anner.bloodandgold-第38章
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rs； I saw the licentiousness of Persia； and though I couldn't blame anyone for it； I felt ill at ease。
And the population； though it was huge and vital； could brawl in the streets over the oute of the chariot races in the Hippodrome； or riot in the very churches； killing one another； over matters of religion
as well。 In fact； the endless religious quarrels bordered on sheer madness。 And doctrinal differences kept the entire Empire in upheaval most of the time。
As for the problems of the Empire's borders they were as continuous
as they had been in the time of the Caesars。 The Persians perpetually
threatened the East and there was simply no end to the barbarians who poured down into the Empire from the West。
Having long identified my own soul with the salvation of the Empire； I felt no consolation in this city。 I felt suspicion and profound distaste。
I did however often roam into Santa Sophia to marvel at the enormous
dome which seemed to float above with no means of support。 Something ineffable had been captured in that grand church which could humble the most proud spirits。
Avicus and Mael were quite happy in this new city。 And both seemed absolutely determined that I be their leader； and as I shopped the marketplace for books in the evening； Avicus was eager to join me； and eager for me to read to him what I found。
Meantime I furnished our house fortably； and hired artisans to paint the walls。 I did not want to bee lost in my painted gardens again； and when I thought of my lost Pandora my anguish was worse even than before。
Indeed I searched for Pandora。 I told Avicus and Mael a few little stories； harmless and unimportant； of my nights with her； but principally of how I had loved her； so that images of her might exist in their minds in so far as they had the power to keep such images alive。
If Pandora roamed these streets； if she came upon my panions perhaps she could divine from them that I was here and wanted so
desperately to be reunited with her。
At once I began to acquire a library； buying whole caskets of scrolls and going through them at my leisure。 I set up a fine writing desk and began a rather neutral and impersonal diary of my adventures in the old code I had invented before。
We had been in Constantinople less than six months when it became clear to us that other blood drinkers were ing near to our house。
We heard them in the early morning。 They came； apparently to hear of us what they could with the Mind Gift and then they rushed away。
〃Why have they taken so long？〃 I demanded。 〃They've watched us and they've studied us。〃
〃And perhaps they are the reason；〃 said Avicus； 〃that we've found no Devil worshipers here。〃
This was perhaps true； for those who spied on us now were not Devil worshipers。 We could tell by the bits and pieces of mental imagery which we were able to glean from their minds。
At last they came at early evening and there was no mistaking their polite invitation to us to e with them to visit their mistress。
I went out of our house to greet them and discovered that there were two of them and that they were pale and beautiful boys。
They couldn't have been more than thirteen when they were made； and they had very clear dark eyes； and had short curly black hair。 They were dressed in long Eastern robes of the finest decorated cloth； trimmed in a fringe of red and gold。 Their under tunics were of silk； and they wore ornate slippers and many jeweled rings。
Two mortals carried the torches for them； and they appeared to be simple and expensive Persian slaves。
One of the radiant young blood drinker boys placed a small scroll in my hands； which I at once opened to read the beautifully written Greek。
〃It is the custom before hunting my city to ask permission of me；〃 it said。 〃Please e to my palace。〃 It was signed； 〃Eudoxia。〃
I did not care for the style of this any more than I had cared for the style of anything else in Constantinople。 And I cannot say that it surprised me； but then here was an opportunity to speak with other blood drinkers who were not the fanatical worshipers of the Snake and that opportunity had never e before。
Also allow me to note that in all my years as a blood drinker； I had not seen any two others who were as fine and elegant and beautiful as these boys。
No doubt the groups of Satan worshipers contained such blood drinkers； with fine faces and innocent eyes； but for the large part； as I have described； it was Avicus and Mael who slew them or came to terms with them； not me。 Besides they had always been corrupted by their zeal。
There was something else here。
These boys seemed infinitely more interesting by virtue of their dignity and their adornments； and the courage with which they looked at me。 As for the name Eudoxia； I was ultimately more curious than afraid。
〃Let me go with you；〃 I said immediately。 But the boys gestured that Avicus and Mael should e as well。
〃Why is this？〃 I asked protectively。 But at once my panions let me know that they wanted to go too。 〃How many are you？〃 I asked the boys。
〃Eudoxia will answer your questions；〃 said the boy who had given me the scroll。 〃Please do e with us without further conversation。 Eudoxia has been hearing of you for some time。〃
We were escorted a long way through the streets； until finally we came to a quarter of the city even richer than that in which we lived； and to a house much larger even than our own。 It had the usual harsh stone facade； enclosing no doubt an inner garden and rich rooms。
During this time； the boy blood drinkers cloaked their thoughts very well； but I was able to divine； perhaps because they wanted me to do； that their names were Asphar and Rashid。
We were admitted to the house by another pair of mortal slaves who guided us into a large chamber pletely decorated with gold。
Torches burned all about us； and in the center of the room； on a gilded couch with purple silk pillows there reclined a gorgeous blood drinker woman； with thick black curls not unlike those of the boys who had e to us； though she wore them long and fretted with pearls； her damask robe and under dress of silk as fine as anything I'd seen in Constantinople so far。
Her face was small； oval； and as close to perfection as anything I've ever beheld； even though she bore no resemblance to Pandora who was for me perfection itself。
Her eyes were round and extremely large。 Her lips were perfectly rouged； and there came a perfume from her that was no doubt made by a Persian magician to drive us out of our wits。
There were numerous chairs and couches scattered about on the mosaic floor where rampant Grecian goddesses and gods were as tastefully represented as they might have been some five hundred years before。 I saw similar images on the walls surrounding us； though the slightly crude but ornate columns seemed of later design。
As for the vampire woman's skin it was perfectly white； and so totally without a touch of humanity that it sent a chill through me。 But her expression； which manifested itself almost entirely by a smile； was cordial and curious in the extreme。
Still leaning on her elbow； her arm covered in bracelets； she looked up at me。
〃Marius；〃 she said in cultured and perfect Latin； her voice as lovely as her face； 〃you read my walls and floor as though they were a book。〃
〃Forgive me；〃 I said。 〃But when a room is so exquisitely decorated； it seems the polite thing to do。〃
〃And you long for old Rome；〃 she said； 〃or for Athens； or even for Antioch where you once lived。〃
This was a formidable blood drinker。 She'd plucked this knowledge of me from the deepest of my memories。 I closed my mind。 But I didn't close my heart。
〃My name is Eudoxia；〃 she said。 〃I wish I could say that I bid you wele to Constantinople； but it is my city and I am not altogether pleased that you are here。〃
〃Can we not e to some understanding with you？〃 I asked。 〃We've made a long and arduous journey。 The city is vast。〃
She made some small gesture； and the mortal slaves withdrew。 Only Asphar and Rashid remai
