anner.bloodandgold-第80章
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Long ago； I'd been taken prisoner； just as he had！ Was that not why I had chosen him？…that thieves had taken him from his life as I'd been taken from mine？
And so I'd thought that I would give him this great gift which was eternity！ Was he not worthy in all things？ Yes； he was young； but how would it harm him to be forever beautiful with the countenance of a young man？
He was not Botticelli。 He was not a man of immense talent and fame。
He was a boy dying here whom few would remember except for me。
〃How could they have said it？〃 he whispered； 〃that it was not my time？〃
〃They sent you back to me！〃 I gasped。 I couldn't bear this。 〃Amadeo；
did you believe these priests whom you saw？ Did you believe in the glass city； tell me。〃
He smiled。 And it was never innocent； no matter how beautiful； his smile；
〃Don't weep for me； Master；〃 he answered。 He struggled to rise a little from the pillow； his eyes very wide。 〃 When the ikon fell； my fate was made； Master。〃
〃No； Amadeo； I don't believe it；〃 I said； But there was no more time。
〃Go to them； child； call to them！〃 I said。 〃Tell them to take you now。〃
〃No； Master。 They may be insubstantial things；〃 he said。 〃They may be dreams of the feverish mind。 They may be phantoms wrapped in the garments of memory。 But I know what you are； Master。 I want the Blood。 I've tasted it； Master。 I want to stay with you。 And if you refuse me； then let me die with Bianca！ Send back my mortal nurse to me； Master； for she forts me far better than you in your coldness。 I would die with her alone。〃
He fell back exhausted on the pillow
Desperately； I cut my tongue and filled my mouth with blood。 I gave it to him… But the poison was moving too fast。
He smiled as the blood warmed him and a film of tears covered his eyes。
〃Beautiful Marius；〃 he said； as if he were far older than I would ever be。 〃Beautiful Marius who gave me Venice。 Beautiful Marius； give me the Blood。〃
We had no more time。 I was weeping miserably。
〃Would you truly have the Blood； Amadeo？〃 I asked。 〃Say it to me； that you forsake the light of the sun forever； and forever you will thrive on the blood of the Evil Doer as I thrive。〃
〃I vow it； I will it；〃 he answered。
〃You'll live forever； unchanging？〃 I asked； 〃feeding upon mortals who can be your brothers and sisters no more？〃
〃Yes； forever unchanging；〃 he answered； 〃among them； though they are my brothers and sisters no more。〃
Once again； I gave him the Blood Kiss。 And then I lifted him and carried him to the bath。
I stripped off his thick and soiled velvet clothes。 And into the warm water I placed him； and there with the blood from my mouth I sealed all the cuts in the flesh made by Lord Harlech。 I shaved off for all time any beard that he might have。
Now he was ready for the magic as one who had been prepared for sacrifice。 And his heart beat slowly and his eyes were too heavy to open anymore。
And in a simple long silk shirt I clothed him and carried him out of the room。
The others were waiting anxiously。 What lies I told them I do not know。 How mad I was in these moments。 To Bianca I gave some solemn charge that she must fort and thank the others； and that Arnadeo's life was safe in my hands。
〃Leave us now； my beauty；〃 I said to her。 Even as I held him； I kissed her。 〃Trust in me； and I shall see that you never e to harm。〃
I could see that she believed in me。 All fear was gone from her。
Within moments Amadeo and I were alone。
Then into my grandest painted salon I took him。 It was the room into which I'd copied Gozzoli's magnificent painting The Procession of the Magi； stolen from the original in Florence as a test of my memory and skill。
Into this intense color and variation； I plunged him； setting him down on his feet on the cold marble； and then giving him through the Blood Kiss； the greatest draught of blood which I had given so far。
With the Fire Gift I lighted the candelabra up one side of the chamber and down the other。 The painting was bathed in light。
〃You can stand now； my blessed pupil；〃 I told him。 〃My blood runs through you after the poison。 We have begun。〃
He trembled； fearing to let go of me； his head hanging heavily； his luxuriant hair soft against my hands。
〃Amadeo；〃 I said； kissing him once again as the blood flowed over my lips and into his mouth； 〃what was your name in that lost land？〃 Again I filled my mouth with blood and I gave it to him。 〃Reach back for the past； child； and make it part of the future。〃
His eyes opened wide。
I stepped away from him。 I left him standing。 I let loose my red
velvet cloak and pushed it away from me。
〃e to me；〃 I said。 I held out my arms。
He took the first steps； unsure of himself； so full of my blood that surely the light itself must have amazed him； but his eyes were moving over the multitude of figures painted on the wall。 Then he looked directly at me。
How knowing； how clever was his expression！ HOW full of triumph he seemed suddenly in his silence and patience。 How utterly damned。
〃e； Amadeo； e and take it from me；〃 I said； my eyes full of tears。 〃You are the victor。 Take what I have to give。〃
He was in my arms instantly； and I held him warmly； whispering close to his ear。
〃Don't be afraid； child； not even for a moment。 You'll die now to live forever； as I take your blood and give it back to you。 I won't let you s）。ip away。〃
I sank my teeth into his throat and tasted the poison in his blood as soon as it flowed into me； my body destroying the poison； my body consuming his blood effortlessly； as it might have consumed a dozen such young ones； and into my mind there c^rne the visions of his childhood…of the Russian monastery where he had painted his
flawless ikons； of the cold chambers in which he'd lived。
I saw monks half walled up alive as they fasted； eating only what would sustain them。 I smelled the earth。 I smelled decay。 Oh； how ghastly was this passage to salvation。 And he had been part of it； half in
love with the sacrificial cells and their starving inhabitants； save for his gift： that he could paint。
Then for one instant I saw nothing but his paintings； one image tumbling upon another； rapt faces of Christ； the Virgin…I saw the halos studded with costly jewels。 Ah； such riches in the dark； cheerless monastery。 And then came the rich bawdy laughter of his father； wanting him to leave the monastery； to ride out with him into the grasslands where the Tatars rode。
Prince Michael； their ruler； wanted to send Amacleo's father into the grasslands。 It was a foolish mission。 The monks railed against it； that Amadeo's father would take him into such danger。 The monks wrapped the ikon and gave it to Amadeo。 Out of the darkness and
bitter earth of the monastery； Amadeo came into the light。
I stopped； I drew back from the blood and the visions。 I knew him。 I knew the relentless and hopeless darkness inside of him。 I knew the life that had been forecast in hunger and bitter discipline。
I cut the flesh of my throat and I held his head near me。 〃Drink；〃 I said。 I pushed his head forward。 〃Put your mouth to the wound。 Drink。〃
At last； he obeyed me； and suddenly with all his force he drew on the blood。 Had he not tasted it enough to crave it？ And now it came without measure； and he was passionate for it； and I closed my eyes； and felt an exquisite sweetness that I had not known since the long ago night when I had given my blood to my blessed Zenobia to make her all the more strong。
〃Be my child； Amadeo；〃 I whispered in this sweetness。 〃Be my child forever；〃 I said。 〃Have I ever loved anyone more than you？〃
I drew him back away from the wound； and as he cried out I sank my teeth into his throat again。 This time it was my blood mingled with his that flowed into me。 The poison was no more。
Again； I saw the ikons。 I saw the dim corridors of the monastery； and then in the falling snow； I saw the two on their horses； Amadeo and his father。 Amadeo held the ikon； and the priest ran beside him； telling him that he must place the ikon in a tree； that
