anner.bloodandgold-第99节

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aris；　that　you　will　at　least　reveal　yourself　to　Amadeo。　They　are　weak　ones；　are　they　not；　and　you　could　e　upon　him　in　some　open　place　where　you　could…。〃
　　　〃I　know　well　what　you　mean　to　say；〃　I　answered。　〃I　wouldn't　allow　myself　ever　to　be　surrounded　by　torches。　Perhaps　I　will　do　as　you　suggest。　But　I've　heard　Amadeo's　voice；　and　I　don't　believe　he　can　be　changed　now。　And　there　is　one　thing　more　which　is　worth　mentioning。　Amadeo　knows　how　to　free　himself　from　this　coven。〃
　　　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　am。　Amadeo　knows　how　to　live　in　the　lighted　world；　and　he　is　ten　times　stronger　by　virtue　of　my　old　blood　than　are　those　who　listen　to　his　mands。　He　could　break　away。　He　chooses　not　to　do　it。〃
　　　〃Marius；〃　she　said　plaintively；　〃you　know　how　much　I　love　you　and　how　loath　I　am　to　contradict　you。〃
　　　〃No；　say　what　you　must　say；〃　I　urged　her　at　once。
　　　〃Think　of　what　he　suffered；〃　she　said。　〃He　was　but　a　child　when　it　happened。〃
　　　I　agreed　to　all　this。　Then　I　spoke　again：
　　　〃Well；　he's　no　child　now；　Bianca。　He　may　be　as　beautiful　as　he　was　when　I　made　him　through　the　Blood；　but　he　is　a　patriarch　in　the　dust。　And　all　of　Paris；　the　wondrous　city　of　Paris；　surrounds　him。　I　watched　him　move　through　the　city　streets　alone。　There　was　no　one　there　to　restrict　him。　He　might　have　sought　the　Evil　Doer　as　we　do。　But　he　did　not。　He　drank　deep　of　innocent　blood；　not　once　but　twice。〃
　　　〃Ah；　I　see。　This　is　what　has　so　embittered　you。〃
　　　I　thought　on　it。
　　　〃Yes；　you're　right。　It's　what　turned　me　away；　though　I　didn't　even　know　it。　I　thought　it　was　the　manner　in　which　he　spoke　to　his　flock。　But　you　are　right。　It　was　those　two　deaths；　from　which　he　drew　his　hot　red　feast；　when　Paris　swarmed　with　mortals　steeped　in　murder　who　might　easily　have　been　slain　by　him。〃
　　　She　laid　her　hand　on　mine。
　　　〃If　I　choose　to　snatch　any　one　of　these　Children　of　Darkness　from　his　lair；〃　I　said；　〃it　is　Santino。〃
　　　〃No；　but　you　mustn't　go　to　Rome。　You　don't　know　whether　or　not　there　are　old　ones　among　that　coven。〃
　　　〃Some　night；〃　I　said；　〃some　night　I　shall　go　there。　When　I　am　more　certain　of　immense　power；　and　when　I　am　more　certain　of　the　ruthless　rage　it　requires　to　destroy　many　others。〃
　　　〃Be　still　now；〃　she　said。　〃Forgive　me。〃
　　　I　was　quiet　for　a　moment。
　　　She　knew　how　many　nights　I　had　wandered　alone。　I　had　now　to　confess　what　I　had　been　doing　on　those　nights。　I　had　now　to　begin　my　secret　plan。　I　had　now…for　the　first　time　in　all　our　years　together…to　drive　a　wedge　between　her　and　me；　while　giving　her　precisely　what　she　wanted。
　　　〃But　let's　leave　talk　of　Amadeo；〃　I　said。　〃My　mind　is　on　happier　things。〃
　　　She　was　immediately　interested。　She　reached　out　and　stroked　my　face　and　hair　as　was　her　custom。
　　　〃Tell　me。〃
　　　〃How　long　has　it　been　since　you　asked　me　if　we　could　have　our　own　dwelling？〃
　　　〃Oh；　Marius；　don't　tease　me　on　this　account。　Is　it　possible！〃
　　　〃My　darling；　it's　more　than　possible；〃　I　said；　warmed　by　her　beaming　smile。　〃I　have　found　a　splendid　place；　a　lovely　little　city　on　the　Elbe　River　in　Saxony。〃
　　　For　this　I　received　the　sweetest　kiss。
　　　〃Now　in　these　many　nights　when　I　have　been　off　on　my　own；　I　have　taken　the　liberty　of　acquiring　a　castle　near　the　city；　a　much　decayed　place；　and　I　hope　you'll　forgive　me…。〃
　　　〃Marius；　this　is　momentous　news！〃　she　said。
　　　〃I　have　already　spent　a　considerable　sum　for　the　repairs…the　new　wooden　floors　and　stairs；　glass　windows；　and　abundant　furnishings。〃
　　　〃Oh；　but　this　is　wonderful；〃　she　said。　She　put　her　arms　around　me。
　　　〃I'm　relieved　that　you're　not　angry　with　me；〃　I　said；　〃for　moving　so　quickly　without　you。　You　might　say　I　fell　in　love　with　the　place；　and　taking　several　drapers　and　carpenters　there　I　told　them　my　dreams　and　now　all　is　being　done　as　I　have　directed。〃
　　　〃Oh；　how　could　I　be　angry？〃　she　said。　〃I　want　it　more　than　anything
　　　　in　the　world。〃
　　　〃There　is　one　more　aspect　to　this　castle　which　I　should　disclose；〃　I　said。　〃Though　the　more　modern　building　above　is　more　like　a　palace　than　a　castle；　its　foundations　are　quite　old。　Indeed；　a　major　part　of　the　foundations　were　built　in　early　times。　And　there　are　huge　crypts　beneath　it；　and　a　true　dungeon。〃
　　　〃You　mean　to　move　the　Divine　Parents？〃　she　asked。　〃I　do。　I　think　it's　time　for　it。　You　know　as　well　as　I　that　there　are　small　cities　and　towns　springing　up　all　around　us。　We　aren't　isolated　here。　Yes；　I　want　to　move　the　Divine　Parents。〃
　　　〃If　you　say；　of　course；　I　go　along　with　you。〃　She　was　too　happy　to　conceal　it。　〃But　is　it　safe　there？　Didn't　you　remove　them　to　this　remote　place　so　that　you　never　had　to　fear　their　discovery？〃　I　thought　on　this　for　a　while　before　answering。　At　last　I　said：
　　　〃It　is　safe　there。　And　with　the　passing　centuries；　the　world　of　the　Undead　changes　around　us。　And　I　can't　endure　this　place　any　longer。　And　so　I　take　them　to　a　new　place。　And　there　are　no　blood　drinkers　in　it。　I　have　searched　far　and　wide　for　them。　They　aren't　there。　I　hear　no　young　ones。　I　hear　no　old　ones。　I　believe　it's　safe。　And　perhaps　the　most　true　answer　to　that　logic　is　this：　I　want　to　bring　them　there。　I　want　a　new　place。　I　want　new　mountains　and　new　forests。〃
　　　〃I　understand；〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　I　do　understand；〃　she　said　again。　〃And　more　than　ever；　I　believe　that　they　can　defend　themselves。　Oh；　they　need　you；　I　don't　doubt　it；　and　that's　why　on　that　long　ago　night　they　opened　the　door　for　you　and　lighted　the　lamps。　I　can　still　remember
　　　　it　so　vividly。　But　I　spend　long　hours　here　simply　gazing　at　them。　And　I　have　many　thoughts　during　these　hours。　And　I　believe　that　they　would　defend　themselves　against　any　who　sought　to　hurt　them。〃
　　　I　didn't　argue　with　her。　I　didn't　bother　to　remind　her　that　centuries　ago　they　had　allowed　themselves　to　be　placed　in　the　sun。　What　was　the　purpose？　And　for　all　I　knew　she　was　right。　They　would　crush　anyone　who　tried　to　subject　them　to　such　injury。
　　　〃e　now；〃　she　said；　seeing　me　fallen　into　a　mood。　〃I'm　too　happy　with　this　good　news。　Be　happy　with　me。〃
　　　She　kissed　me　as　if　she　couldn't　stop　herself。　She　was　so　innocent　in　those　moments。
　　　And　I；　I　was　lying　to　her；　truly　lying　to　her　for　the　first　time　in　all　our　years　together。
　　　I　was　lying　because　I　hadn't　told　her　a　word　of　Pandora。　I　was　lying　because　I　didn't　truly　believe　that　she　could　harbor　no　jealousy　of　Pandora。
　　　And　because　I　couldn't　tell　her　that　my　love　for　Pandora　lay　at　the　very　heart　of　what　I　did。　What　creature　would　want　to　reveal　such　a　scheme　to　a　lover？
　　　I　meant　to　place　us　in　Dresden。　I　meant　to　remain　in　Dresden。　I　meant　to　be　near　Dresden　at　every　sunset　of　my　existence　until　such　time　as　Pandora　came　again。　And　I　could　not　tell　this　to　Bianca。
　　　And　so　I　pretended　that　it　was　for　her　that　I　had　chosen　this　beautiful
　　　　home；　and　indeed　it　was　for　her；　there　is　no　doubt　of　it。　It　was　for　her　to　make　her　happy；　yes。　But　that　was　not　all　of　it。
　　　Within　the　month；　we　began　work　on　the　new　shrine；　utterly　transforming　the　castle　dungeon　in　Saxony　into　a　fit　place　for　the　King　and　Queen。
　　　Goldsmiths　and　painters　and　stone　masons　were　brought　down　the　many　flights　of　stone　steps　to　enhance　the　dungeon　until　it　was　the　most　marvelous　private　chapel。
　　　The　throne　was　covered　in　gold　leaf　as　was　the　dais。
　　　And　once　again；　the　proper　bronze　lamps　were　found；　fresh　and　new。　And　there　were　rich　candelabra　of　gold　and　silver。
　　　I　alone　labored　on　the　heavy　iron　doors　and　their　plex　fastenings。
　　　As　for　the　castle；　it　was　more　of　a　palace　than　a　castle；　as　I've　said；　having　been　rebuilt　several　times；　and　it　was　charming　in　its　placement　above　the　banks　of　the　Elbe；　and　it　had　around　it　a　lovely　forest　of　beech；　oak　and　birch　trees。　There　was　a　terrace　from　which　one　could　look　down　at　the　river；　and　from　many　large　windows；　one　could　see　the　distant　city　of　Dresden。
　　　Of　course　we　would　never　hunt　in　Dresden　or　in　the　surrounding　hamlets。　We　would　go　far　afield　as　had　always　been　our　custom。　And　we　would　waylay　the　forest　brigands；　an　activity　which　had　bee　a　regular　sport　for　us。
　　　Bianca　had　some　concerns。　And　only　reluctantly　she　confessed　to　me　that　she　had　some　fear　of　living　in　a　place　where　she　could　not　hunt　for　herself　without　me。
　　　
　　　
　　　〃Dresden　is　big　enough　to　serve　your　appetite；〃　I　said；　〃if　I　were　not　able　to　carry　you　elsewhere。　You'll　see。　It's　a　beautiful　city；　a　young　city　I　should　say；　but　under　the　Duke　of　Saxony　it's　ing　along　magnificently。〃
　　　〃You're　sure　of　this；〃　she　asked。
　　　〃Oh；　yes；　I'm　sure　of　it；　and　as　I've　told　you；　I'm　also　sure　that　the　forests　of　Saxony　and　nearby　Thuringia　contain　their　number　of　murderous　thieves　who　have　always　been　such　a　special　repast　for　us。〃
　　　She　thought　on　all　this。
　　　〃Let　me　remind　you；　my　darling；〃　I　said；　〃you　can　on　any　night　cut　your　beautiful　blond　hair　with　the　full　confidence　that　it　will　grow　back　by　day；　and　you　can　go　out　clothed　as　a　man；　traveling　with　preternatural　
　　　speed　and　strength　to　hunt　your　victims。　Perhaps　we　should　play　at　this　very　soon　after　our　arrival。〃
　　　〃Yes；　would　you　allow　me　this？〃　she　asked。
　　　〃Of　course；　I　shall。〃　I　was　astonished　by　her　gratitude。
　　　Again　she　showered　me　with　grateful　kiss