anner.bloodandgold-µÚ21ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡Would¡¡Avicus¡¡move¡¡to¡¡save¡¡him£¿¡¡It¡¡was¡¡likely¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡if¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not£¿¡¡And¡¡what¡¡if¡¡I¡¡proved¡¡stronger¡¡than¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡I¡¡who¡¡had¡¡drunk¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Queen£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Mael¡£¡¡He¡¡wasn't¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡found¡¡interesting¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡my¡¡pride¡¡returned¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡stoop¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mon¡¡physical¡¡battle£»¡¡especially¡¡one¡¡which¡¡might¡¡bee¡¡hideously¡¡awkward¡¡and¡¡ugly£»¡¡one¡¡which¡¡I¡¡might¡¡not¡¡win¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡wise¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡good¡¡of¡¡heart¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡Marius£»¡¡who¡¡slew¡¡the¡¡Evil¡¡Doer£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡was¡¡Mael£»¡¡a¡¡fool¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡made¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡away¡¡through¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡find¡¡no¡¡words¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡Avicus¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡said¡¡quickly£»¡¡¡¨Farewell£»¡¡Marius¡£¡¡I¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡remember¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡the¡¡words¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Farewell£»¡¡Avicus£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡answered¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡listened¡¡as¡¡they¡¡disappeared¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡there£»¡¡feeling¡¡a¡¡crushing¡¡loneliness¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡my¡¡many¡¡bookcases£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡my¡¡writing¡¡table¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡my¡¡inkstand¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡paintings¡¡on¡¡the¡¡walls¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡make¡¡peace¡¡with¡¡Mael£»¡¡surely£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡Avicus¡¡as¡¡my¡¡friend¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡go¡¡after¡¡them¡¡both¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡implore¡¡them¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡so¡¡much¡¡more¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡one¡¡another¡£¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡them¡¡as¡¡they¡¡needed¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡As¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡Pandora¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡lived¡¡the¡¡lie¡£¡¡I¡¡lived¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡anger¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡what¡¡I'm¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡lived¡¡lies¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡done¡¡it¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again¡£¡¡I¡¡live¡¡lies¡¡because¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡endure¡¡the¡¡weakness¡¡of¡¡anger£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡admit¡¡the¡¡irrationality¡¡of¡¡love¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡the¡¡lies¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡told¡¡myself¡¡and¡¡others¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡it¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡6
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡FOR¡¡A¡¡FULL¡¡MONTH£»¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡of¡¡Those¡¡Who¡¡Must¡¡Be¡¡Kept¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡Mael¡¡and¡¡Avicus¡¡still¡¡hunted¡¡Rome¡£¡¡I¡¡caught¡¡glimpses¡¡of¡¡them¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Mind¡¡Gift¡¡and¡¡occasionally¡¡I¡¡even¡¡spied¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡very¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡their¡¡steps¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Indeed¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡Mael¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡tormenting¡¡me¡¡with¡¡his¡¡presence£»¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡ruin¡¡my¡¡tenure¡¡in¡¡the¡¡great¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡made¡¡me¡¡bitter¡£¡¡I¡¡contemplated¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡him¡¡and¡¡his¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡panion¡¡away¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡also¡¡suffered¡¡considerable¡¡preoccupation¡¡with¡¡Avicus£»¡¡whose¡¡face¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡forget¡£¡¡What¡¡was¡¡the¡¡disposition¡¡of¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡being£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡£¡¡What¡¡would¡¡it¡¡mean¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡my¡¡panion£¿¡¡I¡¡feared¡¡I¡¡would¡¡never¡¡know¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Meantime£»¡¡other¡¡blood¡¡drinkers¡¡occasionally¡¡hunted¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡their¡¡presence¡¡immediately£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡on¡¡one¡¡particular¡¡night¡¡that¡¡a¡¡skirmish¡¡occurred¡¡between¡¡a¡¡powerful¡¡and¡¡hostile¡¡blood¡¡drinker¡¡and¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡Mael¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡Mind¡¡Gift¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡all¡¡that¡¡took¡¡place¡£¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡Mael¡¡so¡¡frightened¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡before¡¡morning£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡even¡¡given¡¡word¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lowly¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡e¡¡to¡¡Rome¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡put¡¡me¡¡to¡¡pondering¡£¡¡Would¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡Mael¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡city¡¡clean¡¡of¡¡others£»¡¡while¡¡leaving¡¡me¡¡alone£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡months¡¡passed¡¡this¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡case¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡small¡¡band¡¡of¡¡Christian¡¡blood¡¡drinkers¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡infest¡¡our¡¡hunting¡¡ground¡£¡¡Indeed¡¡they¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡same¡¡tribe¡¡of¡¡snake¡¡worshipers¡¡who¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡Antioch¡¡insisting¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡old¡¡truths¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡Mind¡¡Gift¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡them¡¡fervently¡¡setting¡¡up¡¡their¡¡temple¡¡where¡¡they¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡sacrifice¡¡mortals¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡deeply¡¡repelled¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡once¡¡again¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡Mael¡¡put¡¡them¡¡to¡¡rout£»¡¡apparently¡¡without
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡contaminated¡¡by¡¡their¡¡extravagant¡¡ideas¡¡about¡¡us¡¡serving¡¡Satan¡a¡¡personage¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡Mael¡¡would¡¡have¡¡had¡¡no¡¡use¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡pagans¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡city¡¡was¡¡ours¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡note¡¡in¡¡watching¡¡these¡¡activities¡¡from¡¡afar£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡neither
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mael¡¡nor¡¡Avicus¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡know¡¡his¡¡own¡¡strength¡£¡¡They¡¡might¡¡have¡¡escaped¡¡the¡¡Druids¡¡of¡¡Britain¡¡by¡¡using¡¡their¡¡supernatural¡¡skills£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡unaware¡¡of¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡already¡¡learnt¡that¡¡their¡¡powers¡¡increased¡¡with¡¡time¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡I¡¡had¡¡drunk¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mother¡¡so¡¡I¡¡fancied¡¡myself¡¡much¡¡stronger¡¡than¡¡either¡¡of¡¡them¡¡on¡¡that¡¡account¡£¡¡But¡¡quite¡¡apart¡¡from¡¡that£»¡¡my¡¡strength¡¡had¡¡increased¡¡with¡¡the¡¡centuries¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡now¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡a¡¡four¡story¡¡tenement¡of¡¡which¡¡there¡¡were¡¡many¡¡in¡¡Rome¡with¡¡parative¡¡ease¡£¡¡And¡¡no¡¡band¡¡of¡¡mortal¡¡soldiers¡¡could¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡taken¡¡me¡¡prisoner¡£¡¡My¡¡speed¡¡was¡¡far¡¡too¡¡great¡¡for¡¡that¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Indeed¡¡when¡¡I¡¡took¡¡my¡¡victims£»¡¡I¡¡already¡¡faced¡¡the¡¡problem¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡ones£»¡¡to¡¡restrain¡¡my¡¡powerful¡¡hands¡¡from¡¡crushing¡¡out¡¡the¡¡life¡¡that¡¡pumped¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡into¡¡my¡¡mouth¡£¡¡And¡¡oh£»¡¡was¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡still¡¡thirsty¡¡for¡¡that¡¡blood£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡as¡¡I¡¡spied¡¡upon¡¡these¡¡various¡¡activities¡the¡¡routing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Satanic¡¡vampires¡I¡¡stayed¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡of¡¡Akasha¡¡and¡¡Enkil¡¡for¡¡too¡¡long¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Finally¡¡one¡¡early¡¡evening£»¡¡using¡¡my¡¡skills¡¡at¡¡their¡¡most¡¡powerful¡¡to¡¡cloak¡¡my¡¡presence£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡go¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hills¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shrine¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡make¡¡this¡¡visit¡£¡¡Never¡¡had¡¡I¡¡left¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Pair¡¡alone¡¡for¡¡such¡¡a¡¡period£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡there¡¡might¡¡be¡¡consequences¡¡for¡¡such¡¡neglect¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡I¡¡realize¡¡such¡¡a¡¡fear¡¡was¡¡utterly¡¡ridiculous¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡years¡¡passed¡¡I¡¡could¡¡neglect¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡for¡¡centuries¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡of¡¡no¡¡consequence¡¡whatsoever¡£¡¡But¡¡then¡¡I¡¡had¡¡only¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡learn¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡so¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡new¡¡and¡¡barren¡¡chapel¡£¡¡I¡¡brought¡¡with¡¡me¡¡the¡¡requisite¡¡flowers¡¡and¡¡incense£»¡¡and¡¡several¡¡bottles¡¡of¡¡scent¡¡with¡¡which¡¡to¡¡sprinkle¡¡Akasha's¡¡garments£»¡¡and¡¡once¡¡I¡¡had¡¡lighted¡¡the¡¡lamps¡¡and¡¡set¡¡the¡¡incense¡¡to¡¡burning£»¡¡once¡¡the¡¡flowers¡¡were¡¡in¡¡their¡¡vases£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡an¡¡overall¡¡weakness¡¡and¡¡went¡¡down¡¡on¡¡my¡¡knees¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡remind¡¡you¡¡again¡¡that¡¡during¡¡my¡¡years¡¡with¡¡Pandora£»¡¡I¡¡almost¡¡never¡¡prayed¡¡in¡¡this¡¡mariner¡£¡¡But¡¡now¡¡Akasha¡¡belonged¡¡only¡¡to¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡unchanged¡¡couple£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡long¡¡black¡¡plaited
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡hair£»¡¡seated¡¡on¡¡the¡¡throne¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡left¡¡them£»¡¡both¡¡freshly¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡their¡¡Egyptian¡¡clothes¡¡of¡¡fine¡¡linen£»¡¡Akasha¡¡in¡¡her¡¡pleated¡¡gown£»¡¡the¡¡King¡¡in¡¡his¡¡kilt¡£¡¡Akasha's¡¡eyes¡¡still¡¡wore¡¡the¡¡imperishable¡¡black¡¡paint¡¡which¡¡Pandora¡¡had¡¡so¡¡carefully¡¡applied¡£¡¡And¡¡around¡¡Akasha's¡¡head¡¡was¡¡the¡¡glistening¡¡gold¡¡diadem¡¡with¡¡its¡¡rubies¡¡which¡¡Pandora¡¡had¡¡placed¡¡there¡¡with¡¡loving¡¡hands¡£¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡snake¡¡bracelets¡¡on¡¡her¡¡graceful¡¡upper¡¡arms¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡of¡¡Pandora¡£¡¡And¡¡on¡¡the¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡were¡¡the¡¡sandals¡¡which¡¡Pandora¡¡had¡¡fastened¡¡with¡¡care¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wealth¡¡of¡¡light¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡paler¡¡in¡¡plexion
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡now£»¡¡centuries¡¡later£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡right¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡healing¡¡rapidly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Terrible¡¡Fire¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡this¡¡particular¡¡visit£»¡¡I¡¡also¡¡paid¡¡keen¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡Enkil¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡and¡¡had¡¡never¡¡incited¡¡my¡¡devotion£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡this¡¡was¡¡unwise¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡Egypt¡¡when¡¡I¡¡had¡¡first¡¡e¡¡to¡¡find¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡zealous¡¡new¡¡blood¡¡drinker£»¡¡inflamed¡¡by¡¡Akasha's¡¡plea¡¡to¡¡take¡¡them¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Egypt¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡had¡¡moved¡¡to¡¡block¡¡my¡¡path¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Queen¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Only¡¡with¡¡difficulty¡¡had¡¡he¡¡been¡¡made¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡his¡¡posture¡¡of¡¡seated¡¡King¡£¡¡Akasha¡¡had¡¡cooperated¡¡in¡¡that¡¡all¡important¡¡moment£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡movements¡¡of¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sluggish¡¡and¡¡unearthly¡¡and¡¡dreadful¡¡to¡¡behold¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡had¡¡been¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡only¡¡gesture¡¡from¡¡either¡¡of¡¡them¡¡since¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡open¡¡arm¡¡of¡¡Akasha¡¡to¡¡wele
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pandora¡¡to¡¡herself¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡how¡¡Pandora¡¡had¡¡been¡¡blessed¡¡in¡¡that¡¡gesture¡¡from¡¡Akasha£¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡never¡¡forget¡¡it¡¡all¡¡my¡¡long¡¡years¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡were¡¡Enkil's¡¡thoughts£»¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡myself¡£¡¡Was¡¡he¡¡ever¡¡jealous¡¡that¡¡I¡¡addressed¡¡my¡¡prayers¡¡to¡¡Akasha£¿¡¡Did¡¡he¡¡even¡¡know£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Whatever¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡silent¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡always¡¡protect¡¡him¡¡and¡¡his¡¡Queen¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡last£»¡¡reason¡¡left¡¡me¡¡as¡¡I¡¡gazed¡¡on¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡let¡¡Akasha¡¡know¡¡how¡¡much¡¡I¡¡revered¡¡her¡¡and¡¡how¡¡dangerous¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡e¡£¡¡Only¡¡out¡¡of¡¡caution¡¡had¡¡I¡¡remained¡¡away¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡never¡¡on¡¡my¡¡own¡¡have¡¡left¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡deserted¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡here£»¡¡using¡¡my¡¡vampiric¡¡skill¡¡to¡¡create¡¡paintings¡¡for¡¡the¡¡walls
¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡to¡¡make¡¡for¡¡them¡¡mosaics¡¡¡for¡¡though¡¡I¡¡never¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡myself¡¡as¡¡having¡¡possessed¡¡any¡¡skill¡¡in¡¡this¡¡regard¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡used¡¡my¡¡powers¡¡to¡¡make¡¡passable¡¡decorations¡¡for¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡in¡¡Antioch£»¡¡indeed¡¡very¡¡good¡¡ones£»¡¡whiling¡¡away¡¡the¡¡lonely¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡here¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡were¡¡simply¡¡whitewashed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡abundant¡¡flowers¡¡I'd¡¡brought¡¡seemed¡¡wele¡¡color¡¡indeed¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡Queen£»¡¡help¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡prayed¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡as¡¡I¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡how¡¡miser