anner.bloodandgold-第94章
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A silence fell between us。 There was no sound except the crackling of the torch in its sconce high on the wall。
Again I tried to read her mind； but I could not。 It was not only my weakness。 It was a resolute quality in her just now。 For though she loved me； there were thoughts conflicting in her； and a wall had been thrown up to keep me from knowing what they were。
〃Bianca；〃 I said in a low voice； 〃you saw the transformation in Amadeo； but did you really understand？〃
〃I did； my lord；〃 she said。
〃You can guess the source of his strength forever after that night？〃
〃I know it； my lord；〃 she answered。
〃I don't believe you；〃 I said gently。 〃You dream when you say you know。〃
〃Oh； but I do know； Marius； As I have only just reminded you； I recall only too well how you came into my very bedchamber thirsting for my blood。〃
She reached out to touch the sides of my face in consolation。 I put up my gloved hand to stop her。
〃I knew then；〃 she said； 〃that you fed upon the dead somehow。 That you took their souls； or perhaps only their blood。 I knew then it was one or the other； and the musicians who fled that banquet at which you'd slain my kinsmen…they spoke of your giving my unfortunate cousins a kiss of death。〃
I gave a low soft laugh。
〃How veiy careless I was； and believed myself to be so masterly。 What a strange thing。 And no wonder is it that I have fallen so far。〃
I took again a deep breath； feeling the pain all through me； and the thirst unbearably。 Had I ever been that powerful creature who so dazzled many that he could slaughter a gathering of mortals and no one would dare accuse save in whispers？ Had I ever。 。 。 ？ But there was too much to remember； and for how long would I remember before even the smallest part of my power was restored？
But she was staring at me with brilliant inquisitive eyes。
Then came from my lips the truth which I could no longer hide。
〃It was the blood of the living； beautiful girl； always the blood of the living；〃 I said desperately。 〃It is the blood of the living and only the blood of the living and must be the blood of the living； do you understand？ It's how I exist and always have existed since I was taken out of mortal life by malicious and disciplined hands。〃
She made a small frown as she stared at me； but she did not look away。 Then she nodded as if to tell me that I might go on。
〃e close to me； Bianca；〃 I whispered。 〃Believe me when I tell you that I existed when Venice was nothing。 When Florence had not risen； I was alive。 And I cannot linger long here suffering。 I must find blood to restore me。 I must have it。 I must have it as soon as I can。〃
Again she nodded。 She stared at me as firmly as before。 She was shivering； and she brought up out of her clothes a linen handkerchief and wiped at her tears。
What could these words mean to her？ They must have sounded like old poetry。 HOW could I expect her to grasp what I had said？
Her eyes never wavered。
〃The Evil Doer；〃 she confessed suddenly。 〃My lord； Amadeo told me；〃 she whispered。 〃I cannot play the game any longer that I don't know。 You feed upon the Evil Doer。 Don't be angry。 Amadeo confided his secret a long time ago。〃
I was angry。 Instantly and pletely； I was angry； but what did it matter？ Hadn't this dreadful catastrophe swept everything in its path？
So Amadeo had confided the secret to our beauteous Bianca after all his tears and promises to me！ So I had been the fool for confiding in a mere child。 So I had been the fool to let Santino live！ What did it matter now？
She had grown still and was staring at me yet； her eyes full of the fire of the torch； her lower lip trembling； and a sigh ing out of her as though she was about to cry again。
〃I can bring the Evil Doer here to this chamber；〃 she said； her face quickening。 〃I can bring the Evil Doer down these very steps。〃
〃And suppose such a being should overpower you before you have reached this place；〃 I said in a low voice； 〃how then should I establish any justice or revenge？ No； you cannot take such a risk。〃
〃But I will do it。 Rely upon me。〃 Her eyes grew brighter and it seemed she looked about； as though absorbing the beauty of the walls。 〃H＇ow long have I kept your secret？ I don't know； only that nothing could pry it from me。 And no matter what others suspected never did I betray you with one word。〃
〃My precious； my darling；〃 I whispered。 〃You will not take such risks for me。 Let rne think now； let me use whatever powers of mind still remain to me。 Let us sit here in quiet。〃
She seemed perturbed and then her face hardened。
〃Give me the Blood； my lord；〃 she said suddenly； her voice low and quick。 〃Give it to me。 Make me what you made Amadeo。 Make me a blood drinker； and then I will have the strength to bring the Evil Doer to you。 You know it is the way。〃
I was pletely caught off guard。
I cannot say that in my burnt soul I had not thought of this very action…I had thought of it immediately when I had heard her weeping…but to hear it e from her own lips； and with such spirit； that was more than I had ever expected； and I knew as I had known from the beginning that it was the perfect plan。
But I must think on this！ Not only for her sake； but for my own。 Once the magic had worked in her…assuming that I had the strength to give it…how then would we； two weak blood drinkers； hunt the city of Venice for the blood we needed and then make the long journey North？
As a mortal she might have brought me to the Alpine pass of Those Who Must Be Kept by means of a wagon and armed guards； whom I might have left in the small hours to visit the chapel alone。
As a blood drinker； she would have to sleep by day with me； and therefore we would both be at the mercy of those who transported the sarcophagi。
In my pain； I could not imagine it。
I could not take all the steps necessary。 Indeed； it seemed suddenly that I could think of nothing； and shaking my head； I tried to prevent her from embracing me； from frightening herself all the more by embracing me and feeling the stiff dried creature that I had bee。
〃Give me the Blood；〃 she said again with urgency。 〃You have the strength to do it； don't you； my lord？ And； then I shall bring here all the victims you require！ I saw the change in Amadeo afterwards。 He didn't have to show me。 I will be that strong； will I not？ Answer me； Marius。 Or tell me； tell me how else I may cure you； or heal you； or bring you fort in this suffering that I see。〃
I could say nothing。 I was trembling with desire for her； with anger at her youth … at the conspiracy of her and Amadeo against me that he had told her … arid consumed with desire for her here and now。
Never had she seemed more alive； more purely human； more utterly natural in her rosy beauty … a thing not to be despoiled。
She settled back as if she knew that she had pushed me a little too hard。 Her voice came softer； yet still insistent。
〃Tell me again the story of your years；〃 she said； her eyes blazing。 〃Tell me again of how it was that Venice did not exist or Florence either when you were already Marius； tell me this story once more。〃
I went for her。
She couldn't have escaped。
In fact I think that she tried to escape。 Surely she screamed。
No one outside heard her。 I had her too quickly for that； and we were too deep in the golden room。
Pushing the mask a。side and covering her eyes with my left hand； I sank my teeth into her throat； and her blood came into me in a rush。 Her heart pounded faster and faster。 And just before it made to stop I drew back from her； shaking her violently and crying out against her ear
〃Bianca； wake！〃
At once I slashed my tight dried wrist until I saw the seam of blood and this I forced across her open mouth against her tongue。
I heard her hiss and then she clamped her mouth； only to moan hungrily。 I drew back the burnt unyielding flesh and cut it open once again for her。
Oh； it was not enough for her…I was too burnt； too weak…and all the while her blood went on a rampage through me； forcing its way into the collapsed and burnt cells that
