　〃I　think　you　should　e　out　of　the　closet　before　someone　gets　hurt。〃
　〃I　never　said　I　was　human；　Narcissus。　But　I'm　not　a　shapeshifter　either。〃
　He　rubbed　his　hand　along　the　front　of　his　dress；　as　if　trying　to　get　the　feeling　of　my　power　off　his　skin。　〃Then　what　are　you？〃
　〃If　things　go　badly　tonight；　you'll　find　out。〃
　His　eyes　narrowed　again。　〃If　you　cannot　protect　your　people　without　guns；　then　you　should　step　down　as　their　Nimir…Ra　and　let　someone　else　have　the　job。〃
　〃I've　got　an　interview　set　up　day　after　tomorrow　with　a　potential　Nimir…Raj。〃
　He　looked　genuinely　surprised。　〃You　know　that　you　don't　have　the　power　to　rule　them？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Oh；　yeah；　I'm　only　temporary　until　I　can　find　someone　else。　If　the　rest　of　you　weren't　so　damn　species　conscious；　I'd　have　farmed　them　out　to　another　group。　But　no　one　wants　to　play　with　an　animal　that　isn't　the　same　as　them。〃
　〃It　is　our　way；　it　has　always　been　our　way。〃
　And　I　knew　the　〃our〃　didn't　mean　just　werehyenas　but　all　the　shifters。　〃Yeah；　well　it　sucks。〃
　He　smiled　then。　〃I　don't　know　whether　I　like　you；　Anita；　but　you　are　different；　and　I　always　appreciate　that。　Now　give　up　the　gun　like　a　good　little　girl；　and　you　can　enter　my　territory。〃　He　held　his　hand　out。
　I　stared　at　the　hand。　I　didn't　want　to　give　up　my　gun。　What　I'd　told　Ronnie　was　true。　I　couldn't　arm　wrestle　them；　and　I　would　lose　a　fair　fight。　The　gun　was　my　equalizer。　I　had　the　two　knives；　but　frankly；　they　were　for　emergencies。
　〃It　is　your　choice；　ma　petite。〃
　〃If　it　will　help　you　make　the　choice；〃　Narcissus　said；　〃I　have　put　two　of　my　own　personal　guards　in　the　room　with　your　leopards。　I　have　forbidden　the　others　from　causing　further　harm　to　your　people　until　you　arrive。　Until　you　enter　the　upper　room　where　they're　waiting；　nothing　more　will　happen　that　they　don't　want　to　happen。〃　Knowing　Nathaniel；　that　wasn't　as　forting　as　it　could　have　been。
　If　anyone　would　understand　the　problem；　it　would　be　someone　who　ran　a　club　like　this。　〃Nathaniel　is　one　of　those　bottoms　that　will　ask　for　more　punishment　than　he　can　survive。　He　has　no　stopping　point；　no　ability　to　keep　himself　safe。　Do　you　understand？〃
　Narcissus's　eyes　widened　just　a　touch。　〃Then　what　was　he　doing　here　without　a　top　of　his　own？〃
　〃I　sent　him　out　with　one　that　was　supposed　to　watch　over　him　tonight。　But　Gregory　said　that　Elizabeth　deserted　Nathaniel　early　in　the　evening。〃
　〃Is　she　one　of　your　leopards；　too？〃
　I　nodded。
　〃She's　defying　you。〃
　〃I　know。　The　fact　that　Nathaniel　suffers　for　it　doesn't　seem　to　bother　her。〃
　He　studied　my　face。　〃I　don't　see　anger　in　you　about　this。〃
　〃If　I　was　angry　at　everything　Elizabeth　did　to　piss　me　off；　I'd　never　be　anything　else。〃　Truthfully；　I　was　just　tired。　Tired　of　having　to　rescue　the　pack　from　one　emergency　after　another。　Tired　of　Elizabeth　being　up　in　my　face　and　not　taking　care　of　the　others；　even　though　she　was　supposedly　dominant　to　them。　I'd　avoided　punishing　her；　because　I　couldn't　beat　her　up；　which　was　what　she　needed。　The　only　thing　I　could　do　was　shoot　her。　I'd　been　trying　to　avoid　that；　but　she　just　may　have　pushed　me　far　enough　that　I　was　out　of　options。　I'd　see　what　actual　damage　had　been　done。　If　anyone　died　because　of　her；　then　she　would　follow。　I　hated　the　fact　that　I　didn't　care　whether　I　killed　her。　I'd　known　her　off　and　on　for　over　a　year。　I　should　have　cared；　but　I　didn't。　I　didn't　like　her；　and　she'd　been　asking　for　it　for　as　long　as　I'd　known　her。　My　life　would　be　simpler　if　she　were　dead。　But　there　had　to　be　a　better　reason　to　kill　someone　than　that。　Didn't　there？
　〃Some　advice；〃　Narcissus　said。　〃All　dominance　challenges；　especially　from　your　own　people；　must　be　handled　quickly；　or　the　problem　will　spread。〃
　〃Thanks。　Actually；　I　knew　that。〃
　〃Still　she　defies　you。〃
　〃I've　been　trying　to　avoid　killing　her。〃
　We　looked　at　each　other　very　quietly；　and　he　gave　a　small　nod。　〃Your　gun；　please。〃
　I　sighed　and　raised　the　front　of　my　shirt；　though　the　material　was　stiff　enough　that　I　had　to　roll　it　back　to　expose　the　butt　of　the　gun。　I　lifted　the　gun　out　and　checked　the　safety　out　of　habit；　though　I　knew　it　was　on。
　Narcissus　took　the　gun。　The　two　bodyguards　had　moved；　blocking　the　crowd's　view　of　us。　I　doubted　most　people　knew　what　we'd　just　done。　Narcissus　smiled　as　I　rolled　my　shirt　back　into　place　over　the　now…empty　holster。　〃Truthfully；　if　I　didn't　know　who　you　were　and　what　your　reputation　was；　I　wouldn't　have　smelled　the　gun；　because　I　wouldn't　have　been　trying　to。　Your　outfit　doesn't　look　like　it　could　hide　a　gun　this　big。〃
　〃Paranoia　is　the　mother　of　invention；〃　I　said。
　He　gave　a　small　bow　of　his　head。　〃Now　enter　and　enjoy　the　delights；　and　the　terrors；　of　my　world。〃　With　that　rather　cryptic　phrase；　he　and　his　bodyguards　moved　through　the　crowd；　taking　my　gun　with　them。
　Jean…Claude　trailed　his　fingers　down　my　arm；　and　that　one　small　movement　turned　me　towards　him；　my　skin　shivering。　Tonight　was　plicated　enough　without　this　level　of　sexual　tension。
　〃Your　cats　are　well　until　you　enter　the　upper　room。　I　suggest　we　do　the　mark　now；　first。〃
　〃Why？〃　I　asked；　my　pulse　suddenly　in　my　throat。
　〃Let　us　go　to　our　table；　and　I　will　explain。〃　He　moved　off　through　the　crowd；　without　touching　me　further。　I　followed　and　couldn't　stop　myself　from　watching　the　way　the　vinyl　fit　him　from　behind。　I　loved　watching　him　walk；　whether　he　was　ing　or　going　　a　double　threat。
　The　tables　were　small；　and　there　weren't　many　of　them　crowded　against　the　walls。　But　they'd　cleared　the　dance　floor　so　they　could　set　up　for　some　sort　of　show　or　demonstration。　Men　and　women　dressed　in　leather　were　setting　up　a　framework　of　metal　with　lots　of　leather　straps。　I　was　reeeally　hoping　to　be　elsewhere　before　the　show　started。
　Jean…Claude　took　me　to　one　side　before　we　got　to　the　table　that　Jason　and　three　plete　strangers　were　gathered　around。　He　stepped　in　so　close　to　me　that　a　hard　thought　would　have　made　our　bodies　touch。　I　pressed　myself　against　the　wall　and　tried　not　to　breathe。　He　put　his　mouth　against　my　ear　and　spoke　so　low　what　came　out　was　merely　the　soft　sound　of　his　breath　against　my　skin。　〃We　will　all　be　safer　when　the　marks　are　married；　but　there　are　other　。。。　benefits　to　it。　I　have　many　lesser　vampires　that　I　have　brought　into　my　territory　in　the　last　few　months；　ma　petite。　Without　you　at　my　side；　I　dared　not　bring　in　greater　powers；　for　fear　that　I　could　not　hold　them。　Once　the　marks　are　married　between　us；　you　will　be　able　to　sense　those　vampires　that　are　mine。　The　exception；　as　always；　is　a　Master　Vampire。　They　can　hide　their　allegiances　better　than　the　rest。　The　marriage　of　marks　will　also　let　my　people　know　who　you　are；　and　what　will　happen　to　them　if　they　overstep　their　bounds　with　you。〃
　I　spoke；　lips　barely　moving；　lower　than　he　had　spoken；　because　he　could　still　hear　me。　〃You've　had　to　be　very　careful；　haven't　you？〃
　He　rested　his　cheek　against　my　face　for　a　moment。　〃It　has　been　a　delicate　dance　to　choreograph。〃
　I　had　gone　into　this　evening　with　my　metaphysical　shield　tight　in　place。　Marianne　had　taught　me　that　with　my　aura　ruptured；　the　other　shielding　was　of　paramount　importance。　I　shielded　with　stone　tonight；　perfect；　seamless　stone。　Nothing　could　get　in；　or　out；　without　my　permission。　Except　Narcissus's　power　had　already　danced　inside　my　shields。　I　was　afraid　that　touching　Jean…Claude　would　be　enough　to　shatter　the　stone；　but　it　wasn't。　I　wasn't　even　aware　of　the　shielding；　unless　I　really　concentrated。　It　could　stay　in　place　even　when　I　slept。　Only　when　you　were　attacked　did　you　have　to　concentrate；　if　you　were　good　at　shielding。　I'd　spent　a　week　at　the　beginning　of　the　month　in　Tennessee　with　Marianne；　working　on　nothing　but　this。　I　wasn't　great　at　it；　but　I　wasn't　bad　either。
　My　shields　were　in　place。　My　emotions　were　drowning　in　Jean…Claude；　but　my　psyche　wasn't；　which　meant　that　Marianne　was　right。　I　could　hold　the　dead　outside　my　shield　easier　than　the　living。　This　gave　me　the　courage　to　do　a　little　more。　I　leaned　my　face　against　Jean…Claude's；　and　nothing　happened。　Oh；　the　feel　of　his　skin　against　mine　sent　a　thrill　through　my　body；　but　my　shields　never　wavered。　I　felt　some　tension　that　I　hadn't　even　known　was　there　ease　out　of　me。　I　wante