lh.narcissusinchains-第94部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　me　that　well。　I　wasn't　sure　which　thought　bothered　me　more。
　I　let　out　a　breath　and　half　slumped　in　the　seat。　〃Yeah；　I'm　a　little　nervous　about　introducing　you　to　Jean…Claude。　He　was　cool　about　you　in　the　abstract；　even　knowing　that　we've　been　together；　but　seeing　you　in　the　flesh　。。。　〃　I　tried　to　think　how　to　word　it。　〃I　don't　know　how　he'll　feel　about　that。〃
　〃Will　it　make　you　feel　any　better　if　I　promise　to　behave　myself？〃
　〃Maybe；　if　you　can　pull　it　off。〃
　〃I　can　pull　it　off；〃　he　said；　giving　me　very　serious　eye　contact。　He　certainly　vibrated　sincerity。
　〃Don't　take　this　wrong；　Micah；　but　I've　been　disappointed　pretty　badly　recently　by　the　men　in　my　life。　It's　a　little　hard　to　trust　that　anyone　can　pull　it　off。〃
　He　reached　out　to　touch　me；　then　let　his　hand　fall　back；　as　if　something　in　my　face　hadn't　been　friendly。　〃I'll　do　my　best　tonight；　Anita；　that　I　can　promise。〃
　I　sighed。　〃I　believe　you。〃
　〃But；〃　he　said。
　I　had　to　smile。　〃Your　intentions　are　good；　my　intentions　are　good；　Jean…Claude's　intentions　are　probably　good。〃　I　shrugged。　〃You　know　what　they　say　about　good　intentions。〃
　〃My　best　is　all　I　can　offer；〃　he　said。
　〃And　it's　all　I　can　ask；　but　let's　say　I'm　not　exactly　sure　how　to　handle　this。　I'd　barely　gotten　to　where　I　could　deal　with　Richard　and　Jean…Claude　at　the　same　time；　and　now　here　you　are。　I　just　don't　know。〃
　〃I　can　go　back　to　your　house；〃　he　said。
　〃No；　Jean…Claude　asked　to　meet　you。〃
　Micah　looked　at　me。　〃And　that　makes　you　nervous。〃
　I　half…laughed。　〃Oh；　yeah。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃If　Jean…Claude　were　having　sex　with　someone　else；　I　wouldn't　want　to　meet　them。〃
　Micah　shrugged。　〃Do　you　think　he　means　me　harm？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　〃no；　nothing　like　that。〃　I　tried　to　put　it　into　words　and　couldn't。　Maybe　it　was　just　my　lack　of　sophistication。　How　do　you　introduce　boyfriend　C　to　boyfriend　A；　after　boyfriend　A　has　been　such　a　good　sport；　of　late；　about　boyfriend　B；　who　is　no　longer　in　the　picture？　Or　maybe　it　was　the　way　Jean…Claude　had　asked　for　him。　〃Bring　your　Nimir…Raj；　ma　petite；　I　would　like　to　meet　him。〃
　〃Why？〃　I'd　asked。
　〃Am　I　not　entitled　to　meet　the　other　man　in　your　bed？〃
　It　had　made　me　blush。　But　here　Micah　was；　and　here　we　were　outside　the　Circus。　Jean…Claude　was　inside；　waiting。　I　was　actually　more　scared　about　introducing　the　two　of　them　than　I　was　worried　about　Damian。　If　Jean…Claude　didn't　try　and　kill　Micah；　then　I'd　worry　about　Damian。　I　was　ninety…nine　percent　sure　that　Jean…Claude　wouldn't　start　a　fight。　It　was　the　last　one　percent　that　clenched　my　gut　into　a　tight　knot　as　we　moved　out　into　the　darkness。
　The　two　new　bodyguards　came　up　to　flank　me　as　I　walked　towards　the　back　door。　They　were　both　over　six　feet；　male；　and　radiated　bodyguard　badass。　Other　than　that　they　were　almost　opposites。　Cris　（no　h；　it's　short　for　Cristiano）　was　mid…twenty…something；　skin　tanned　a　soft　gold；　eyes　a　pale　shade　of　gray　blue。　His　hair　was　that　shade　of　pale　brown　that　some　people　call　blond。　Bobby　Lee　was　over　forty；　very　short　hair；　gone　white　gray；　eyebrows　still　black　above　startling　blue　eyes；　like　bits　of　water…blue　sapphires。　He　had　a　neatly　trimmed　mustache　and　beard　that　were　also　black；　with　the　first　streaks　of　white　and　gray　running　through　them。
　Cris　had　no　accent　whatsoever；　but　Bobby　Lee's　voice　was　thick　as　hominy；　and　twice　as　Southern。
　Nathaniel　tried　to　stand　next　to　me；　and　Cris　moved　to　keep　him　away。　〃He's　with　me；〃　I　said。
　〃We　were　ordered　to　keep　you　safe。　I　don't　know　him。〃
　〃Look；　both　of　you；　we　don't　have　time　for　major　introductions　here。　He's　one　of　my　wereleopards；　so　are　the　two　blonds。　Micah's　the　one　with　the　ponytail；　the　two　men　with　him　his　leopards。〃
　〃Who's　the　redhead？〃　Bobby　Lee　asked。
　〃Gil；　he's　a　werefox；　and　he's　under　my　protection；　too。〃
　〃They're　like　walking　cannon　fodder；〃　Cris　said。
　I　frowned　up　at　him。　〃Most　of　this　cannon　fodder　are　friends；　or　more；　to　me。　If　the　shit　hits　the　fan　and　you　save　me　at　the　expense　of　their　lives；　you　will　follow　them。〃
　〃Our　orders　are　to　keep　you　safe；　ma'am；　no　one　else；〃　Bobby　Lee　said。
　I　shook　my　head　and　drew　Nathaniel　into　the　crook　of　my　arm。　〃What　would　Rafael　do　if　you　protected　him　but　got　his　people　slaughtered？〃
　They　glanced　at　each　other。　Bobby　Lee　finally　spoke。　〃It　would　depend　on　the　situation。〃
　〃Yeah；　maybe；　but　I'm　armed；　and　can　take　care　of　myself　most　of　the　time。　I　need　backup；　not　interference。〃
　〃We　weren't　told　to　be　backup；〃　Bobby　Lee　said。
　〃I　know；　but　tonight　there　may　be　a　certain　amount　of　grandstanding。　Jean…Claude　won't　let　me　get　hurt；　but　he　might　play　with　some　of　the　others；　even　me。　Don't　overreact；　okay？〃
　〃You're　making　it　so　we　can't　do　our　job；〃　Cris　said。
　I　shrugged；　hugging　Nathaniel　to　me。　〃I　appreciate　you　being　here。　I　appreciate　the　help。　I　might　be　dead　right　now　if　Igor　and　Claudia　hadn't　been　with　me。　But　there　are　people　who　I　would　risk　my　life　to　keep　safe；　and　some　of　them　are　with　me　tonight。　All　I'm　saying　is　keep　cool；　don't　overreact；　don't　jump　the　gun。〃
　Again　they　looked　at　each　other。　I　sighed。　Bobby　Lee　was　wearing　a　sleeveless　jean　jacket　over　his　T…shirt。　Cris　wore　a　short…sleeved　dress　shirt　and　oversized　black　tank　top　untucked；　sloppy　over　his　khaki　pants。　It　was　too　hot　to　wear　a　coat。　But　I　was　wearing　a　black　silk　shirt　open　over　a　black　tank　top　myself。　I　had　my　shirt　tucked　in；　and　the　Firestar　9mm　in　a　front　draw　across　the　front　of　all　that　black。　Most　people　wouldn't　see　it；　black　on　black。　But　the　long…sleeved　shirt　was　hiding　guns　and　knives。　I　was　betting　that　Bobby　Lee　had　at　least　one　gun　under　his　jacket；　probably　at　the　small　of　his　back；　because　there　was　no　bulge；　no　matter　how　slight；　under　either　arm。　It　was　hard　to　see　the　bulge　under　Cris's　left　arm。　He'd　chosen　a　shirt　with　a　lot　of　print　on　it；　bright　patterns　to　distract　the　eye；　but　a　hot　wind　blew　his　shirt　back；　and　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　shoulder　holster。　I　couldn't　be　sure　what　was　under　the　untucked　tank　top；　but　I　was　betting　at　least　one　more　gun；　in　front　for　a　cross…draw；　just　like　mine。
　〃You　cannot　shoot　anyone　tonight　unless　I　say　so；　how's　that　for　clear？〃
　〃We　have　our　orders；〃　Bobby　Lee　said；　〃and　they　aren't　from　you。〃
　〃Then　you　can　go　back　to　Rafael　and　tell　him　I　refused　your　help。〃
　Cris's　eyes　widened　a　touch。　Bobby　Lee's　expression　never　changed。　Those　pretty　blue　eyes　were　as　empty　as　glass；　no　one　home。　〃Why　are　you　so　afraid　of　taking　us　inside？〃　he　asked。
　I　sighed　again　and　tried　to　put　it　into　words　they'd　understand　and　I　was　willing　to　share。　I　couldn't　e　up　with　anything；　so　I　tried　the　truth。　〃I　am　about　to　introduce　my　Nimir…Raj　to　the　Master　of　the　City　for　the　first　time。〃
　〃You　fucking　both　of　them？〃　Bobby　Lee　asked；　and　the　phrase　seemed　wrong　with　that　Scarlett　O'Hara　accent。
　I　started　to　protest；　or　bitch；　but　let　it　go。　〃Yeah；　I　am；　and　I'm　a　little　worried　about　how　the　introduction's　going　to　go。〃
　〃You　think　the　Master　will　try　and　kill　your　Nimir…Raj？〃　Cris　asked。
　〃No；　but　he　may　want　to　play　with　him；　and　a　vampire's　idea　of　fun　and　games　can　get　a　little　odd。〃
　Bobby　Lee　laughed。　〃Odd；　she　says；　odd。〃　He　laughed　again；　and　it　sounded　warm　and　deep　and　rumbly。　The　laughter　filled　his　eyes；　made　them　more　real。　〃What　she　is　trying　to　say；　Cris；　is　that　we　are　about　to　be　entertained　just　like　when　the　rats　meet　the　hyenas。　A　show　of　force　with　no　danger；　but　maybe　a　little　disfort。〃
　〃Yeah；　what　he　just　said。〃
　Cris　nodded。　〃So　tonight　isn't　real。〃
　〃It's　real；〃　I　said；　〃but　it's　just　not　dangerous　in　any　way　you　can　protect　me　from。〃
　〃We're　supposed　to　protect　you；　period；〃　Cris　said。
　Bobby　Lee　clamped　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃We　can't　protect　her　from　her　own　love　life；　Cris。　We're　supposed　to　keep　her　body　intact；　not　her　heart。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Cris　said；　and　he　looked　suddenly　much　younger　　early　twenties；　at　best。
　Bobby　Lee　turned　to　me。　〃We'll　hang　back　tonight；　unless　you're　in　real　physical　danger。〃
　〃I'm　glad　we　understand　each　other。〃
　His　eyes　went　empty　again；　the　smile　still　curving　his　lips。　〃Oh；　we　don't　understand　each　other　at　all；　ma'am；　I　can　almost　guarantee　that；　but　we'll　do　what　we're　told；　until　we　decide　not　to。〃
　I　didn't　exactly　like　the　sound　of　that；　but；　looking　into　his　empty　blue　eyes；　I　knew　it　was　the　best　I　was　going　to　get。
　
　48
　
　THE　STEPS　LEADING　down　into　the　bowels　of　the　Circus　are　wide　enough　for　three　small　people　to　walk　abreast；　but　the　steps　themselves　are　oddly　spaced；　as　if　whatever　the　steps　were　originally　built　for　wasn't　two…legged；　or　at　least　wasn't　human　sized。
　We　were　following　Ernie　down　the　steps。　The　first　time　I'd　met　him　he'd　had　one　of　those　long　hair　cuts　with　the　sides　shaved。　The　sides　had　grown　out；　and　he'd　cut　the　rest；　so　he　had　a　fairly　standard　short　haircut；　with　a　little　more　on　top；　so　he　could　gel　it　into　soft　spikes；　sort　of　executive　punk。　The　short　hair　also　left　his　neck　bare　so　you　could　see　two　fang　marks　on　the　right　side。
　He　wasn't　feeding　Jean…Claude。　I　don't　think　the　Master　of　the　City　fed　off　humans　anymore；　not　when　he　could　have　lycanthrope。　But　there　were　other　vampires　under　the　Circus；　and　they　had　to　eat；　too。
　Micah　walked　beside　me。　Merle；　Bobby　Lee；　and　Cris　had　a　disagreement　about　exactly　where　they　were　going　to　walk。　They　finally　settled　on　Cris　walking　with　Ernie　ahead　of　us　and　Merle　and　Bobby　Lee　walking　just　behind　us。　Everyone　else　sort　of　trailed　behind；　including　Caleb。　None　of　the　bodyguards　seemed　to　give　a　shit　if　the　others　lived　or　died。　I　was　pretty　sure　that　the　bodyguard　thing　was　going　to　get　on　my　nerves　soon；　like　tonight。
　The　huge　metal　door　at　the　end　of　the　stairs　was　open；　waiting。　It　was　usually　kept　locked　for　security　purposes。　My　stomach　clenched　so　tight　that　it　hurt。　I　just　didn't　know　how　to　handle　this。　Did　I　kiss　Jean…Claude　hello？　Did　I　touch　Micah　in　front　of　him？　Oh；　hell。
　〃Did　you　say　something？〃　Micah　asked。
　〃Not　on　purpose；〃　I　said。
　He　looked　a　question　at　me；　and　that　did　it。　I　would　behave　like　I　always　did。　I　would　do　exactly　what　I'd　do　if　the　other　one　wasn't　there。　To　do　anything　else　was　going　to　have　us　all　walking　on　pins　and　needles。　Besides；　I'd　been　careful　wi