anner.bloodandgold-第111章
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at you would have to take him by force； insist that he e here to be with you； and see the Divine Parents。 I don't possess the power to do these things。 I ask only that you think on it； that you make no bitter iron resolve against it。〃
〃I give you my word；〃 I said； 〃I have not done that。 But I do not think the sight of the Divine Parents would change the heart of Amadeo。〃 I paused。
I thought on all this for a long moment and then I spoke to her more directly：
〃You've only shared this knowledge with me for a brief time；〃 I said。 〃And in the Divine Parents we both see great beauty。 But Amadeo might well see something different。 Remember what I've told you of the long centuries that lie behind me。 The Divine Parents do not speak。 The Divine Parents do not redeem。 The Divine Parents ask for nothing。〃
〃I understand；〃 she said。
But she didn't。 She had not spent enough years with the King and Queen。 She couldn't possibly prehend the full effect of their passivity。
But I went on in a mild manner：
〃Amadeo possesses a creed； and a seeming place in God's plan；〃 I said。 〃He might well see our Mother and Father as an enigma belonging to a pagan era。 That wouldn't warm his heart。 That wouldn't give him the strength which he derives now from his flock； and believe you me； Bianca； he is the leader there。 Our boy of long ago is old now； he is a sage of the Children of Darkness as they call themselves。〃 I sighed。
A little flash of bitter memory came back to me； of Santino asking me when we met in Rome if Those Who Must Be Kept were holy or profane。
I told this to Bianca。
〃Ah； then you spoke to this creature。 You've never told me this。〃
〃Oh； yes； I spoke to him and spurned him and insulted him。 I did all of these foolish things when something more vicious was required。 Indeed； when the very words 'Those Who Must Be Kept' had e from his lips； I should have put an end to him。〃
She nodded。 〃I e more and more to understand it。 Yet still I hope in time that you will return to Paris； that you will at least reveal yourself to Amadeo。 They are weak ones； are they not； and you could e upon him in some open place where you could…。〃
〃I know well what you mean to say；〃 I answered。 〃I wouldn't allow myself ever to be surrounded by torches。 Perhaps I will do as you suggest。 But I've heard Amadeo's voice； and I don't believe he can be changed now。 And there is one thing more which is worth mentioning。 Amadeo knows how to free himself from this coven。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Yes； I am。 Amadeo knows how to live in the lighted world； and he is ten times stronger by virtue of my old blood than are those who listen to his mands。 He could break away。 He chooses not to do it。〃
〃Marius；〃 she said plaintively； 〃you know how much I love you and how loath I am to contradict you。〃
〃No； say what you must say；〃 I urged her at once。
〃Think of what he suffered；〃 she said。 〃He was but a child when it happened。〃
I agreed to all this。 Then I spoke again：
〃Well； he's no child now； Bianca。 He may be as beautiful as he was when I made him through the Blood； but he is a patriarch in the dust。 And all of Paris； the wondrous city of Paris； surrounds him。 I watched him move through the city streets alone。 There was no one there to restrict him。 He might have sought the Evil Doer as we do。 But he did not。 He drank deep of innocent blood； not once but twice。〃
〃Ah； I see。 This is what has so embittered you。〃
I thought on it。
〃Yes； you're right。 It's what turned me away； though I didn't even know it。 I thought it was the manner in which he spoke to his flock。 But you are right。 It was those two deaths； from which he drew his hot red feast； when Paris swarmed with mortals steeped in murder who might easily have been slain by him。〃
She laid her hand on mine。
〃If I choose to snatch any one of these Children of Darkness from his lair；〃 I said； 〃it is Santino。〃
〃No； but you mustn't go to Rome。 You don't know whether or not there are old ones among that coven。〃
〃Some night；〃 I said； 〃some night I shall go there。 When I am more certain of immense power； and when I am more certain of the ruthless rage it requires to destroy many others。〃
〃Be still now；〃 she said。 〃Forgive me。〃
I was quiet for a moment。
She knew how many nights I had wandered alone。 I had now to confess what I had been doing on those nights。 I had now to begin my secret plan。 I had now…for the first time in all our years together…to drive a wedge between her and me； while giving her precisely what she wanted。
〃But let's leave talk of Amadeo；〃 I said。 〃My mind is on happier things。〃
She was immediately interested。 She reached out and stroked my face and hair as was her custom。
〃Tell me。〃
〃How long has it been since you asked me if we could have our own dwelling？〃
〃Oh； Marius； don't tease me on this account。 Is it possible！〃
〃My darling； it's more than possible；〃 I said； warmed by her beaming smile。 〃I have found a splendid place； a lovely little city on the Elbe River in Saxony。〃
For this I received the sweetest kiss。
〃Now in these many nights when I have been off on my own； I have taken the liberty of acquiring a castle near the city； a much decayed place； and I hope you'll forgive me…。〃
〃Marius； this is momentous news！〃 she said。
〃I have already spent a considerable sum for the repairs…the new wooden floors and stairs； glass windows； and abundant furnishings。〃
〃Oh； but this is wonderful；〃 she said。 She put her arms around me。
〃I'm relieved that you're not angry with me；〃 I said； 〃for moving so quickly without you。 You might say I fell in love with the place； and taking several drapers and carpenters there I told them my dreams and now all is being done as I have directed。〃
〃Oh； how could I be angry？〃 she said。 〃I want it more than anything
in the world。〃
〃There is one more aspect to this castle which I should disclose；〃 I said。 〃Though the more modern building above is more like a palace than a castle； its foundations are quite old。 Indeed； a major part of the foundations were built in early times。 And there are huge crypts beneath it； and a true dungeon。〃
〃You mean to move the Divine Parents？〃 she asked。 〃I do。 I think it's time for it。 You know as well as I that there are small cities and towns springing up all around us。 We aren't isolated here。 Yes； I want to move the Divine Parents。〃
〃If you say； of course； I go along with you。〃 She was too happy to conceal it。 〃But is it safe there？ Didn't you remove them to this remote place so that you never had to fear their discovery？〃 I thought on this for a while before answering。 At last I said：
〃It is safe there。 And with the passing centuries； the world of the Undead changes around us。 And I can't endure this place any longer。 And so I take them to a new place。 And there are no blood drinkers in it。 I have searched far and wide for them。 They aren't there。 I hear no young ones。 I hear no old ones。 I believe it's safe。 And perhaps the most true answer to that logic is this： I want to bring them there。 I want a new place。 I want new mountains and new forests。〃
〃I understand；〃 she said。 〃Oh； I do understand；〃 she said again。 〃And more than ever； I believe that they can defend themselves。 Oh； they need you； I don't doubt it； and that's why on that long ago night they opened the door for you and lighted the lamps。 I can still remember
it so vividly。 But I spend long hours here simply gazing at them。 And I have many thoughts during these hours。 And I believe that they would defend themselves against any who sought to hurt them。〃
I didn't argue with her。 I didn't bother to remind her that centuries ago they had allowed themselves to be placed in the sun。 What was the purpose？ And for all I knew she was right。 They would crush anyone who tried to subject them to such injury。
〃e now；〃 she said； seeing me fallen into a mood。 〃I'm too happy with this good news。 Be happy with me。〃
She kissed me as if she couldn't stop herself。 She was so innocent in those moments。
And I； I was lying to her； truly lying to her for the first time in all our ye
