anner.bloodandgold-第112章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 years together。
I was lying because I hadn't told her a word of Pandora。 I was lying because I didn't truly believe that she could harbor no jealousy of Pandora。
And because I couldn't tell her that my love for Pandora lay at the very heart of what I did。 What creature would want to reveal such a scheme to a lover？
I meant to place us in Dresden。 I meant to remain in Dresden。 I meant to be near Dresden at every sunset of my existence until such time as Pandora came again。 And I could not tell this to Bianca。
And so I pretended that it was for her that I had chosen this beautiful
home； and indeed it was for her； there is no doubt of it。 It was for her to make her happy； yes。 But that was not all of it。
Within the month； we began work on the new shrine； utterly transforming the castle dungeon in Saxony into a fit place for the King and Queen。
Goldsmiths and painters and stone masons were brought down the many flights of stone steps to enhance the dungeon until it was the most marvelous private chapel。
The throne was covered in gold leaf as was the dais。
And once again； the proper bronze lamps were found； fresh and new。 And there were rich candelabra of gold and silver。
I alone labored on the heavy iron doors and their plex fastenings。
As for the castle； it was more of a palace than a castle； as I've said； having been rebuilt several times； and it was charming in its placement above the banks of the Elbe； and it had around it a lovely forest of beech； oak and birch trees。 There was a terrace from which one could look down at the river； and from many large windows； one could see the distant city of Dresden。
Of course we would never hunt in Dresden or in the surrounding hamlets。 We would go far afield as had always been our custom。 And we would waylay the forest brigands； an activity which had bee a regular sport for us。
Bianca had some concerns。 And only reluctantly she confessed to me that she had some fear of living in a place where she could not hunt for herself without me。
〃Dresden is big enough to serve your appetite；〃 I said； 〃if I were not able to carry you elsewhere。 You'll see。 It's a beautiful city； a young city I should say； but under the Duke of Saxony it's ing along magnificently。〃
〃You're sure of this；〃 she asked。
〃Oh； yes； I'm sure of it； and as I've told you； I'm also sure that the forests of Saxony and nearby Thuringia contain their number of murderous thieves who have always been such a special repast for us。〃
She thought on all this。
〃Let me remind you； my darling；〃 I said； 〃you can on any night cut your beautiful blond hair with the full confidence that it will grow back by day； and you can go out clothed as a man； traveling with preternatural
speed and strength to hunt your victims。 Perhaps we should play at this very soon after our arrival。〃
〃Yes； would you allow me this？〃 she asked。
〃Of course； I shall。〃 I was astonished by her gratitude。
Again she showered me with grateful kisses。
〃But I must caution you on something；〃 I said。 〃The area to which we move has many small villages； and in these the belief in witchcraft and vampires is quite strong。〃
〃Vampires；〃 she said。 〃This is the word used by your friend in the Talamasca。〃
〃Yes；〃 I replied。 〃We must always cover the evidence of our feast； lest we bee an immediate legend。〃
She laughed。
Finally the castle or schloss as they were called in that part of the world was ready； and it was time for us to make preparations。
But something else had e to my mind； and I was haunted by it。
Finally there came a night when as Bianca slept in her corner； I proposed to deal with this matter。
I knelt down on the bare marble and prayed to my motionless and beautiful Akasha and asked her in most specific words if she would allow Bianca to drink from her。
〃This tender one has been your panion these many years；〃 I said； 〃and she has loved you without reserve。 I give her my strong blood over and over again。 But what is my blood in parison to yours？ I fear for her； if ever we were to be separated。 Please let her drink。 Give her your precious strength。〃
Only the sweet silence followed； with the shimmering of so many tiny flames； with the scent of wax and oil； with the glitter of light in the Queen's eyes。
But I saw an image in answer to my prayer。 I saw in my mind my lovely Bianca lying on the breast of the Queen。 And for one divine instant we were not in the shrine but in a great garden。 I felt the breeze sweeping through the trees。 I smelled flowers。
Then I was in the shrine again； kneeling； with my arms out。
At once I whispered and gestured for Bianca to e to me。 She obeyed； having no idea of what was in my mind； and I guided her up close to the throat of the Queen； covering her as I did so that if Enkil were to lift his arm I would feel it。
〃Kiss her throat；〃 I whispered。
Bianca was shivering。 I think she was on the verge of tears； but she did as I told her to do； and then I saw her sink her small fang teeth into the skin of the Queen； and I felt her body bee rigid beneath my embrace。
It was being acplished。
For several long moments she drank； and it seemed I could hear their heartbeats struggling against each other； one great and one small； and then Bianca fell back； and I gathered her up in my arms； seeing the two tiny wounds heal in Akasha's throat。
It was finished。
Withdrawing to the corner； I held Bianca close to me。
She gave several sighs and undulated and turned towards me and snuggled against me。 Then she held out her hand and looked at it； and we could both see that it was whiter now； though it still had the color of human flesh。
My soul was wondrously soothed by this event。 I am only confessing now what it meant to me。 For having lied to Bianca I lived with an unbearable guilt； and now； having given her this gift of the Mother's blood I felt a huge measure of relief from it。
It was my hope that the Mother would allow Bianca to drink again； and in fact this did happen。 It happened often。 And with every draught of the Divine Blood Bianca became immensely stronger。
But let me proceed with the tale in order。
The journey from the shrine was arduous。 As in the past I had to rely on mortals to transport the Divine Parents in heavy coffins of stone； and I experienced some trepidation。 But not as much as in former eras。 I think I was convinced that Akasha and Enkil could protect themselves。
I don't know what gave me this impression。 Perhaps it was that they had opened the shrine for me； and lighted the lamps when I had been so weak and miserable。
Whatever the case； they were carried to our new home without difficulty；
and as Bianca gazed on in plete awe； I took them out of their coffins and placed them on the throne together。
Their slow obedient movements； their sluggish plasticity…these things faintly horrified her。
But as she had now drunk the Mother's blood； she was quick to join
me in adjusting her fine spun dress and Enkil's kilt。 She helped me to
smooth the plaited hair。 She helped me to adjust the Queen's bracelets。
When it was all done； I myself tended to the lamps and the candles。
Then we both knelt down to pray that the King and the Queen
were content to be in this new place。
And after that we were off to find the brigands in the forest。 We had already heard their voices。 We quickly picked up their scent； and soon it was fine feasting in the woods； and a stash of stolen gold to make it all the more splendid。
We were back in the world； Bianca declared。 She danced in circles in the great hall of the castle。 She delighted in all the furnishings that crowded our new rooms。 She delighted in our fancy coffered beds； and all the colored draperies。 I too delighted in it。
But we were in full agreement that we would not live in the world as I had lived in Venice。 Such was simply too dangerous。 And so having
