anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第34节

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　　　We　had　been　in　Constantinople　less　than　six　months　when　it　became　clear　to　us　that　other　blood　drinkers　were　ing　near　to　our　house。
　　　We　heard　them　in　the　early　morning。　They　came；　apparently　to　hear　of　us　what　they　could　with　the　Mind　Gift　and　then　they　rushed　away。
　　　〃Why　have　they　taken　so　long？〃　I　demanded。　〃They've　watched　us　and　they've　studied　us。〃
　　　〃And　perhaps　they　are　the　reason；〃　said　Avicus；　〃that　we've　found　no　Devil　worshipers　here。〃
　　　This　was　perhaps　true；　for　those　who　spied　on　us　now　were　not　Devil　worshipers。　We　could　tell　by　the　bits　and　pieces　of　mental　imagery　which　we　were　able　to　glean　from　their　minds。
　　　
　　　At　last　they　came　at　early　evening　and　there　was　no　mistaking　their　polite　invitation　to　us　to　e　with　them　to　visit　their　mistress。
　　　I　went　out　of　our　house　to　greet　them　and　discovered　that　there　were　two　of　them　and　that　they　were　pale　and　beautiful　boys。
　　　They　couldn't　have　been　more　than　thirteen　when　they　were　made；　and　they　had　very　clear　dark　eyes；　and　had　short　curly　black　hair。　They　were　dressed　in　long　Eastern　robes　of　the　finest　decorated　cloth；　trimmed　in　a　fringe　of　red　and　gold。　Their　under　tunics　were　of　silk；　and　they　wore　ornate　slippers　and　many　jeweled　rings。
　　　Two　mortals　carried　the　torches　for　them；　and　they　appeared　to　be　simple　and　expensive　Persian　slaves。
　　　One　of　the　radiant　young　blood　drinker　boys　placed　a　small　scroll　in　my　hands；　which　I　at　once　opened　to　read　the　beautifully　written　Greek。
　　　〃It　is　the　custom　before　hunting　my　city　to　ask　permission　of　me；〃　it　said。　〃Please　e　to　my　palace。〃　It　was　signed；　〃Eudoxia。〃
　　　I　did　not　care　for　the　style　of　this　any　more　than　I　had　cared　for　the　style　of　anything　else　in　Constantinople。　And　I　cannot　say　that　it　surprised　me；　but　then　here　was　an　opportunity　to　speak　with　other　blood　drinkers　who　were　not　the　fanatical　worshipers　of　the　Snake　and　that　opportunity　had　never　e　before。
　　　Also　allow　me　to　note　that　in　all　my　years　as　a　blood　drinker；　I　had　not　seen　any　two　others　who　were　as　fine　and　elegant　and　beautiful　as　these　boys。
　　　No　doubt　the　groups　of　Satan　worshipers　contained　such　blood　drinkers；　with　fine　faces　and　innocent　eyes；　but　for　the　large　part；　as　I　have　described；　it　was　Avicus　and　Mael　who　slew　them　or　came　to　terms　with　them；　not　me。　Besides　they　had　always　been　corrupted　by　their　zeal。
　　　There　was　something　else　here。
　　　These　boys　seemed　infinitely　more　interesting　by　virtue　of　their　dignity　and　their　adornments；　and　the　courage　with　which　they　looked　at　me。　As　for　the　name　Eudoxia；　I　was　ultimately　more　curious　than　afraid。
　　　〃Let　me　go　with　you；〃　I　said　immediately。　But　the　boys　gestured　that　Avicus　and　Mael　should　e　as　well。
　　　〃Why　is　this？〃　I　asked　protectively。　But　at　once　my　panions　let　me　know　that　they　wanted　to　go　too。　〃How　many　are　you？〃　I　asked　the　boys。
　　　
　　　
　　　〃Eudoxia　will　answer　your　questions；〃　said　the　boy　who　had　given　me　the　scroll。　〃Please　do　e　with　us　without　further　conversation。　Eudoxia　has　been　hearing　of　you　for　some　time。〃
　　　We　were　escorted　a　long　way　through　the　streets；　until　finally　we　came　to　a　quarter　of　the　city　even　richer　than　that　in　which　we　lived；　and　to　a　house　much　larger　even　than　our　own。　It　had　the　usual　harsh　stone　facade；　enclosing　no　doubt　an　inner　garden　and　rich　rooms。
　　　During　this　time；　the　boy　blood　drinkers　cloaked　their　thoughts　very　well；　but　I　was　able　to　divine；　perhaps　because　they　wanted　me　to　do；　that　their　names　were　Asphar　and　Rashid。
　　　We　were　admitted　to　the　house　by　another　pair　of　mortal　slaves　who　guided　us　into　a　large　chamber　pletely　decorated　with　gold。
　　　Torches　burned　all　about　us；　and　in　the　center　of　the　room；　on　a　gilded　couch　with　purple　silk　pillows　there　reclined　a　gorgeous　blood　drinker　woman；　with　thick　black　curls　not　unlike　those　of　the　boys　who　had　e　to　us；　though　she　wore　them　long　and　fretted　with　pearls；　her　damask　robe　and　under　dress　of　silk　as　fine　as　anything　I'd　seen　in　Constantinople　so　far。
　　　Her　face　was　small；　oval；　and　as　close　to　perfection　as　anything　I've　ever　beheld；　even　though　she　bore　no　resemblance　to　Pandora　who　was　for　me　perfection　itself。
　　　Her　eyes　were　round　and　extremely　large。　Her　lips　were　perfectly　rouged；　and　there　came　a　perfume　from　her　that　was　no　doubt　made　by　a　Persian　magician　to　drive　us　out　of　our　wits。
　　　There　were　numerous　chairs　and　couches　scattered　about　on　the　mosaic　floor　where　rampant　Grecian　goddesses　and　gods　were　as　tastefully　represented　as　they　might　have　been　some　five　hundred　years　before。　I　saw　similar　images　on　the　walls　surrounding　us；　though　the　slightly　crude　but　ornate　columns　seemed　of　later　design。
　　　As　for　the　vampire　woman's　skin　it　was　perfectly　white；　and　so　totally　without　a　touch　of　humanity　that　it　sent　a　chill　through　me。　But　her　expression；　which　manifested　itself　almost　entirely　by　a　smile；　was　cordial　and　curious　in　the　extreme。
　　　Still　leaning　on　her　elbow；　her　arm　covered　in　bracelets；　she　looked　up　at　me。
　　　〃Marius；〃　she　said　in　cultured　and　perfect　Latin；　her　voice　as　lovely　as　her　face；　〃you　read　my　walls　and　floor　as　though　they　were　a　book。〃
　　　〃Forgive　me；〃　I　said。　〃But　when　a　room　is　so　exquisitely　decorated；　it　seems　the　polite　thing　to　do。〃
　　　
　　　
　　　〃And　you　long　for　old　Rome；〃　she　said；　〃or　for　Athens；　or　even　for　Antioch　where　you　once　lived。〃
　　　This　was　a　formidable　blood　drinker。　She'd　plucked　this　knowledge　of　me　from　the　deepest　of　my　memories。　I　closed　my　mind。　But　I　didn't　close　my　heart。
　　　〃My　name　is　Eudoxia；〃　she　said。　〃I　wish　I　could　say　that　I　bid　you　wele　to　Constantinople；　but　it　is　my　city　and　I　am　not　altogether　pleased　that　you　are　here。〃
　　　〃Can　we　not　e　to　some　understanding　with　you？〃　I　asked。　〃We've　made　a　long　and　arduous　journey。　The　city　is　vast。〃
　　　She　made　some　small　gesture；　and　the　mortal　slaves　withdrew。　Only　Asphar　and　Rashid　remained；　as　if　waiting　for　her　mand。
　　　I　tried　to　tell　if　there　were　other　blood　drinkers　in　this　house；　but　I　couldn't　do　this　without　her　knowing　I　was　doing　it；　and　so　my　attempt　was　rather　weak。
　　　〃Sit　down；　all　of　you；　please；〃　she　said。　And　at　that　invitation；　the　two　beautiful　boys；　Asphar　and　Rashid；　made　to　bring　the　couches　in　closer　so　that　we　might　gather　in　a　natural　way。
　　　At　once　I　asked　if　I　might　have　a　chair。　And　Avicus　and　Mael　in　an　uncertain　whisper　echoed　the　same　request。　It　was　done。　We　were　seated。
　　　〃An　old　Roman；〃　she　said　with　a　sudden　luminous　smile。　〃You　disdain　a　couch；　and　would　have　a　chair。〃
　　　I　laughed　a　small　courteous　laugh。
　　　But　then　something　quite　invisible　yet　strong　caused　me　to　cast　a　glance　at　Avicus　and　to　see　that　he　was　staring　at　this　splendid　female　blood　drinker　as　though　Cupid　had　just　sent　an　arrow　right　into　his　heart。
　　　As　for　Mael；　he　glared　at　her　as　he　had　glared　at　me　in　Rome　many　centuries　before。
　　　〃Don't　worry　about　your　friends；〃　said　Eudoxia　suddenly；　startling　me　pletely。　〃They're　loyal　to　you　and　will　follow　you　in　whatever　you　say。　It's　you　and　I　who　must　talk　now。　Understand　that　though　this　city　is　immense　and　there　is　blood　enough　for　many；　rogue　blood　drinkers　e　here　often　and　must　be　driven　away。〃
　　　〃Are　we　rogues？　〃　I　asked　gently。
　　　I　couldn't　help　but　study　her　features；　her　rounded　chin　with　its　single　dimple；　and　her　small　cheeks。　She　appeared　as　young　in　mortal　years　as　the　two　boys。　As　for　her　eyes　they　were　jet　black；　with　such　a　fringe　of　lashes　that　one　might　suspect　there　was　Egyptian　paint　on　her　face　when　in　fact　there　was　none。
　　　This　observation　put　me　suddenly　in　mind　of　Akasha；　and　I　felt　a　panic　as　I　tried　to　clear　my　mind。　What　had　I　done　bringing　Those　Who　Must　Be　Kept　here？　I　should　have　stayed　in　the　ruins　of　Rome。　But　again；　I　could　not　think　on　this　matter　now。
　　　I　looked　directly　at　Eudoxia；　a　bit　dazzled　by　the　countless　jewels　of　her　robe；　and　the　vision　of　her　sparkling　fingernails；　far　brighter　than　any　I'd　ever　beheld　except　those　of　Akasha；　and　I　gathered　my　strength　again　and　tried　to　penetrate　her　mind。
　　　She　smiled　sweetly　at　me；　and　then　she　said；　〃Marius；　I　am　far　too　old　in　the　Blood　for　what　you　mean　to　do；　but　I　will　tell　you　anything　you　want　to　know。〃
　　　〃May　I　call　you　by　the　name　you've　given　us？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃That　was　my　intent；〃　she　replied；　〃in　giving　you　the　name。　But　let　me　tell　you；　I　expect　honesty　from　you；　otherwise；　I　will　not　tolerate　you　in　my　realm。〃
　　　I　suddenly　felt　a　wave　of　anger　emanating　from　Mael。　I　threw　a　warning　glance　to　him；　and　once　again　I　saw　that　totally　entranced　expression　on　the　face　of　Avicus。
　　　I　realized　suddenly　that　Avicus　had　probably　never　beheld　such　a　blood　drinker　as　this。　The　young　women　blood　drinkers　among　the　worshipers　of　Satan　were　deliberately　dirty　and　disheveled；　and　here；　reclining　on　her　magnificent　couch　lay　a　woman　who　looked　like　the　Empress　who　reigned　over　Byzantium。
　　　Indeed；　perhaps　this　was　how　this　creature　perceived　herself。
　　　She　smiled　as　though　all　these　thoughts　were　transparent　to　her；　and　then　with　a　little　movement　of　her　hand　she　told　the　two　blood　drinker　boys；　Asphar　and　Rashid；　to　withdraw。
　　　Then　her　eyes　passed　very　calmly　and　slowly　ove