lh.narcissusinchains-第24章
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staring back at me。
〃Take your leopards；〃 Coronus said； 〃and go in peace。〃
Another scream came on the end of his words。 〃Peace；〃 I said。 I felt strangely numb； like part of me was folding away。 I couldn't stand in this room and listen to Nathaniel's screams； and feel。 Not and stay sane。 A quietness that I sunk into when I killed spilled over me； and it felt so much better。 There are worse things than emptiness。
〃Who are the women？〃
〃Swanmanes；〃 he said。 〃No concern of yours； Nimir…Ra。〃
I looked at him and felt a smile curl my lips。 I knew it was an unpleasant smile。 〃What happens to them when we leave？〃
〃They'll heal；〃 he said。 〃We don't want them dead。〃
My smile widened； I couldn't help it。 I laughed； but it was a bad sound； even to me。 〃You expect me to leave them to your mercy？〃
〃They are swans not leopards。 Why should you care？〃
Nathaniel's voice came thick； and when I turned I saw tears sliding down his face。 〃Don't leave them。 Please； don't leave them here。〃
Jamil pulled another blade out。 Only three to go。 Nathaniel didn't scream this time； just closed his eyes and shivered。 〃Please； Anita； they would never have e here if I hadn't asked them。〃
I looked at the three women； chained naked to the walls； gagged； surrounded by dozens of clean； unused blades。 They watched me with wide eyes； their breath ing in quick shallow pants。 Their fear slid down my throat as if it were wine and I could drink it down； deep and cool。 Fear； like wine； goes good with food。 And I knew just by looking that they were food。 They were swans； not predators。 They were not us。 I was channeling Richard now。 I was being a smorgasbord of the boys tonight； of their thoughts and feelings。 But there was one thing that was my own。 Rage。 Not the hot rage that the wolves used when they killed。 This was something colder and more sure of itself。 It was a rage that had nothing to do with blood and everything to do with 。。。 death。 I wanted them all dead for what they'd done to Nathaniel and Gregory。 I wanted them dead。 By the rules； I couldn't have them dead； but I'd do what I could。 I'd cheat them of their other victims。 I would not； could not； leave the three women here like this。 I could not do it。 Simple as that。
〃Don't worry； Nathaniel； we won't leave them behind。〃
〃You have no right to them；〃 Coronus said。
Gregory growled at him。 I touched Gregory's furred arm。 〃It's alright。〃 I looked at Coronus surrounded by his snakes。 〃If I were you I wouldn't tell me what I have a right to。 If I were you； I'd shut the fuck up and let us walk out of here with everyone we came for。〃
〃No； they are ours until their swan king rescues them。〃
〃Hey； he's not here； but I am； and I say to you； Coronus of the Black Water Clan； that I will take the swanmanes with me。 I will not leave them behind。〃
〃Why？ Why do you care？〃
〃Why？ Partly because I just don't like you。 Partly because I want you dead and I can't do that tonight according to lycanthrope law。 So I'll cheat you of your prize。 That will have to suffice。 But don't ever； ever get in my way again； because I will kill you； Coronus。 I will kill you。 In fact； I'd enjoy killing you。〃 I realized that was true。 I often killed cold； but there was something in me tonight that wanted him dead。 Revenge maybe。 I didn't question it； I just let it show in my eyes。 I let the shapeshifter see it； because I knew he'd understand it。 He wasn't human； he knew death when it looked at him。
He did know。 I saw the knowledge in his eyes； tasted that fresh spurt of fear like a chemical rush。 He looked suddenly tired。 〃I would give them up if I could； but I cannot。 I must have something to show for this night's activities。 I was hoping it would be the swans and the leopards； but if I cannot have one； I must have the other。〃
〃Why do you care about either the swans or the leopards？〃 I asked。 〃They are nothing to you； you cannot make them part of your tribe。〃
His eyes shut down； unreadable。 But that flash of fear grew； swelling in a rich odor of sweat and bitterness。 He was very afraid。 And it wasn't of me； not exactly； but of something that would happen if he didn't keep the swans。 But what？
〃I must keep them； Anita Blake。〃
〃Tell me why？〃
〃I cannot。〃 The fear was leaving him。 Until that moment I never knew that resignation had a scent； but I could smell the quiet bitterness of defeat on him。 It flared through me in a fierce wave； and I knew we'd won。
He shook his head。 〃I cannot give the swans up。〃
〃You've already lost them。 I can smell the defeat on you。〃
He bowed his head。 〃I would give them up if I could； but please； believe me； I cannot give them to you。 I cannot。〃
〃Cannot； or will not？〃 I asked。
He smiled； and it was bitter like the odor from his skin。 〃Cannot。〃 Even his voice held reluctance； as if he wanted to just say yes； but couldn't。
〃Do what's best for your people； Coronus； walk away from this。〃 I knew in some indefinable way that we would win。 My will to win was greater than his。 We would carry this night in victory。 Some of the snakes would die； because their leader had lost his nerve。 Without his strength of will to buoy them； they could not win。 They didn't want to be here。 I looked at each of them； and in turn； they scented the air as I stared at them。 Defeat hung over them like smoke； they had no will to win。 They didn't want to be here。 So why were they here？ Their alpha； their leader； was here； and his will was theirs。 So why were they all weak； as if something was missing inside their group； something that made them weak？
I realized with a start that this was what everyone had sensed from the leopards before I came to them 。。。 this smell of weakness and defeat。 Nathaniel was weak。 But now my will was his； and I was not weak。 I turned to stare into his face； his eyes； and I saw through all the pain； the torture； that he was not hopeless。 When I first met him； Nathaniel had had the most hopeless eyes I'd ever seen。 But he knew I'd e。 He'd known with an absolute certainty that I would not leave him here like this。 Gregory could doubt； because he thought with that part of him that was human。 But Nathaniel trusted me with something that had nothing to do with logic； and everything to do with truth。
I turned back to Coronus。 〃Run away from this； Coronus； or some of you won't see dawn。〃
He sighed heavily。 〃So be it。〃 And then he did what he shouldn't have done。 Something that had no logic to it； from a nonhuman point of view。 He was going to lose； and he knew it。 Yet he did a very human thing。 He attacked us anyway。 Only humans waste energy like that when they've been given an out。
The two snakes guarding Coronus suddenly launched themselves at me； and I was too close。 I'd been so sure with my new werewolf senses that they wouldn't fight us。 I'd been careless。 I'd forgotten that in the end we're only half animal。 And that human half will fuck you every time。
They came in a blur of speed too fast for me to do anything but start for the other boot knife。 I knew I'd never reach it。 Gregory leaped in a butter…colored streak； taking one snake out in midair； rolling on the floor。 But the other one was on me； claws slashing down before I hit the ground with it riding me。 I was already going numb； it didn't hurt。 The claws ripped at my stomach； diving through the cloth of my shirt to the flesh underneath。 I felt it digging for my heart。 I raised my right hand to try and grab the wrist； but it felt like I was moving in slow motion。 My hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds； and distantly I knew I was hurt； badly hurt。 Something bad had happened in that first blur of claws。
Gregory was suddenly there； pale fur caught between the multicolored snakes。 He fell on top of me； with one of the things on top of him ripping him up。 He never tried to defend himself； he clawed at the one riding me； tore it away from me； and the three of them fought on top of me。 There was a moment when Gregory's eyes and that snarling mouth were inches from mine。 We were pressed as close as lovers； and I knew that the claws in me were his。 He'd fallen against me； been pushed into my flesh。 Then other hands were pulling us all apart。 I had a glimpse of Jamil's face； saw his lips
