anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第50章

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　　　Nevertheless　I　knew　in　an　instant　that　this　girl　had　been　the　blood　drinker　lover　of　Eudoxia；　that　this　girl　had　been　chosen　because　she　was　inparably　beautiful；　as　well　as　extremely　well　educated　and　clever；　and　that　before　Eudoxia's　summoning　of　us；　she　had　closeted　this　girl　away。
　　　The　other　sarcophagus　in　this　chamber　belonged　to　this　young　one。　This　one　had　been　deeply　loved。
　　　Yes；　all　that　was　logical　and　evident　and　I　didn't　have　to　speak　for　the　moment。　I　had　only　to　gaze　at　this　radiant　child　who　stood　in　the　door　of　the　crypt；　the　torch　blazing　above　her；　her　tormented　eyes　on　me。
　　　Finally　in　a　hushed　whisper　she　spoke。
　　　〃You've　killed　her；　haven't　you？〃　she　said。　She　was　fearless；　either　out　of　simple　youth　or　remarkable　bravery。　〃You've　destroyed　her。　She's　gone。〃
　　　I　rose　to　my　feet　as　if　a　queen　had　ordered　me　to　do　it。　Her　eyes　took　my　measure。　And　then　her　face　became　pletely　and　utterly　sad。
　　　It　seemed　she　would　fall　to　the　floor。　I　caught　her　just　before　it　happened；　and　then　I　lifted　her；　and　carried　her　slowly　up　the　marble　stairs。
　　　She　let　her　head　fall　against　my　chest。　She　gave　a　deep　sigh。
　　　I　brought　her　into　the　ornate　bedchamber　of　the　house　and　laid　her　down　on　the　huge　bed。　She　wouldn't　remain　on　the　pillow　however。　She　wanted　to　sit　there　and　I　sat　beside　her。
　　　I　expected　her　to　question　me；　to　bee　violent；　to　turn　her　hatred　on　me；　though　she　had　hardly　any　strength。　She　couldn't　have　been　made　ten　years　ago。　And　if　she'd　been　fourteen　when　it　happened；　I　would　have　been　surprised。
　　　〃Where　were　you　hiding？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃In　an　old　house；〃　she　said　softly。　〃A　deserted　place。　She　insisted　I　stay　there。　She　said　she　would　send　for　me。〃
　　　〃When？　〃I　asked。
　　　〃When　she　had　finished　with　you；　when　you　were　destroyed　or　driven　away。〃　She　looked　up　at　me。
　　　She　was　no　more　than　an　exquisite　baby　of　a　woman！　I　wanted　so　to　kiss　her　cheeks。　But　her　sorrow　was　terrible。
　　　〃She　said　it　would　be　a　battle；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　were　one　of　the　strongest　who　had　ever　e　here。　The　others　had　been　simple。　But　with　you；　she　wasn't　sure　of　the　oute；　and　so　she　had　to　hide　me　away。〃
　　　I　nodded。　I　didn't　dare　to　touch　her。　But　I　felt　nothing　but　a　desire　to　protect　her；　to　enfold　her　in　my　arms；　to　tell　her　that　if　she　meant　to　pound　her　fists　on　my　chest　and　curse　me　she　should　do　it；　that　if　she　meant　to　weep　she　might　do　that　as　well。
　　　〃Why　don't　you　speak？〃　she　asked　me；　her　eyes　full　of　hurt　and　wonder。　〃Why　are　you　so　quiet？〃
　　　I　shook　my　head。　〃What　can　I　say？〃　I　asked。　〃It　was　a　terrible　quarrel。
　　　　I　didn't　want　it。　I　thought　that　we　could　all　exist　here　in　peace。〃
　　　At　this　she　smiled。　〃She　would　never　have　allowed　that；〃　she　said　to　me　quickly。　〃If　you　knew　how　many　she's　destroyed　。。。　but　then　I　don't　know　myself。〃
　　　
　　　
　　　This　was　a　small　fort　to　my　conscience；　but　I　didn't　seize　upon　it。　I　let　it　go。
　　　〃She　said　that　this　city　belonged　to　her；　and　that　it　took　the　power　of　an　empress　to　protect　it。　She　took　me　from　the　palace；　where　I　was　a　slave。　She　brought　me　here　by　night　and　I　was　so　frightened。　But　then　I　came　to　love　her。　She　was　so　certain　that　I　would。　She　told　such　stories　of　her　wanderings。　And　then　when　others　came；　she　would　hide　me；　and　she　would　go　against　them　until　the　city　was　hers　again。〃
　　　I　nodded；　listening　to　all　this；　sad　for　her　and　the　drowsy　sorrowful　manner　in　which　she　spoke。　It　was　no　more　than　I'd　supposed。
　　　〃How　will　you　exist　if　I　leave　you　here？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃I　can't！〃　she　answered。　She　looked　into　my　eyes。　〃You　can't　leave　me。　You　must　take　care　of　me。　I　beg　you。　I　don't　know　what　it　means　to　exist　alone。〃
　　　I　cursed　under　my　breath。　She　heard　it；　and　I　saw　the　pain　in　her　expression。
　　　I　stood　up　and　walked　about　the　room。　I　looked　back　at　her；　this　baby　woman；　with　her　tender　mouth　and　her　long　loose　black　hair。
　　　〃What's　your　name？〃　I　asked　her。
　　　〃Zenobia；〃　she　replied。　〃Why　can't　you　read　it　from　my　mind？　She　could　always　read　my　thoughts。〃
　　　〃I　could　do　it；〃　I　said；　〃if　I　wanted　to　do　it。　But　I　would　rather　talk　to　you。　Your　beauty　confuses　me。　I　would　rather　hear　your　voice。　Who　made　you　a　vampire？〃
　　　〃One　of　her　slaves；〃　she　said。　〃The　one　named　Asphar。　He's　gone　too；　isn't　he？〃　she　asked。　〃They're　all　gone。　I　saw　the　ashes。〃　She　gestured　vaguely　to　the　other　rooms。　She　murmured　a　string　of　names。
　　　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃they're　all　dead。〃
　　　〃You　would　have　slain　me　too　if　I'd　been　here；〃　she　said；　with　the　same　wondering　and　hurt…filled　expression。
　　　〃Perhaps；〃　I　said。　〃But　it's　over　now。　It　was　a　battle。　And　when　a　battle　is　finished；　everything　changes。　Who　else　has　been　hidden　away？〃
　　　〃No　one；〃　she　answered　truthfully；　〃only　me；　with　one　mortal　slave；　and　when　I　woke　tonight；　he　was　gone。〃
　　　I　must　have　looked　very　dejected　for　surely　I　felt　that　way。
　　　She　turned　and　with　the　slowness　of　a　dazed　person；　reached　under　the　heavy　pillows　at　the　head　of　the　bed；　and　withdrew　a　dagger。
　　　Then　she　rose　and　made　her　way　to　me。　She　held　up　the　dagger　with　two　hands；　the　tip　pointed　at　my　chest。　She　stared　before　her；　but　not　into　my　eyes。　Her　long　wavy　black　hair　fell　down　around　her　on　both　sides　of　her　face。
　　　〃I　should　take　vengeance；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃but　you　will　only　stop　me　if　I　try。〃
　　　〃Don't　try　it；〃　I　said　in　the　same　calm　voice　I　had　used　for　her　all　along。　I　pushed　the　dagger　away　gently。　And　putting　my　arm　around　her；　I　led　her　back　to　the　bed。
　　　〃Why　didn't　she　give　you　the　Blood？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Her　blood　was　too　strong　for　us。　She　told　us　so。　All　her　blood　drinker　slaves　were　stolen　or　made　one　by　another　under　her　direction。　She　said　that　her　blood　was　not　to　be　shared。　It　would　e　with　strength　and　silence。　Make　a　blood　drinker　and　you　cannot　ever　hear　his　thoughts　afterwards。　That's　what　she　told　us。　So　Asphar　made　me　and　I　was　deaf　to　Asphar　and　Asphar　was　deaf　to　me。　She　must　keep　us　all　in　obedience　and　that　she　could　not　do　if　we　were　made　from　her　powerful　blood。〃
　　　It　pained　me　now　that　Eudoxia　was　the　teacher；　and　Eudoxia　was　dead。
　　　This　one　was　studying　me；　and　then　she　asked　in　the　simplest　voice：
　　　〃Why　don't　you　want　me？　What　can　I　do　to　make　you　want　me？〃　She　went　on　speaking　tenderly。　〃You're　very　beautiful；〃　she　said；　〃with　your　light　yellow　hair。　You　look　like　a　god；　really；　tall　as　you　are　and　with　your　blue　eyes。　Even　she　thought　you　were　beautiful。　She　told　me　you　were。　I　was　never　allowed　to　see　you。　But　she　told　me　that　you　were　like　the　North　men。　She　described　you　as　you　walked　about　in　your　red　robes…。〃
　　　〃Don't　say　any　more；　please；〃　I　said。　〃You　don't　have　to　flatter　me。　It　won't　matter。　I　can't　take　you　with　me。〃
　　　〃Why？〃　she　asked。　〃Because　I　know　about　the　Mother　and　the　Father？〃
　　　I　was　shocked。
　　　I　should　read　her　thoughts；　all　her　thoughts；　ransack　her　soul　for　everything　she　knew；　I　thought；　but　I　didn't　want　to　do　it。　I　didn't　want　that　feeling　of　intimacy　with　her。　Her　beauty　was　too　much；　there　was　no　denying　it。
　　　Unlike　my　paragon；　Pandora；　this　lovely　creature　had　the　promise　of　a　virgin…that　one　could　make　of　her　what　one　wanted　while　losing　nothing…and　I　believed　that　promise　to　contain　a　lie。
　　　
　　　I　answered　her　in　a　warm　whisper　trying　not　to　hurt　her。
　　　〃That's　precisely　the　reason　I　can't　take　you；　that；　and　because　I　must　be　alone。〃
　　　She　bowed　her　head。　〃What　am　I　to　do？〃　she　asked。　〃Tell　me。　Men　will　e　here；　mortal　men；〃　she　said；　〃wanting　the　taxes　on　this　house　or　some　other　triviality　and　I　shall　be　discovered　and　called　a　witch　or　a　heretic　and　dragged　into　the　streets。　Or　during　the　day　they　will　e　and　find　me　sleeping　like　the　dead　beneath　the　floor；　and　lift　me；　hoping　to　revive　me；　into　the　certain　death　of　the　sun's　light。〃
　　　〃Stop；　I　know　it　all；〃　I　said。　〃Don't　you　see；　I'm　trying　to　reason！　Leave　me　alone　for　now。〃
　　　〃If　I　leave　you　alone；〃　she　said；　〃I'll　start　weeping　or　screaming　in　my　grief；　and　you　won't　be　able　to　bear　it。　You'll　desert　me。〃
　　　〃No；　I　won't；〃　I　said。　〃Be　quiet。〃
　　　I　paced　the　floor；　my　heart　aching　for　her；　and　my　soul　hurting　for　myself　that　this　had　fallen　to　me。　It　seemed　a　terrible　justice　f