lhamilton.thekillingdance-第61章

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　I　sighted　down　the　barrel　and　felt　that　quietness　fill　me。　I　felt　nothing　while　I　stared　down　the　gun　at　him。　Nothing　but　a　cool；　white　emptiness。
　〃Stop　it；　both　of　you！〃　Richard　growled。　He　walked　towards　us。　I　kept　my　eyes　on　the　wolf　but　had　a　peripheral　sense　of　Richard　moving　closer。
　He　kept　ing；　easing　himself　between　Jason　and　me。　I　had　to　aim　the　gun　skyward　to　keep　from　pointing　it　at　his　chest。　He　stared　at　me；　his　face　thoughtful。　〃You　won't　need　the　gun。〃　He　knocked　the　great　wolf　to　the　floor　with　his　fist。　The　wolf　lay　stunned。　Only　the　rise　and　fall　of　its　chest　showed　it　was　still　alive。
　When　he　turned　back　to　me；　his　eyes　were　amber；　and　no　longer　human。　〃You　are　my　lupa；　Anita；　but　I　am　still　Ulfric。　I　won't　let　you　do　to　me　what　Raina　has　done　to　Marcus。　I　lead　this　pack。〃　There　was　a　hardness　to　his　voice　that　was　new。　I'd　discovered　his　male　ego　at　last。
　Jean…Claude　laughed；　a　high；　delighted　sound　that　made　me　shiver。　Richard　hugged　his　bare　arms　as　if　he　felt　it；　too。
　〃Don't　you　realize　by　now；　Richard；　that　ma　petite　is　either　your　equal　or　your　master？　She　knows　no　other　way　to　be。〃　He　came　to　stand　by　us。　He　looked　amused　as　hell。
　〃I　want　her　to　be　my　equal；〃　Richard　said。
　〃But　not　within　the　pack；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　mean　。　。　。　No；　Anita　is　my　equal。〃
　〃Then　what　are　you　bitching　about？〃　I　said。
　He　glared　at　me　with　his　alien　eyes。　〃I　am　Ulfric；　not　you。〃
　〃Lead；　and　I'll　follow；　Richard。〃　I　stepped　close　to　him；　almost　touching。　〃But　lead；　Richard；　really　lead；　or　get　out　of　the　way。〃
　
　
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　〃As　amusing　as　this　is；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　〃and　believe　me；　ma　petite；　Richard；　it　is　amusing。　We　do　not　have　time　for　this　particular　argument；　not　if　Richard　stands　any　hope　of　not　being　forced　to　kill　tonight。〃
　We　both　glared　at　him；　and　he　gave　that　graceful　shrug　that　meant　everything　and　nothing。　〃We　must　call　the　magic　again；　but　this　time；　Richard　needs　to　try　and　pull　some　of　it　into　himself。　He　needs　to　do　something　that　would　impress　his　pack。　This；〃　he　motioned　to　the　zombies；　〃though　impressive；　looks　too　much　like　Anita's　work。〃
　〃You've　got　a　suggestion；　I　take　it。〃
　〃Perhaps；〃　he　said。　His　eyes　turned　very　serious　then；　the　humor　dying　away　until　his　face　was　lovely　and　blank。　〃But　first；　I　think　I　have　a　question　or　two　for　you；　myself；　ma　petite。　I　think　it　is　not　only　Richard　that　you　are　emasculating　today。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　I　asked。
　He　cocked　his　head　to　one　side。　〃Perhaps　you　honestly　do　not　know？〃　He　sounded　surprised。　〃There　is　a　small　hallway　to　the　right。　Look　inside　it。〃
　I　could　see　the　archway　at　the　top　of　the　hall；　but　the　zombies　filled　the　space；　hiding　the　rest　from　view。　〃Move　forward；〃　I　said。　The　zombies　moved　like　a　single　organism；　their　dead　eyes　watching　my　face　as　if　I　were　all　that　mattered。　To　them；　I　was。
　The　zombies　moved　like　a　shambling　curtain。　I　could　see　the　smaller　hallway　now；　and　the　figures　waiting　inside。　〃Stop；〃　I　said。　The　zombies　stopped　as　if　I'd　hit　a　switch。
　Liv；　the　blond　bouncer　from　Danse　Macabre；　stood　just　inside　the　smaller　hallway。　She　was　still　dressed　in　her　violet　body　suit。　Her　extraordinary　violet　eyes　stared　at　me；　empty；　waiting。　My　pulse　thudded　in　my　throat。　There　were　other　figures　behind　her。
　Richard　said　softly；　〃This　isn't　possible。〃
　I　didn't　argue　with　him。　It　would　have　been　too　hard。
　〃Bring　them　out；　ma　petite；　let　us　see　who　you　have　called　from　their　coffins。〃　His　voice　was　warm　with　the　beginnings　of　anger。
　〃What's　eating　you？〃
　He　laughed；　but　it　was　bitter。　〃I　threatened　my　people　with　this；　but　you　said　nothing。　You　did　not　tell　me　you　could　truly　raise　vampires　like　any　other　zombie。〃
　〃I've　only　done　it　once　before。〃
　〃Indeed；〃　he　said。
　〃Don't　get　all　pissy　on　me。〃
　〃I　shall　get　pissy　if　I　want　to；〃　he　said。　〃These　are　my　people；　my　panions；　and　you　have　them　walking　around　like　puppets。　I　find　that　most　disquieting。〃
　〃So　do　I；〃　I　said。　I　looked　back　at　the　vampires。　Liv；　who　had　been　so　animated　last　night；　stood　there　like　a　well…preserved　zombie。　No。　No；　I'd　never　have　mistaken　her　for　a　zombie。　I　could　feel　a　difference。　But　there　she　stood；　that　muscular　body　waiting　for　my　next　order。　There　were　others　behind　her。　I　couldn't　see　how　many。　Too　many。
　〃Can　you　put　my　vampires　back；　ma　petite？〃
　I　continued　to　look　at　Liv；　avoiding　Jean…Claude's　eyes。　〃I　don't　know。〃
　He　touched　my　chin；　turning　me　to　face　him。　He　studied　my　face；　eyes　searching；　as　if　some　hint　of　truth　might　show　through。　I　let　anger　fill　my　face；　anger　was　always　a　great　thing　to　hide　behind。
　〃What　did　you　do　with　the　last　vampire　you　raised；　ma　petite？〃
　I　pulled　away　from　him。　He　grabbed　my　arm　unbelievably　fast。　Too　fast　to　see。　What　happened　next　was　simply　automatic。　He　held　my　right　upper　arm；　but　I　could　still　bend　at　the　elbow　and　point　the　Firestar　at　him。　The　Uzi　in　my　left　hand　pointed　at　him；　too。　He　could　have　crushed　my　arm　before　I　fired　one　gun；　but　not　both。　But　for　the　first　time；　staring　down　the　barrel　of　a　gun　at　him　was　problematic。　The　sash　of　his　robe　had　e　loose　and　I　could　see　a　triangle　of　pale　flesh。　I　could　see　where　his　heart　would　be。　I　could　blow　his　heart　out　his　back　and　sever　his　spine。　And　I　didn't　want　to　do　it。　I　didn't　want　to　splatter　that　beautiful　body　all　over　the　wall。　Damn。
　Richard　came　closer。　He　didn't　touch　either　of　us。　He　just　stared　from　one　to　the　other。　〃Is　he　hurting　you；　Anita？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　〃Then　should　you　be　pointing　a　gun　at　him？〃
　〃He　shouldn't　be　touching　me；〃　I　said。
　Richard's　voice　was　very　mild。　〃He　just　finished　touching　you　a　lot　more　than　this；　Anita。〃
　〃Why　are　you　helping　him？〃
　〃He　helped　me。　Besides；　if　you　kill　him　over　something　small　and　stupid；　you'll　never　forgive　yourself。〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out。　Some　of　the　tension　eased　with　the　breath。　I　lowered　the　Uzi。
　Jean…Claude　released　my　arm。
　I　pointed　the　Firestar　at　the　floor　and　looked　at　Richard。　There　was　something　in　his　eyes；　even　the　wolf's　amber　eyes；　that　was　all　too　human。　Pain。　He　knew　how　much　Jean…Claude　meant　to　me。　It　was　there　in　his　eyes。　That　one　ment　said　that　he　understood　my　relationship　with　the　vampire；　maybe　better　than　I　did。
　I　wanted　to　apologize　to　him；　but　I　wasn't　sure　he'd　understand　what　it　was　for。　I　wasn't　even　sure　I　could　explain　it。　If　you　love　someone；　truly　love　them；　you　should　never　cause　them　pain。　Never　fill　their　eyes　with　something　so　close　to　grief。
　〃I'm　sorry　I　got　mad　at　you　earlier。　You　want　what's　best　for　the　pack；　I　know　that。〃
　〃You　still　think　I'm　a　fool　to　want　a　bloodless　coup；〃　he　said。
　I　stood　on　tiptoe　and　kissed　him　gently。　〃Not　a　fool；　just　naive；　terribly　naive。〃
　〃Very　touching；　ma　petite。　And　I　do　appreciate　your　interference　on　my　behalf；　Richard；　but　these　are　my　people。　I　promised　them　certain　freedoms　when　they　joined　me。　I　ask　again。　Can　you　put　them　back　as　they　were？〃
　I　turned　to　Jean…Claude；　one　hand　still　balancing　against　Richard's　chest。　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Then　you　had　better　find　out；　ma　petite。〃
　It　sounded　too　much　like　a　threat　for　my　taste；　but　。　。　。　there　was　a　figure　behind　Liv　the　bouncer　that　I　couldn't　take　my　eyes　off　of。　I　walked　towards　the　waiting　vampires。　I　opened　my　mouth；　but　no　sound　came　out。　My　stomach　clenched　into　a　hard　lump；　my　chest　was　tight。　I　finally　said　it：　〃Willie　McCoy；　e　to　me。〃
　Willie　walked　out　from　behind　the　tall　blond　vampire。　He　was　wearing　the　same　chartreuse　suit　he'd　had　on　at　Danse　Macabre。　His　brown　eyes　seemed　to　see　me；　but　they　were　empty　of　that　spark　that　was　Willie。　He　wasn't　home。　It　was　like　watching　a　puppet　moving；　and　I　was　the　puppet　master。　I　tasted　something　bitter　at　the　back　of　my　throat。　My　eyes　were　hot　and　tight。　I　wasn't　sure　if　I　was　going　to　throw　up　or　cry　first。
　I　stopped　him　about　two　feet　from　me。　Close　enough　that　I　couldn't　pretend　or　wish　it　away。　I　swallowed　hard；　and　tears　hot　enough　to　scald　ran　down　my　face。　〃I　didn't　want　to　know　this；〃　I　whispered。
　Jean…Claude　came　to　stand　beside　me。　〃Willie；〃　he　said；　his　voice　vibrated　through　the　room。　Willie's　body　thrummed　to　the　so