lhamilton.thekillingdance-第83章

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　Cassandra　nodded。　〃True；　and　that　grieves　me。　Under　other　circumstances；　we　might　have　been　friends。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Of　course；　that　made　it　hurt　all　the　more。　Nothing　rubs　salt　in　the　wounds　like　betrayal。　Richard　could　probably　pare　notes　with　me　right　now。
　〃Where　are　Richard　and　Jean…Claude？〃
　She　stared　down　at　me。　〃Even　now　you　think　you　can　save　them；　don't　you？〃
　I　would　have　shrugged；　but　I　couldn't。　〃It　was　a　thought。〃
　〃You　were　a　lure　and　a　hostage　for　the　two　men；〃　Cassandra　said。
　Gabriel　had　settled　on　top　of　me；　body　pressing　along　the　length　of　my　body。　He　was　heavy。　You　never　noticed　how　heavy　a　man　was　when　you　were　enjoying　yourself。　He　had　sunk　down；　so　that　his　feet　trailed　off　the　bed；　and　he　could　fold　his　arms　across　my　chest。　His　chin　rested　on　his　arms；　and　he　stared　at　me　like　that；　like　he　knew　he　had　all　day；　all　night；　all　the　time　in　the　world。
　〃I　am　very　surprised　that　you　broke　up　with　Richard　today；　Anita；〃　Raina　said。　〃We　sent　him　a　lock　of　your　hair　with　a　note　saying　we'd　send　a　hand　next。　He　came　alone　and　told　no　one；　as　we　had　said　to　do。　He　really　is　a　fool。〃
　It　sounded　like　something　Richard　would　do；　but　it　surprised　me；　anyway。　〃You　didn't　get　Jean…Claude　to　hand　himself　over　for　a　lock　of　my　hair。〃
　Raina　moved　where　I　could　see　her　better　and　smiled　down。　Her　lip　was　already　beginning　to　heal。　〃Very　true；　we　didn't　even　try。　Jean…Claude　would　have　known　we　meant　to　kill　you；　regardless。　He'd　have　e　with　all　his　vampires；　all　the　wolves　that　are　loyal　to　him。　It　would　have　been　a　bloodbath。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　him　then？〃
　〃Cassandra　betrayed　him。　Didn't　you；　Cassandra？〃
　Cassandra　just　looked　at　us。　〃If　Richard　hadn't　broken　with　you；　you　might　have　been　able　to　cure　Sabin。　Seeking　your　aid　was　originally　only　an　excuse　to　enter　Jean…Claude's　territory；　but　you　were　more　powerful　than　Dominic　first　thought。　You　surprised　us　by　bearing　none　of　the　vampire's　marks。　You　were　supposed　to　be　part　of　the　sacrifice；　but　without　at　least　the　first　mark；　it　will　not　work。〃
　Hurrah　for　me。　〃You　saw　me　heal　Damian's　cut　and　the　zombie。　I　can　heal　Sabin。　You　know　I　can；　Cassandra。　You　saw　it。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃The　sickness　has　moved　inside　Sabin。　His　brain　is　going。　If　you　had　cured　him　today；　it　would　be　moot。　But　he　must　be　sane　for　the　spell　to　work。　Even　one　more　day　might　be　too　late。〃
　〃If　you　kill　Richard　and　Jean…Claude；　I　won't　have　the　power　to　heal　Sabin。　If　Dominic　came　here　planning　to　sacrifice　all　three　of　us；　then　the　spell　must　need　all　three　of　us　to　work。〃
　Something　flickered　across　her　face。　I　was　right。　〃Dominic's　not　sure　it　will　work　without　a　human　servant　in　the　loop；　is　he？〃
　Cassandra　shook　her　head。　〃It　has　to　be　tonight。〃
　〃If　you　kill　them　both　and　it　doesn't　cure　Sabin；　you've　destroyed　the　only　real　chance　he　has。　Our　triumvirate　can　cure　him。　You　know　it　can。〃
　〃I　know　no　such　thing。　You　would　promise　me　the　moon　itself　if　you　thought　it　would　save　you　all。〃
　〃That's　true；　but　I　still　think　we　can　cure　him。　If　you　kill　Richard　and　Jean…Claude；　the　chance　is　gone。　Let　us　at　least　try。　If　it　doesn't　work；　you　can　sacrifice　them　tomorrow。　I'll　let　Jean…Claude　give　me　the　first　mark。　We'll　either　cure　Sabin　tomorrow　or　we'll　be　the　perfect　sacrifice　for　Dominic's　spell。〃　I　willed　her　to　listen　to　me。　To　believe　me。
　〃Will　Sabin　be　able　to　read　his　part　of　the　spell　tomorrow　night？〃　Raina　asked。　She　moved　in　very　close　to　Cassandra。　〃Once　his　brain　is　rotted　away；　there　will　be　nothing　left　to　do　but　lock　him　in　a　box　with　crosses　on　it。　Hide　him　away。〃
　Cassandra's　hands　balled　into　fists。　A　fine　trembling　ran　through　her　body。　Raw　fear　showed　on　her　face。
　Raina　turned　to　me　almost　conversationally。　〃Sabin　won't　die；　you　understand。　He'll　melt　down　into　a　little　puddle　of　slime；　but　he　won't　die。　Will　he；　Cassandra？〃
　〃No；〃　Cassandra　almost　shouted。　〃No；　he　won't　die。　He'll　just　go　insane。　He'll　still　have　all　the　powers　of　the　triumvirate；　but　he'll　be　mad。　We'll　have　to　lock　him　away　and　pray　that　Dominic's　spells　can　hold　his　power　in　check。　If　we　can't　hold　his　powers　prisoner；　the　council　will　force　us　to　burn　him　alive。　Only　that　would　be　sure　death。〃
　〃But　if　you　do　that；〃　Raina　said；　〃you　and　Dominic　will　die；　as　well。　All　those　vampire　marks　dragging　you　down　to　hell　with　him。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Cassandra　said；　〃yes。〃　She　stared　at　me；　anger　and　helplessness　in　her　face。
　〃Am　I　supposed　to　feel　sorry　for　you？〃　I　asked。
　〃No；　Anita；　you're　just　supposed　to　die；〃　she　said。
　I　swallowed　hard　and　tried　to　think　of　something　useful。　It　was　hard　to　do　with　Gabriel　lying　on　top　of　me；　but　if　I　didn't　think　of　something；　we　were　all　dead。
　Cassandra　startled　as　if　someone　had　touched　her。　A　prickle　of　energy　swept　over　my　body　from　her；　raising　goose　bumps　where　it　touched。　Gabriel　ran　his　fingertips　over　the　skin　of　my　arms；　making　the　gooseflesh　stay　just　a　little　longer。
　〃I　must　go；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃Before　the　night　is　over；　you　may　wish　you　were　being　sacrificed。〃　She　looked　from　Gabriel　to　Raina。　〃A　slit　throat　would　be　quicker。〃
　I　agreed　with　her；　but　I　wasn't　sure　what　to　say。　We　were　discussing　different　ways　to　kill　me。　None　of　them　seemed　particularly　good　choices。
　Cassandra　stared　down　at　me。　〃I　am　sorry。〃
　〃If　you're　really　sorry；〃　I　said；　〃untie　me　and　give　me　a　weapon。〃
　She　smiled　wistfully。　〃Sabin　has　ordered　me　not　to。〃
　〃You　always　do　what　you're　told？〃　I　asked。
　〃On　this　one　thing；　yes。　If　you'd　watched　Jean…Claude's　beauty　rot　before　you；　you'd　do　anything　to　help　him。〃
　〃Who're　you　trying　to　convince；　me　or　you？〃
　She　swayed　slightly；　and　I　felt　the　roll　of　power　out　of　her　body　and　along　mine。　Gabriel　licked　my　arm。
　〃I　must　go。　The　circle　will　be　closed　soon。〃　She　stared　down　at　me；　at　Gabriel　running　his　tongue　up　my　arm。　〃I　am　truly　sorry；　Anita。〃
　〃If　you're　looking　for　forgiveness；　pray。　God　may　forgive　you；　I　won't。〃
　Cassandra　stared　down　at　me　for　another　heartbeat。　〃So　be　it。　Good…bye；　Anita。〃　She　ran　in　a　blur　of　white；　like　a　fast…forward　ghost。
　〃Good；〃　Raina　said；　〃now　we　can　set　up　the　lights　and　make　some　test　shots。〃　The　lights　sprang　into　a　dazzling　brightness。
　I　closed　my　eyes　against　the　glare。
　Gabriel　moved　up　my　body；　and　I　opened　my　eyes。　〃We　were　going　to　strip　you　naked　and　tie　you　spread…eagled；　but　Cassandra　wouldn't　let　us。　But　now　she's　too　busy　with　the　spell。〃
　He　put　a　hand　on　either　side　of　my　head；　pinning　some　of　my　hair。　〃We　did　makeup　on　your　face　while　you　were　out。　We　can　make　the　body　makeup　part　of　the　show。　What　do　you　think？〃
　I　tried　to　think　of　anything　useful。　Anything　at　all。　Nothing　came　to　mind。　He　leaned　over　me；　bringing　his　face　close　and　closer。　He　opened　his　mouth　enough　to　show　fangs。　Not　vampire　fangs　but　small　leopard　fangs。　Richard　had　told　me　once　that　Gabriel　spent　too　much　time　in　animal　form　so　he　didn't　e　pletely　back　anymore。　Great。
　Gabriel　kissed　me；　lightly；　then　harder；　forcing　his　tongue　in　my　mouth。　He　drew　back　from　me。　〃Bite　me。〃　He　kissed　me；　then　raised　his　lips　back　just　enough　to　whisper；　〃Bite　me。〃
　Pain　excited　Gabriel。　I　didn't　want　him　more　excited；　but　with　his　tongue　halfway　down　my　throat；　it　was　hard　not　to　give　him　what　he　wanted。　He　ran　his　hand　over　my　breasts；　squeezing　hard　enough　to　make　me　gasp。　〃Bite　me；　and　I'll　stop。〃
　I　bit　his　lip。　I　bit　him　until　he　pulled　back；　the　flesh　straining　between　us。　Blood　poured　from　his　mouth　to　mine。　I　let　go　and　spit　blood　into　his　face。　He　was　close　enough　that　it　splattered　in　a　red　rain。
　He　laughed；　wiping　his　fingers　on　the　bloody　lip；　putting　them　in　his　mouth；　sucking　the　blood　off　of　them。
　〃Do　you　know　how　I　became　a　wereleopard？〃　he　asked。
　I　looked　at　him。
　He　slapped　me　lightly；　casually。　Starbursts　exploded　across　my　vision。　〃Answer　me；　Anita。〃
　When　I　could　focus；　I　asked；　〃What　was　the　question？〃
　〃Do　you　know　how　I　became　a　wereleopard？〃
　I　didn't　want　to　play　this　game。　I　didn't　want　to　participate　in　Gabriel's　idea　of　pillow　talk；　but　I　didn't　want　to　be　hit　again；　either。　It　wouldn't　take　much　for　him　to　knock　me　unconscious。　If　I　ever　woke　up　again；　I　would　be　in　worse　shape　than　I　was　now。　Har