lh.narcissusinchains-第22部分

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ause　their　leader　had　lost　his　nerve。　Without　his　strength　of　will　to　buoy　them；　they　could　not　win。　They　didn't　want　to　be　here。　I　looked　at　each　of　them；　and　in　turn；　they　scented　the　air　as　I　stared　at　them。　Defeat　hung　over　them　like　smoke；　they　had　no　will　to　win。　They　didn't　want　to　be　here。　So　why　were　they　here？　Their　alpha；　their　leader；　was　here；　and　his　will　was　theirs。　So　why　were　they　all　weak；　as　if　something　was　missing　inside　their　group；　something　that　made　them　weak？
　I　realized　with　a　start　that　this　was　what　everyone　had　sensed　from　the　leopards　before　I　came　to　them　。。。　this　smell　of　weakness　and　defeat。　Nathaniel　was　weak。　But　now　my　will　was　his；　and　I　was　not　weak。　I　turned　to　stare　into　his　face；　his　eyes；　and　I　saw　through　all　the　pain；　the　torture；　that　he　was　not　hopeless。　When　I　first　met　him；　Nathaniel　had　had　the　most　hopeless　eyes　I'd　ever　seen。　But　he　knew　I'd　e。　He'd　known　with　an　absolute　certainty　that　I　would　not　leave　him　here　like　this。　Gregory　could　doubt；　because　he　thought　with　that　part　of　him　that　was　human。　But　Nathaniel　trusted　me　with　something　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　logic；　and　everything　to　do　with　truth。
　I　turned　back　to　Coronus。　〃Run　away　from　this；　Coronus；　or　some　of　you　won't　see　dawn。〃
　He　sighed　heavily。　〃So　be　it。〃　And　then　he　did　what　he　shouldn't　have　done。　Something　that　had　no　logic　to　it；　from　a　nonhuman　point　of　view。　He　was　going　to　lose；　and　he　knew　it。　Yet　he　did　a　very　human　thing。　He　attacked　us　anyway。　Only　humans　waste　energy　like　that　when　they've　been　given　an　out。
　The　two　snakes　guarding　Coronus　suddenly　launched　themselves　at　me；　and　I　was　too　close。　I'd　been　so　sure　with　my　new　werewolf　senses　that　they　wouldn't　fight　us。　I'd　been　careless。　I'd　forgotten　that　in　the　end　we're　only　half　animal。　And　that　human　half　will　fuck　you　every　time。
　They　came　in　a　blur　of　speed　too　fast　for　me　to　do　anything　but　start　for　the　other　boot　knife。　I　knew　I'd　never　reach　it。　Gregory　leaped　in　a　butter…colored　streak；　taking　one　snake　out　in　midair；　rolling　on　the　floor。　But　the　other　one　was　on　me；　claws　slashing　down　before　I　hit　the　ground　with　it　riding　me。　I　was　already　going　numb；　it　didn't　hurt。　The　claws　ripped　at　my　stomach；　diving　through　the　cloth　of　my　shirt　to　the　flesh　underneath。　I　felt　it　digging　for　my　heart。　I　raised　my　right　hand　to　try　and　grab　the　wrist；　but　it　felt　like　I　was　moving　in　slow　motion。　My　hand　seemed　to　weigh　a　thousand　pounds；　and　distantly　I　knew　I　was　hurt；　badly　hurt。　Something　bad　had　happened　in　that　first　blur　of　claws。
　Gregory　was　suddenly　there；　pale　fur　caught　between　the　multicolored　snakes。　He　fell　on　top　of　me；　with　one　of　the　things　on　top　of　him　ripping　him　up。　He　never　tried　to　defend　himself；　he　clawed　at　the　one　riding　me；　tore　it　away　from　me；　and　the　three　of　them　fought　on　top　of　me。　There　was　a　moment　when　Gregory's　eyes　and　that　snarling　mouth　were　inches　from　mine。　We　were　pressed　as　close　as　lovers；　and　I　knew　that　the　claws　in　me　were　his。　He'd　fallen　against　me；　been　pushed　into　my　flesh。　Then　other　hands　were　pulling　us　all　apart。　I　had　a　glimpse　of　Jamil's　face；　saw　his　lips　move；　but　there　was　no　sound。　Then　blackness　swirled　over　my　vision　and　ate　everything　but　a　dim；　dim　spot　of　light。　Then　even　that　vanished；　and　there　was　nothing　but　the　dark。
　
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　I　DREAMED　I　was　running；　being　chased　through　the　woods　at　night。　I　could　hear　them　ing　closer；　closer；　and　I　knew　that　what　chased　me　wasn't　human。　Then　I　fell　to　the　ground　and　I　was　running　on　four　feet。　I　chased　the　pale　thing　that　fled　before　me。　The　soft　thing　that　had　no　claws；　no　teeth；　and　smelled　wonderfully　of　fear。　It　fell；　and　its　scream　was　shrill；　it　hurt　my　ears；　and　excited　me。　My　fangs　sank　into　flesh　and　did　not　stop　until　they　tore　meat。　Blood　poured　scalding　hot　down　my　throat；　and　the　dream　faded。
　I　was　in　Narcissus's　bedroom　on　the　black　bed。　Jean…Claude　was　tied；　standing　between　the　posts　at　the　end　of　the　bed。　His　chest　was　bare；　covered　in　claw　marks；　blood　running　down　his　skin。　I　crawled　across　the　bed　towards　him；　and　I　wasn't　afraid；　because　all　I　could　smell　was　the　sweet　copper　scent　of　blood。　He　stared　at　me　with　eyes　gone　solid；　drowning　blue。　〃Kiss　me；　ma　petite。〃
　I　rose　on　my　knees；　my　mouth　hovering　over　his　lips。　He　moved　towards　me；　but　I　stayed　out　of　reach　of　those　kissable　lips。　I　moved　my　mouth　lower；　until　it　was　just　above　his　chest　and　the　fresh　wounds　that　decorated　his　skin。　〃Yes；　ma　petite；　yes；〃　he　sighed。
　I　pressed　my　mouth　to　his　chest　and　drank。　I　woke；　eyes　staring；　heart　thudding。　It　was　Richard　above　me。　He　still　had　the　leather　collar　on。　I　tried　to　raise　my　arms；　to　hold　him；　but　my　left　arm　was　taped　to　a　board。　There　was　an　I。V。　in　my　arm。　I　looked　at　the　darkened　room　and　knew　I　wasn't　in　a　hospital。　I　raised　my　right　arm　to　touch　his　face；　but　it　was　heavy；　too　heavy　to　lift。　Darkness　spilled　over　my　eyes　like　warm　water　rushing　in；　as　my　fingertips　brushed　his　skin。
　I　heard　his　voice。　〃Rest；　Anita；　rest。〃　I　think　he　kissed　me；　gentry；　then　there　was　nothing。
　I　was　wading　in　water　to　my　waist；　clear；　icy　water。　I　knew　I　had　to　get　out　of　the　water　or　I'd　die；　the　cold　would　steal　me　away。　I　could　see　the　shore；　dead　trees；　and　snow。　I　ran　for　those　distant　trees；　struggling　in　the　icy　water。　Then　my　feet　went　out　from　under　me；　and　I　fell　into　a　deep　hole。　The　water　closed　over　my　face；　and　the　shock　of　the　cold　hit　me　like　a　giant　fist。　I　couldn't　move；　couldn't　breathe。　The　light　faded　through　the　clear；　shining　water。　I　began　to　drift　down；　down　into　the　cold　dark　water。　I　should　have　been　scared；　I　wasn't。　I　was　so　tired；　so　tired。
　Pale　hands　reached　for　me；　ing　from　the　light。　The　sleeve　of　the　white　shirt　billowed　around　his　arm；　and　I　moved　my　hand　towards　him。　Jean…Claude's　hand　wrapped　around　mine；　and　he　pulled　me　towards　the　light。
　I　was　back　in　the　dark　room；　but　my　skin　was　wet；　and　I　was　cold；　so　cold。　Jean…Claude　was　cradling　me　in　his　lap。　He　was　still　wearing　the　vinyl　outfit。　Then　I　remembered　the　fight。　I'd　been　hurt。　Jean…Claude　leaned　over　and　kissed　my　forehead；　laying　his　face　against　mine。　His　skin　was　as　cold　as　I　felt　　like　ice　pressed　against　me。　The　shivering　was　worse；　my　body　danced　in　small　involuntary　movements。
　〃Cold；〃　I　said。
　〃I　know；　ma　petite；　we　are　both　cold。〃
　I　frowned　at　him；　because　I　didn't　understand。　He　was　looking　at　someone　else　in　the　room。　〃I　have　brought　her　back；　but　I　cannot　give　her　the　warmth　she　needs　to　survive。〃
　I　managed　to　turn　my　head　enough　to　look　around　the　room。　Richard　was　standing　there　with　Jamil　and　Shang…Da　and　Gregory。　Richard　came　to　the　bed；　his　hand　touched　my　face。　It　was　hot　against　my　skin。　It　was　too　much；　and　I　tried　to　move　away　from　his　hand。
　〃Anita；　can　you　hear　me？〃
　My　teeth　were　chattering　so　hard；　I　could　hardly　get　it　out；　but　finally　I　said；　〃Yes。〃
　〃You've　got　a　high　fever；　a　very　high　fever。　They　put　you　in　a　shallow　ice　bath　to　bring　it　down。　But　your　body　reacted　like　a　shapeshifter's。　The　low　temperature　while　so　much　damage　was　healing　almost　killed　you。〃
　I　frowned　at　him　and　finally　managed　to　say；　〃Don't　understand。〃　The　involuntary　jerks　were　getting　stronger；　strong　enough　that　it　hurt　the　wounds。　I　was　waking　up　enough　to　feel　how　very　hurt　I　was。　Things　hurt　that　I　didn't　remember　getting　injured。　My　muscles　ached。
　〃You　need　the　high　temperature　to　heal；　just　like　we　do。〃
　I　didn't　understand　who　the　〃we〃　was。　〃Who　。。。　〃　and　a　spasm　shook　my　body；　tore　a　scream　from　my　mouth。　My　body　fell　into　convulsions　and　pain　smashed　through　me。　If　I　could　have　breathed；　I'd　have　screamed　more。　My　vision　began　to　disappear　in　large　gray　patches。
　〃Get　the　doctor！〃　Richard's　voice。
　〃You　know　what　must　be　done；　mon　ami。〃
　〃If　this　works；　then　I've　lost　her。〃
　My　vision　cleared　for　a　few　seconds。　Richard　was　stripping　out　of　the　tight　pants。　It　was　the　last　thing　I　saw　before　the　gray　swept　up　over　my　eyes　and　sucked　me　down。
　
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　I　THOUGHT　I　dreamed；　but　I　wasn't　sure。　There　were　faces　in　the　dark；　some　of　them　I　knew；　some　of　them　I　didn't。　Cherry　with　her　short　blond　hair；　her　face　free　of　makeup；　making　her　look　years　younger　than　either　of　us　were。　Gregory　touching　my　face。　Jamil　resting　beside　me；　curled　like　a　dark　dream。　I　drifted　in　and　out；　from　face　to　face；　body　to　body；　because　I　could　feel　their　bodies　pressed　against　mine。　Naked　skin　against　naked　skin。　It　wasn't　sexual；　or　not　overtly　so。　I　woke；　if　I　woke；　enough　to　know　it　was　Richard's　arms　wrapped　around　me；　my　body　fitting　like　a　spoon　against　his；　his　thick　hair　spilled　across　my　eyes。　I　slept；　knowing　I　was　safe。
　I　woke　slowly；　in　a　cocoon　of　body　heat　and　that　prickling　rush　of　lycanthrope　energy。　I　tried　to　roll　over　and　found　the　press　of　flesh　kept　me　pinned　on　my　side。　I　opened　my　eyes。　The　room　was　dark；　with　a　small　light　near　the　wall　like　a　child's　night…light。　My　night　vision　was　good　enough　to　be　able　to　see　color　by　it。　A　man　I　didn't　know　was　curled　against　the　front　of　my　body。　His　face　was　pressed　into　my　shoulder　just　above　my　breasts；　his　breath　hot　against　my　skin。　Normally；　it　would　have　been　my　cue　to　panic　and　run　for　the　hills；　but