anner.bloodandgold-第78章
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posure。 Tell him what poison guests have drunk beneath your roof。〃
How calm she was as she answered me。
〃You anger me； Marius。 You e improperly。 You accuse me without authority。 Leave me and e again in the gentle manner in which you have e so many times before。〃
Amadeo was trembling。 〃Please； Master； let us leave here。 We have nothing but love for Bianca。〃
〃Oh； but I would have more of her； rather than love of her；〃 I said to hjm。 〃I would have her blood。〃
〃No； Master；〃 Amadeo whispered。 〃Master； I beg you。〃 〃Yes； for it's evil blood；〃 I said； 〃and it's all the more savoiy to rne。 I would drink the stuff of murderers。 Tell him； Bianca； of wine laced with potions； and lives forfeit for those who have made you the
instrument of their most wicked plans。〃
〃Leave me now；〃 she said again without the slightest fear of me。 Her eyes blazed。 〃Marius de Romanus； you cannot judge me。 Not you with your magician's powers； not you with your boys。 I will say nothing except that you must leave my house。〃
I moved to take her in my arms。 I did not know when I would stop but only that I would reveal the horror of it to him； that he must see it； he must see the suffering； he must see the pain。
〃Master；〃 he whispered； struggling to e between us； 〃I will give up my petitions to you forever； if only you do not harm her。 Do you understand？ Master； I will beg nothing further。 Let her go。〃
I held her； looking down at her； smelling the sweetest perfume of her youth； her hair； her blood。
〃Take her and I die with her； Master；〃 said Amadeo。
It was enough。 It was more than enough。
I moved away from her。 I felt a strange confusion。 The music in the rooms became a noise。 I think I sat upon her bed。 The blood thirst in me was terrible。 I might have slain them all； I thought； looking toward the crowd beyond； and then I believe I said：
〃We are murderers together； you and I； Bianca。〃
I saw that Amadeo was weeping。 He stood with his back to the pany。 His face was glistening with tears。
And she； she the fragrant beauty with her braided blond hair came to sit beside me； so boldly； and to take my hand； my very hand。
〃We are murderers together； my lord；〃 she said； 〃yes； I can speak for myself as you demanded。 But understand that I am given the missions by those who would as easily send me to Hell in the same way。 It is they who mix the potions for the fatal wine。 It is they who mark those who would receive it。 And I know not the reasons。 I know only that if I do not obey； I shall die。〃
〃Then tell me who they are； my exquisite darling；〃 I said。 〃I am hungry for them。 So hungry you can't dream。〃
〃They are my kinsmen； sir；〃 she said。 〃Such has been my heritage。 Such has been my family。 Such have been my guardians here。〃
She had begun to weep but she clung to me； as though rny strength were the only truth for her suddenly and indeed I realized it was。
My threats of moments ago had only bound her to me all the more firmly； and Amadeo drew close； urging me to kill all those who kept her under their power； all those who made her wretched； whatever the ties of blood。
I held her as she bowed her head。 From her mind； so often confusing to me； I read the names as though they were written in plain script。
I knew the men； all Florentines who had e often to call on her。 Tonight they held a feast in a neighboring house。 They were moneylenders； some might have called them bankers； but those they murdered were those from whom they had borrowed and did not wish to repay。
〃You shall be rid of them； my beauty；〃 I said to her。 I touched her lightly with my lips。
She turned to me； and gave me countless and violent small kisses。
〃And what shall I owe for this？ 〃 she asked； even as she kissed me； even as her hands reached to stroke my hair。
〃Only that you say nothing of what you saw in me tonight。〃
She gazed at me with her tranquil oval eyes； and her mind closed up； as though she would never reveal to me her thoughts again。
〃You have my pledge； my lord；〃 she whispered。 〃And so my soul grows ever more heavy。〃
〃No； I shall take the weight from it；〃 I said； as we made to go。
How sad seemed her sudden tears。 I kissed her； tasting them；wishing they were blood and forever forswearing the blood within her。
〃Don't weep for those who have used you；〃 I whispered。 〃Go back to the gaiety and the music。 Leave the dark missions to me。〃
We found the Florentines drunk at their banquet； paying us no heed as we entered without introduction or explanation and took our places at the overladen table。 A noisy band of musicians played。 The floor was slippery witj spilt wine。
Amadeo was eager for it； filled with excitement； attentive to my slow and methodical seduction of each one of them； as I drank the blood lustily； and let the bodies tip forward upon the groaning board。 The musicians fled。
Within an hour I had skin them all； these kinsmen of Bianca； and only for the very last of them； he who had talked the longest with me； quite unawares of what was happening all about him…only for him did Amadeo beg and weep。 Was I to show this one mercy when his heart was as guilty as all the rest？
We sat alone in the ruined supper room； the dead bodies around us； the food cold upon its silver and gold plates and platters； the wine
running from overturned goblets； and for the first time； as Amadeo cried and cried； I saw dread in his eyes。
I looked at my hands。 I had drunk so much blood that they looked human and I knew that were I to look into a mirror； I would see a florid human face。
The heat in me was delicious and unendurable； and I wanted nothing more than to take Amadeo； bring him over to me now； and yet there he sat before me； the tears streaming down his face。
〃They are all gone；〃 I said； 〃those who tormented Bianca。 You e with me。 Let's leave this gory scene。 I would walk with you； before the sun rises； near the sea。〃
He followed me as a child might； the tears staining his face as they ran still from his eyes。
〃Wipe your tears；〃 I said firmly。 〃We're going out into the piazza。 It's almost dawn。〃
He slipped his hand into mine as we went down the stone stairs。
I put my arm around him； sheltering him from the sharp wind。
〃Master；〃 he pleaded； 〃they were evil men； weren't they？ You were certain of it。 You knew it。〃
〃All of them；〃 I answered。 〃But sometimes men and women are both good and evil；〃 I continued； 〃and who am I to choose for my vicious appetite； yet I do。 Is Bianca not both good arid evil？〃
〃Master；〃 he asked； 〃if I drink the blood of those who are evil； will I bee like you？〃
We stood before the closed doors of San Marco。 The wind came mercilessly off the sea。 I drew my cloak about him all the more tightly； and he rested his head against my chest。
〃No； child；〃 I said； 〃there's infinitely more magic in it than that。〃
〃You must give me your blood； isn't that so； Master？〃 he asked as he looked up at me； the tears clear and glistening in the cold air； his hair mussed。
I didn't answer。
〃Master；〃 he said； as I held him close to me； 〃long years ago； or so they seern to me； in some far…away place； where I lived before I came to you； I was what they called a Fool for God。 I don't remember it clearly and never will as both of us well know。
〃But a Fool for God was a man who gave himself over to God pletely and did not care what happened； whether it was mockery； or starvation； or endless laughter； or dreadful cold。 That much I
remember； that I was a Fool for God in those times。〃
〃But you painted pictures； Amadeo； you painted beautiful ikons…。〃
〃But listen to me； Master；〃 he said firmly； forcing me to silence； 〃whatever I did； I was a Fool for God； and now I would be a Fool for you。〃 He paused； snuggling close to me as the wind grew stronger。 The mists moved in over the stones。 There came noises from the ships。
I started to speak but he reached to stop me。 How obdurate and strong he seemed； how seductive； how pletely mine。
〃Master；〃 he went on。 〃Do it when you will。 You have my secrecy。 You have niy patience。 Do it when an
