anner.bloodandgold-第37章
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It was a matter of gold and the Spell Gift； and I had no difficulty。 And soon we were onshore and ready to explore this mythic place where God had directed Constantine to create the greatest city in the world。
I cannot say I was disappointed that night。
Our first extraordinary surprise was that the merchants of Constantinople were required to put up torches outside their shops so that the streets were beautifully illuminated。 And we at once realized that there was a wilderness of great churches for us to explore。
The city held some million inhabitants； and I sensed at once an immense vigor that had gone out of Rome。
I went immediately…leading my two agreeable panions with me…to the great open square called the Augusteum； and where I could gaze on the facade of Hagia Sophia…the Church of the Holy Wisdom…and upon other immense and regal buildings including the splendid public baths of Zeuxippus； which had been decorated with beautifully executed pagan statues taken from various cities of the world。
I wanted to go in all directions at the same time。 For here lay the great Hippodrome in which by day thousands witnessed chariot races which were the passion of the populace； and there the indescribably huge and plex royal palace into which we could easily have crept without being seen。
A great street led westward from this square； and constituted the main thoroughfare of the city； in that there were other squares which opened off it； and also other streets； which fed； of course； innumerable lanes。
Mael and Avicus continued to follow me politely as I led them hither and thither； and into the interior of Hagia Sophia to stand between its magnificent walls and beneath its immense dome。
I was overe by the beauty of the church with its myriad arches and the high ornate and detailed mosaics of Justinian and Theodora which were unbelievably splendid and glittering in the light of countless lamps。
In the nights to e； there would be no end of splendid adventures。
My rades might tire of this； but I would not。 I would penetrate
the Imperial Court very soon； using my swiftness and cleverness to go about the palace。 And for better or for worse I was in a city that was thriving where I would know the fort of the proximity of many many human souls。
In the weeks that followed we purchased for ourselves a splendid house； quite well fortified； its garden entirely enclosed； and made for ourselves a secret and safe crypt beneath the mosaic floor。
As for the Divine Parents； I was adamant that they must be hidden some distance from the city。 I had already heard plenty about the riots in Constantinople and I wanted the chapel to be safe。
However I could find no old vaults or tombs in the countryside like the old Etruscan tomb I had used outside of Rome。 And finally I had no choice but to have a sanctuary built beneath our house by a gang of slaves。
This unnerved me。 In Antioch and in Rome； I had created the chapels。 Now I must rely upon others。 At last I pursued an intricate plan。
I designed a series of overlapping passages leading deep down to a large chamber which would require anyone going there to turn first right； then left； then right； then left again with exceedingly debilitating affect。 Then I set pairs of heavy bronze doors at certain intervals； each pair having a heavy bolt。
The thick stone blocking the entrance to this winding and doubling passage was not only disguised as part of the mosaic flooring of the house； but was； as I so often say when describing such things； far too heavy for even a team of mortals to lift。 Even the iron grips were so numerous and intricately designed as to seem part of the
ornamentation of the overall floor。
Mael and Avicus thought all this quite extreme； but said nothing。
They approved； however； when I had the walls of the chapel covered with gold mosaic of the very kind I saw in all the splendid churches； and the floor laid with the finest marble tile。 A broad and gorgeous throne of hammered gold was prepared for the Royal Couple。
And lamps were hung from the ceiling on chains。
How was all this work done； you might ask； without promising the secret of the underground chamber？ Did I murder all those who had participated in the creation of this chapel？
No。 It was by use of the Spell Gift to confuse those brought to their labor； and by the use at times of simple blindfolds of which the slaves and even the artists could not plain。 Gilded words as to 〃lovers and brides〃 smoothed over any mortal objections。 And money did the rest。
At last came the night when I must take the Royal Parents to their chapel。 Avicus and Mael politely confessed that they thought I would want to do this alone。
I had no objections。 Like a powerful Christian Angel of Death； I carried first one sarcophagus and then the other down to the fine chapel and set them side by side。
I took the linen wrappings from Akasha first； holding her in my arms as I knelt on the floor。 Her eyes were closed。 Then quite suddenly； she opened them； looking past me； her expression meaningless and simple as before。
I think I felt a curious deadening disappointment。 But I whispered prayers to her to conceal it； as I cleaned away the linen and lifted her； and carried her； my silent bride； and seated her on the throne。 There she rested； her clothes rumpled and inplete； blind as ever； as I took the wrappings from Enkil。
There came the same strange moment when his eyes opened as well。
I dared say nothing aloud to him。 I lifted him； found him more pliant；
and even almost light； and placed him on the throne beside his queen。
Several nights passed before I could plete their raiment； but it must look perfect to the memories I still had of fine Egyptian garments；
and then I sought to locate for them new and interesting jewels。 Constantinople was full of such luxuries； and the craftsmen who dealt in them。 All of this I did alone and with no difficulty； praying all the while in the most respectful tone。
Finally the chapel was even more beautiful than the first one which I had made in Antioch； and far more lovely than that which had existed outside of Rome。 I put in place the usual braziers in which I would burn incense； and I filled the many hanging lamps with sweet…smelling oil。
Only when all this was done did I go back to the matter of the new city； and how things were to be in it； and whether or not Akasha and Enkil were truly safe。
I was very uneasy。 I didn't even know the city yet； I realized。 I was preoccupied。 I wanted to continue visiting the churches and feasting off the beauty of the city； but I did not know whether or not we were the only vampires here。
It seemed extremely doubtful to me。 After all； there were other blood drinkers in existence。 Why wouldn't they e to the most beautiful city in the world？
As for the Greek quality of Constantinople； I didn't like it。 I am rather ashamed to say it； but it was true。
I didn't like that the populace spoke Greek instead of Latin； though I myself could speak Greek very well； of course。 And I didn't like all the Christian monasteries in which there seemed a deep mysticism that was more Oriental than Western。
The art I found everywhere was impressive； yes； but it was losing all ties to the classical art of Greece and Rome。
New statues presented men as stocky and crude with very round heads。 Eyes were bulbous； faces without expression。 And the Ikons or Holy Pictures which had bee so mon were highly stylized； with scowling faces。
Even the splendid mosaics of Justinian and Theodora…the figures in their long robes floating against the walls of the church…were rigid and dreamlike rather than classical； or beautiful according to standards that I had not learnt。
This was a magnificent place but it was not my place。
For me； there was something inherently repulsive in the gigantic royal palace with its eunuchs and its slaves。 When I crept into it and roamed about； visiting its throne rooms； audience halls； gorgeous chapels； immense dining room； and many bedchambers； I saw the licentiousness of Persia； and though I cou
