anner.bloodandgold-第90章
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〃I adore you；〃 she whispered； then went on with her dreaming… my fine and wonderful girl。
On we went to the golden room in which our coffins awaited us。 I helped Amadeo lift the lid of his coffin before I lifted my own。
Amadeo was tired。 The dancing had wearied him。 But he whispered something sleepily to me。
〃What is it？ 〃I said。
〃When the time es； you will do it； you will give Bianca the Blood。〃
〃No；〃 I said； 〃stop speaking of that； you're infuriating me。〃
He laughed his cold unpassionate little laugh。 〃I know you will。 You love her too much to see her begin to wither。〃
I told him No。
And then I went to my rest； never dreaming that it was the last night of our life together； the last night of my supreme power； the last night of Marius de Romanus； citizen of Venice； painter and magician； the last night of my Perfect Time。
24
ON THE FOLLOWING NIGHT I rose as was my custom and waited the hour or so for Amadeo to open his eyes。 Being young he did not follow the sunset so quickly as I did； and the time of rising differs among blood drinkers even when age is not a question at all。
I sat in the gold…lined chamber； deep in my thoughts about the scholar named Raymond Gallant； and wondered if he had left Venice as I had advised him to do。 What danger could he bring to me； I thought； even if he meant to do it； for whom would he Incite against me and on what charge？
I was far too strong to be overe or imprisoned。 Such a thing was preposterous。 The very worst that could happen was that if this man marked me as some sort of dangerous alchemist； or even a demon； I should have to take Amadeo and go。
But I did not like these thoughts； and so I chose during these quiet moments to believe in Raymond Gallant； to be fond of him and to trust in him； and to let my mind search the city around me to see if I might find a trace of his presence； which would displease rne in the extreme。
I had only started this search when something utterly ghastly blotted
put my reason。
I heard screams ing from my own house。 And I heard the cry of blood drinkers！ I heard the cry of Satan worshipers…the chant of condemnations…and in my mind's eye I saw rny rooms filled with spreading fire。
I beheld Bianca's face in the minds of others。 I heard the cries of my boys。
Quickly I threw off the cover of Amadeo's coffin。
〃e； Amadeo； I need you；〃 I cried in this frantic； foolish moment。 〃They're burning the house。 Bianca is in danger。 e。〃
〃Who is it； Master；〃 he said； flying up the steps beside me。 〃Is it Those Who Must Be Kept？〃
〃No； Amadeo；〃 I said； taking him under my arm and flying to the roof of the palazzo； 〃It's a band of demon…worshiping blood drinkers。 They're weak。 They will burn by their own torches！ We must save Bianca。 We must save the boys。〃
As soon as I reached the house； I realized that they were attacking it in unimaginable numbers。 Santino had realized his crazed dreams。 In every room there was a zealous assailant putting to the torch whatever he could。
The entire house was filled with fire。
As I rushed to the top of the main stairs I saw Bianca far below me； surrounded by the black…cloaked demons； who tormented her with torches as she screamed。 Vincenzo lay dead before the open front doors。
I could hear the shouts of the gondoliers pleading with those inside to e out。
I dropped to the bottom of the stairway； and with the Fire Gift burnt Bianca's young and blundering attackers； who all but tripped on their black robes as they went up in flames。 Some I could only force away with physical blows because I had no time to direct my powerful gifts。
Quickly I carried Bianca through the thick smoke and out onto the quais。 I heaved her into the arms of a boatman who at once moved to take her away。
As soon as I turned back to save the screaming boys； a host of black…clad monsters surrounded me and again I burnt them with the Fire Gift； battering at their torches clumsily as I did。
The house was everywhere in chaos。 Statues fell over the railings。 Tapestries were set ablaze and paintings smoldered； but the boys； what could I do to protect the boys？
As soon as I burnt one ring of monsters there came another； and from all sides the condemnations：
〃Heretic； blasphemer； Marius； the idolater； Marius； the pagan。 Santino condemns you to burn。〃
Again and again I knocked the torches aside。 Again and again I burnt the intruders。 Again and again I heard their dying cries。
The smoke blinded me as it might have a mortal。 The boys were roaring in panic as they were carried out of the house and over the rooftops。
〃Amadeo！〃 I called out。
From above； I heard him desperately call to me。
I ascended； yet at every landing they accosted me and I found myself whipping around and playing the same game of force and Fire Gift as rapidly as I could。
〃Amadeo； use your strength；〃 I called out to him。 I could not see him。 〃Use the gifts I've givei》 you。〃 I could only hear his cries。
I set ablaze those who crowded close to me。 I could see nothing but the creatures burning； and then more torches thrust towards me as I hurled them back。
〃Do you want to burn！〃 I declared； seeking to threaten them but no lesson of power stopped them。
In their fervor they came on。
〃Santino sends you his holy fire。 Santino sends you his justice。 Santino claims your pupils。 Santino claims your fledglings。 Now it is time for you to burn。〃
AH of a sudden and indeed； it was all of sudden…there did e the fatal circle of some seven or eight of them swift enough to plunge the fire at me so that it caught all of my garments and my hair。
Against my body itself this fire burnt； swallowing my head and all of my limbs。
For one slight moment I thought I shall survive this； this is nothing； I am Marius； the Immortal One； and then there came to me in a fury the horrid memory of the blood of the Elder in Egypt set afire by a lamp； burning with lurid smoke on the floor of rny room。
There came a memory of the blood of Euxodia in Constantinople； bursting into flame on the floor of the shrine。
There came the memory of the Druid god in the grove with his black burnt skin。
And I knew in the next instant； without memory or thought； that my blood had been fatally ignited…that no matter how strong my skin or my bone； or my will； I was now burning； burning with such pain and such speed that nothing could keep me from being destroyed。
〃Marius；〃 Amadeo cried out in terror。 〃Marius。〃 I heard his voice like a bell。
I cannot say reason drove me in any direction。
I did know I had reached the rooftop； and the cries of Amadeo and the boys were moving far off。
〃Marius；〃 cried Amadeo one more time。
I was blind to all who still tormented me。 I was blind to the sky。 In my ears； I heard the old God of the Grove on the night of my making telling me that I was immortal； that I could only be destroyed by the sun or by fire。
For life； I reached with all my remaining power。 And in this state； I willed myself to reach the proper railing of the roof garden and to plummet down into the canal。
〃Yes； down； down； into the water； under the water；〃 I said aloud； forcing myself to hear the words； and then through the fetid waters I swam as fast as I could； clinging to the bottom； cooled and soothed and saved by the filthy water； leaving behind the burning palazzo from which my children had been stolen； in which my paintings had been destroyed。
An hour； perhaps longer； I remained in the canal。
The fire in my veins had been quenched almost immediately； but the raw pain was almost unendurable； and when at last I rose it was to seek that gold…lined chamber where my coffin lay。
I was unable to walk to this room。
Fearfully； on hands and knees； I sought the back entrance of the house； and managed by means of both the Mind Gift and my fingers to unlatch the door。
Then moving slowly through the many chambers I came at last to the heavy barrier which I had made to my tomb。 For how long I struggled with it I do not know； only that it was the Mind Gift which finally
