anner.bloodandgold-第122章
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All my sense of possession came to the fore； that she was mine and that she now dared to turn on me。
Where was the sweetness of which I had dreamt？ I stood in the midst of a nightmare。
〃My dear servant；〃 she said； 〃you have never had the power to stop me！〃
It was inconceivable that this creature whom I had so protected throughout time could turn on me。 It was inconceivable that this one whom I so pletely adored now taunted me。
Something hasty and pathetic came from my lips：
〃But what do you want？ 〃 I asked； as I tried to grasp what was taking place。 〃What do you mean to do？〃
It was a wonder that she even gave some mocking answer to me。
It was lost in the sound of the television screen exploding； in the sound of metal ripping； in the sound of the ice falling。
With incalculable power she rose from the depths of the house； sending its walls； its ceilings； and its surrounding ice down upon me。
I found myself buried； calling for help。
And the reign of the Queen of the Damned had menced； though she had never taken that name for herself。
You saw her as she moved through the world。 You saw her as she slew blood drinkers all around her； you saw her as she slew blood drinkers who would not serve her purpose。
Did you see her as she took Lestat as her lover？ Did you see her as she sought to frighten mortals with her petty displays of old…fashioned power？
And all the while I lay crushed beneath the ice…spared for what purpose I could not imagine…sending out my warning to Lestat that he was in danger； sending out my warning to all that they were in danger。 And pleading as well with any Child of the Millennia who might e to help me rise from the crevasse in which I'd been buried。
Even as I called in my powerful voice I healed。 I began to move the ice around me。
But at last two blood drinkers came to assist me。 I caught the image of one in the mind of the other。 And it seemed impossible to me； but the one whom I saw so radiantly in the other's vision was none other than my Pandora。
At last； with their help； I broke the ice that kept me from the surface；
and I climbed free under the arctic sky； taking Pandora's hand； and then gathering her in my arms； refusing for a moment to think of anything； even of my savage Queen and her deadly rampage。
There were no words now； no vows； no denials。 I held Pandora in love and she knew it； and when I looked up； when I cleared my eyes of pain and love and fear； I realized that the blood drinker who had e North with her； he who had answered my summons； was none other than Santino。
For a moment； I was filled with such hatred I meant to destroy him pletely。
〃No；〃 Pandora said； 〃Marius； you can't。 All of us are needed now。 And why do you think he has e if not to repay you？〃
He stood there in the snow in his fine black garments； the wind whipping his black hair and I could see he was consumed with fear； but he would not confess it。
〃This is no repayment for what you did to me；〃 I said to him。 〃But I know Pandora is right； we're all needed； and for that reason； I spare you。〃
I looked at my beloved Pandora。
〃There is a council forming now；〃 I said。 〃It's in a great house in the coastal forest； a place of glass walls。 We'll go there together。〃
You know of what happened then。 We gathered at our great table in the redwood trees…as if we were a new and passionate Faithful of the Forest…and when the Queen came to us with her plan to bring harm to the great world； we all sought to reason with her。
It was her dream to be the Queen of Heaven to humankind； to slay male children by the billions； and make the world a 〃garden〃 of tender…spirited women。 It was a horrific and impossible conception。
No one sought more diligently than your red…haired Maker Maharet to turn her from her goals； condemning her that she would dare to change the course of human history。
I myself； thinking bitterly of the beautiful gardens I'd seen when I had drunk her blood； risked her deadly power over and over by
pleading with her to give the world time to follow its own destiny。
Oh； it was a chilling thing to see this living statue now speaking to me so coldly yet with such strong will and contemptuous temper。 How grand and evil were her schemes； to slay male children； to gather women in a superstitious worship。
What gave us courage to fight her？ I don't know except that we knew that we had to do it。 And all along； as she threatened us repeatedly with death； I thought： I could have prevented this； I could have stopped it from ever happening had I put an end to her and to all of us。
As it is； she will destroy us and go on； and who will prevent her？
At one point she knocked me backwards with her arm； so quick was her rage at my words。 And it was Santino who came to my assistance。 I hated him for this but there was no time for hating him or anyone。
At last she laid her condemnation down on all of us。 As we would not side with her； we would be destroyed； one after another。 She would begin with Lestat； for she took his insult to her to be the greatest。 And he had resisted her。 Bravely he had sided with us； pleading with her for reason。
At this dreadful moment； the elders rose； the ones of the First Brood who had been made blood drinkers within her very lifetime； and those Children of the Millennia such as Pandora and myself and Mael and others。
But before the murderous little struggle could begin； there came another into our midst； approaching loudly up the iron steps of the forest pound where we met； until in the doorway we beheld the twin of Maharet： her mute sister； the sister from whom Akasha had torn the tongue： Mekare。
It was she who； snatching the long black hair of the Queen； bashed her head against the glass wall； breaking it； and severing the head from the body。 It was she and her sister who dropped down on their knees； to retrieve from the decapitated Queen； the Sacred Core of all the vampires。
Whether that Sacred Core…that fatal root…was imbibed from heart or brain； I know not。 I know only that the mute Mekare became its new tabernacle。
And after a few moments of sputtering darkness in which we all of us wondered whether or not death should take us now； we regained our strength and looked up to see the twins standing before us。
Maharet put her arm around Mekare's waist； and Mekare； e from brutal isolation I know not where； merely stared into space as though she knew some quiet peace but no more than that。 And from Maharet's lips there came the words：
〃Behold。 The Queen of the Damned。〃
It was finished。
The reign of my beloved Akasha…with all its hopes and dreams… had e abruptly to an end。
And I carried through the world the burden of Those Who Must Be Kept no longer。
THE LISTENER
The End of the Story of Marius
36
MARIUS STOOD at the glass window looking out at the snow。 Thorne sat by the dying fire； merely looking at Marius。
〃So you have woven for me a long； fine tale；〃 said Thorne； 〃and I have found myself marvelously caught up in it。〃
〃Have you？〃 said Marius quietly。 〃And perhaps I now find myself woven within my hatred of Santino。〃
〃But Pandora was with you；〃 said Thorne。 〃You were reunited with her again。 Why is she not with you now？ What's happened？〃
〃I was united with Pandora and Amadeo；〃 said Marius。 〃It all came about in those nights。 And I have seen them often since。 But I am an injured creature。 And it was I who left their pany。 I could go now to Lestat； and those who are with him。 But I don't。
〃My soul still aches over the losses I've suffered。 I don't know which causes me the greater pain…the loss of my goddess； or my hatred of Santino。 She is gone beyond my reach forever。 But Santino still lives。〃
〃Why don't you do away with him？〃 asked Thorne。 〃I'll help you find him。〃
〃I can find him；〃 said Marius。 〃But without her permission I can't do it。〃
〃Maharet？〃 Thorne asked。 〃But why？〃
〃Because she's the eldest of us now； she and her mute twin； and we must have a leader。 Mekare cannot spe
