lhamilton.thekillingdance-第38章

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ber　that　he　was　also　a　monster。
　The　vampire　waiter　was　ing　back。　I　could　see　him　moving　towards　me。
　Damian　curled　his　lips；　exposing　fangs。　He　thrust　his　neck　back　giving　everyone　a　view。　I　saw　his　neck　muscles　tense　and　we　were　out　of　time。
　Willie　looked　up　as　if　realizing　the　shit　was　hitting　a　different　fan；　but　there　was　no　time。
　I　shouted；　〃Don't　do　it；　Damian。〃　I　pointed　the　gun　at　his　back；　about　where　the　heart　would　be。　When　a　vamp　gets　around　five　hundred；　one　shot　to　the　chest；　silver　bullets　or　not；　doesn't　always　guarantee　a　kill。　But　we　would　by　God　find　out　if　he　bit　her。
　Willie　raised　his　hand　toward　me。
　〃Don't；　Willie。〃　I　meant　it。　Just　because　nobody　else　was　allowed　to　kill　him；　didn't　mean　I　couldn't。
　Willie　sank　back　into　his　chair。
　Damian　relaxed　enough　to　turn　his　head　and　look　at　me。　He　turned　so　that　the　girl　was　in　front　of　him　like　a　shield。　Her　hair　was　still　back　on　one　side；　her　neck　still　exposed。　He　stared　at　me；　running　one　finger　down　her　naked　flesh。　Daring　me。
　A　dim　spotlight　shone　on　me；　and　the　illumination　built　as　I　walked　very　carefully　to　the　two　steps　that　led　down　to　the　dance　floor。　Vaulting　the　railing　might　have　looked　better；　but　it　made　it　damn　hard　to　hold　a　target。　I　could　probably　have　made　the　head　shot　from　the　railing；　but　with　an　unfamiliar　gun；　it　was　too　risky。　I　didn't　want　to　accidentally　shoot　the　woman　in　the　head。　Killing　the　hostage　is　always　frowned　upon。
　The　vampire　waiters　and　waitresses　didn't　know　what　to　do。　If　I'd　been　some　schmuck　off　the　street；　they　might　have　tried　to　jump　me；　but　I　was　their　master's　beloved；　which　made　things　a　little　sticky。　I　kept　a　sort　of　peripheral　eye　on　them。　〃You　guys　back　up　and　give　me　some　room…right　now。〃
　They　all　glanced　at　each　other。
　〃You　don't　want　to　crowd　me；　boys　and　girls；　so　move　it！〃　They　moved。
　When　I　was　close　enough　to　feel　confident　that　I　could　make　the　shot；　I　stopped。　〃Let　her　go；　Damian。〃
　〃She　will　not　be　harmed；　Anita。　Just　a　little　fun。〃
　〃She's　unwilling。　That's　against　the　law；　even　for　entertainment　purposes；　so　let　her　go；　or　I'll　blow　your　fucking　head　off。〃
　〃Would　you　really　shoot　me　in　front　of　all　these　witnesses？〃
　〃You　bet；〃　I　said。　〃Besides；　you're　over　five　hundred　years　old。　I　don't　think　one　shot　to　the　head　will　kill　you；　not　permanently　at　least。　But　it'll　hurt　like　hell　and　may　leave　scars。　You　wouldn't　want　to　spoil　that　beautiful　face；　now　would　you？〃　I　was　getting　tired　of　holding　one　arm　out。　It　wasn't　that　the　gun　was　heavy；　but　it　was　hard　to　hold　a　one…handed　pose　for　long　without　starting　to　waver。　I　didn't　want　to　waver。
　He　stared　at　me　for　a　space　of　heartbeats。　He　very　carefully；　very　slowly　licked　the　side　of　the　woman's　neck；　strange　green　eyes　staring　at　me　the　whole　time。　It　was　a　dare。　If　he　thought　I　was　bluffing；　he'd　picked　the　wrong　girl。
　I　let　my　breath　out　until　my　body　was　quiet；　and　I　could　hear　my　pulse　in　my　ears。　I　sighted　down　my　arm；　down　the　gun；　and　。　。　。　he　was　gone。　He'd　moved　so　suddenly　it　startled　me。　I　moved　my　finger　off　the　trigger　and　pointed　the　gun　skyward；　waiting　for　my　heart　to　stop　pounding。
　He　was　standing　just　at　the　edge　of　the　light；　leaving　the　woman　empty…faced；　waiting。　Damian　stared　at　me。
　〃Are　you　going　to　interrupt　our　entertainment　every　night？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　don't　like　it；〃　I　said；　〃but　pick　a　volunteer；　and　I　have　no　quarrel　with　you。〃
　〃A　volunteer；〃　he　said；　turning　in　a　circle　to　view　the　audience。　They　all　stared　at　him。　He　licked　his　lips；　and　hands　went　up。
　I　shook　my　head　and　put　the　gun　up。　I　took　the　woman's　hand。　〃Release　her；　Damian；〃　I　said。
　He　glanced　back　at　her　and　did　it。　Her　eyes　flew　open　wide；　searching　frantically　like　someone　awakened　from　a　nightmare　to　find　it　real。　I　patted　her　hand。
　〃It's　all　right。　You're　safe　now。〃
　〃What's　happening？　What's　happening？〃　She　caught　sight　of　Damian　and　started　sobbing　hysterically。
　Jean…Claude　appeared　on　the　edge　of　the　light。　〃You　have　nothing　to　fear　from　us；　fair　lady。〃　He　glided　towards　us。
　She　started　screaming。
　〃He　won't　hurt　you；〃　I　said。　〃I　promise。　What's　your　name？〃
　She　kept　screaming。　She　was　taller　than　me；　but　I　touched　her　face；　putting　a　hand　on　either　side；　forcing　her　to　look　at　me。　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Karen；〃　she　whispered；　〃my　name's　Karen。〃
　〃We're　going　to　walk　off　this　dance　floor；　Karen；　and　no　one　will　hurt　you。　You　have　my　word。〃
　She　nodded　over　and　over；　breath　ing　so　fast　I　was　afraid　she　was　going　to　pass　out。
　Cassandra　walked　into　the　light；　but　stayed　back。　〃Can　I　help〃
　Jean…Claude　had　not　moved　since　Karen　started　screaming。　He　just　looked　at　me；　and　I　still　couldn't　read　his　expression。
　〃Yeah；〃　I　said；　〃I　could　use　some　help。〃
　Karen　shied　away　from　her。　〃She's　not　a　vampire；〃　I　said。
　She　let　Cassandra　take　her　other　arm；　and　we　led　her　off　the　dance　floor　away　from　the　light。　Jean…Claude　stepped　onto　center　stage；　and　his　voice　followed　us　into　the　darkness。　〃Did　you　enjoy　our　little　melodrama？〃　There　was　a　puzzled　silence。　His　voice　was　like　fur　wrapping　the　crowd　in　the　dark；　breathing　in　their　fear；　giving　them　back　desire。　〃We　do　not　tease　here　at　Danse　Macabre。　Who　would　like　to　experience　the　reality　of　Damian's　kiss？〃　Someone　would　take　him　up　on　it。　Someone　always　did。　If　anyone　could　salvage　the　show　after　the　woman's　hysterics；　Jean…Claude　could。
　Liv　came　to　help；　I　think。　Karen　took　one　look　at　the　muscle…bound　vamp　and　fainted　dead　away。　She　was　not　a　small　woman；　and　it　surprised　both　Cassandra　and　myself。　She　sagged　to　the　floor。　Liv　started　to　e　closer；　but　I　waved　her　off。
　A　woman　from　the　crowd　came　towards　us；　hesitantly。　〃Can　I　help？〃　she　asked。　She　was　about　the　same　size　as　Cassandra　and　me；　small；　with　long　reddish　hair　that　swung　to　her　waist；　straight　and　fine。　She　was　dressed　in　a　pair　of　dark　brown　dress　slacks；　the　kind　that　run　large　and　have　cuffs　and　are　usually　linen。　For　a　shirt　she　wore　only　a　vest　with　a　silk　camisole　under　it。
　I　glanced　at　Cassandra。　She　shrugged。　〃Thanks；　if　you　could　take　her　feet。〃　Cassandra　could　have　flung　the　woman　across　her　shoulders　in　a　fireman's　carry；　but　most　lycanthropes　didn't　like　to　show　off　their　strength。　I　could　have　carried　her；　too；　even　if　she　was　so　bloody　tall。　I　could　still　have　carried　her　for　a　short　distance；　but　not　fast；　and　not　too　far。
　The　woman　shoved　her　clutch　purse　under　one　arm　and　took　the　unconscious　woman's　feet。　We　got　moving　a　little　awkwardly；　but　we　managed　to　get　a　rhythm　and　Cassandra　took　us　to　the　women's　rest　room。　Or　I　should　say；　lounge。　The　front　part　had　a　couch　and　a　lighted　vanity。　It　was　white　and　black；　with　a　mural　on　the　wall　that　was　from　a　woodcut　that　I　knew；　entitled　〃Demon…Lover。〃　The　demon　in　this　version　looked　suspiciously　like　Jean…Claude；　and　I　doubted　it　was　accidental。
　We　laid　Karen　on　the　black　couch。　The　woman　who　was　helping　dampened　some　paper　towels　without　being　asked　and　brought　them　back。　I　laid　them　against　Karen's　forehead　and　neck。　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Is　she　going　to　be　all　right？〃　the　woman　asked。
　I　didn't　answer；　because　that　all　depended　on　Damian。　〃What's　your　name？〃
　The　woman　smiled　almost　shyly。　〃Anabelle；　Anabelle　Smith。〃
　I　smiled　up　at　her。　〃Anita　Blake。　This　is　Cassandra。〃　I　realized　I　didn't　know　her　last　name。　Jean…Claude　always　called　his　wolves　by　only　their　first　names；　like　a　pet。　〃I'm　sorry。　I　don't　know　your　last　name。〃
　〃Cassandra　is　fine。〃　She　shook　Anabelle's　hand。　They　smiled　at　each　other。
　〃Should　we　report　what　happened　to　the　police？〃　Anabelle　asked。　〃I　mean　that　vampire　was　going　to　force　himself　on　her。　That's　illegal；　right？〃
　Karen　stirred　on　the　couch；　moaning。
　〃Yeah；　it's　illegal；〃　I　said。
　Anabelle　raised　an　interesting　point。　I　could　report　it　to　the　cops。　If　a　vampire　acquired　three　plaints　against　him　or　her；　you　could　get　a　death　warrant　issued；　if　you　got　the　right　judge。　I　would　talk　to　Jean…Claude　and　Damian　first；　but　if　they　didn't　give　me　the　answers　I　wanted；　maybe　I　should　go　to　the　cops。　I　shook　my　head。
　〃What　are　you　thinking？〃　she　asked。
　〃Nothing　worth　sharing；〃　I　said。
　The　bathroom　door　opened。　Raina　walked　in　wearing　a