lh.narcissusinchains-第94部分

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rough　the　day。　I　huddled　my　weapons　around　me　like　fort　objects。　If　I'd　been　alone　in　the　house；　or　if　it　had　just　been　Nathaniel；　I　would　have　carried　Sigmund；　my　stuffed　toy　penguin；　around　with　me。　That　was　how　bad　a　day　it　was。
　I　did　have　a　moment　when　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　myself　in　the　mirror　in　my　bedroom　where　I　stopped　and　had　to　smile。　I　looked　like　I　was　dressed　in　casual　assassin　chic。　I'd　teased　some　of　my　friends　who　were　assassins　or　bounty　hunters　about　assassin　chic；　but　sometimes　you　gotta　go　with　the　stereotypes。　Besides；　I　look　great　in　black。　The　black…on…black　look　made　my　skin　look　almost　translucent；　like　it　should　have　glowed。　My　eyes　were　swimmingly　dark。　I　looked　almost　ethereal；　like　a　wingless　angel　on　a　bad　day。　Alright；　maybe　a　fallen　angel；　but　the　effect　was　still　striking。　I'd　learned　long　ago　that　if　you're　feeling　unloved　by　the　man　in　your　life；　the　best　revenge　is　to　look　good。　If　I'd　really　wanted　to　follow　the　strategy　pletely；　I'd　have　put　on　makeup；　but　screw　that。　I　was　still　on　vacation。　I　didn't　wear　makeup　on　vacation。
　There　was　a　crowd　in　the　kitchen。　The　order　for　everyone　to　wear　clothes　had　been　taken　to　heart。　Cherry　had　on　cutoff　jean　shorts　and　a　white　men's　shirt　with　the　sleeves　torn　off；　so　that　little　bits　of　thread　decorated　the　arm　holes。　She'd　tied　the　ends　of　the　shirt　so　her　stomach　showed　as　she　moved　around　the　kitchen。　Zane's　gaze　followed　her　wherever　she　moved。　I　wasn't　sure　how　Cherry　felt　about　him；　but　Zane　was　beginning　to　act　like　a　man　in　love；　or　at　least　very　serious　lust。　He　sat　at　the　table　wearing　the　leather　pants　he'd　taken　off　last　night；　ignoring　his　coffee　and　watching　Cherry。
　Caleb　leaned　against　the　counter　in　his　jeans；　with　the　top　button　unbuttoned　so　that　his　belly…button　ring　showed。　He　sipped　coffee　and　watched　Zane　watch　Cherry　with　an　odd　look　on　his　face。　I　couldn't　decipher　it；　but　I　didn't　like　it；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　think　how　to　cause　trouble　between　them。　Caleb　struck　me　as　one　of　those　who　liked　to　cause　trouble。
　Nathaniel　was　sitting　at　the　table；　his　long　hair　in　a　braid　down　his　back；　chest　bare；　but　I　knew　without　checking　that　he'd　have　something　on。　He　knew　me　well　enough　to　know　I　liked　my　houseguests　clothed。
　Igor　and　Claudia　stood　when　I　came　into　the　room。　His　tattoos　were　even　more　striking　in　the　full　light　of　day。　They　graced　his　arms；　what　I　could　see　of　his　chest　through　the　white　tank　top；　and　the　sides　of　his　neck；　like　liquid　jewels；　brilliant；　eye…catching。　Even　from　a　distance　they　were　beautiful　against　his　pale　skin。　I　wasn't　much　into　tattoos　but　I　couldn't　picture　Igor　without　them　　the　look　just　worked　for　him。　He'd　put　on　the　shoulder　rig；　and　it　still　looked　like　it　should　chaff　with　the　tank　top；　but；　hey；　it　wasn't　my　skin。　The　Glock　sat　under　his　arm；　a　black　spot　on　all　that　pretty　color；　like　an　imperfection　on　a　Picasso。
　Claudia　looked　positively　ordinary　beside　him　　if　a　woman　that　was　so　damn　close　to　seven　feet　and　muscled　better　than　most　men　could　look　ordinary。　The　gun　at　the　small　of　her　back　wasn't　nearly　as　noticeable　as　Igor's。　Her　black　hair　was　still　pulled　back　in　a　tight　ponytail；　leaving　her　face　clean　and　empty；　and　that　included　her　eyes。　Claudia　had　cop　eyes；　or　bad…guy　eyes；　the　eyes　of　someone　who　doesn't　let　you　see　what's　inside。　I　didn't　meet　many　women　with　eyes　like　that；　outside　of　the　police。　If　her　face　had　been　a　little　softer；　she'd　have　been　beautiful。　But　there　was　something　in　the　set　of　her　jaw；　the　way　she　held　that　full　mouth　that　said；　back　off；　no　touching。　It　robbed　her　of　something　that　would　have　changed　everything　about　her。
　The　two　of　them　came　to　take　up　posts　to　either　side　and　a　little　behind　me。　I　would　have　protested；　but　I'd　discovered　last　night　that　it　didn't　do　much　good。　They　took　orders　from　Rafael；　not　me。　He'd　said；　〃Keep　her　safe；〃　and　that　was　what　they　were　going　to　do。　I　was　too　。。。　whatever　the　hell　I　was　to　waste　energy　on　telling　them　to　back　off。　They　could　follow　me　around　if　it　made　them　feel　better。　This　afternoon　I　just　didn't　care。
　Merle　was　standing　in　the　corner　of　the　cabinets；　near　enough　to　the　coffeemaker　that　Igor　crowded　him　while　I　poured　my　coffee。　I　didn't　know　who　had　made　a　fresh　pot；　and　I　didn't　care；　just　the　sight　and　smell　of　it　made　me　feel　better。
　Merle　was　wearing　the　cowboy　boots；　jeans；　and　jean　jacket　over　bare　chest　that　he'd　had　on　last　night。　He　was　sipping　coffee　out　of　one　of　the　few　plain　mugs　I　owned。　The　scar　on　his　chest　was　very　white；　ragged；　pitted　in　one　spot　as　if　that　had　been　the　deepest　part　of　the　wound。　It　did　look　like　lightning　carved　into　his　chest　and　stomach。　I　wanted　to　ask　what　had　happened；　but　there　was　a　look　to　his　eyes　as　he　watched　the　kitchen　that　said　he　probably　wouldn't　tell　me；　and　he'd　definitely　see　it　as　intrusive。　None　of　my　business　anyway。
　The　only　chairs　open　at　the　table　gave　their　backs　to　the　bay　window　and　the　sliding　glass　door。　I　hated　sitting　with　my　back　to　a　window　or　a　door　　especially　a　door。　Nathaniel　touched　Zane's　arm。　He　glanced　back　at　me　then　got　up；　coffee　cup　and　all；　and　went　around　to　the　chair　that　backed　the　door。　Cherry　sat　beside　him；　though　her　chair　had　been　Claudia's；　and　it　was　turned　so　that　she　had　the　view　of　both　doors。　Cherry　moved　the　chair　closer　to　Zane；　giving　her　back　to　all　that　glass。
　There'd　been　a　time　when　I　wasn't　this　careful；　especially　at　home；　but　today　was　going　to　be　one　of　my　paranoid　days。　Insecurity　had　that　effect　on　me；　even　emotional　insecurity。
　Claudia　sat　beside　me。　Igor　leaned　against　the　island　behind　me；　keeping　an　eye　on　Merle；　I　think。　They　didn't　seem　to　like　each　other。
　I　took　the　first　sip　of　coffee；　hot；　black；　and　let　the　warmth　fill　me　for　a　few　seconds；　before　I　asked；　〃Where's　Gregory？〃
　〃Stephen　and　Vivian　took　him　back　to　their　apartment；〃　Cherry　said。
　〃But　he's　alright？〃　I　asked。
　She　nodded；　smiling　that　smile　that　made　her　look　years　younger　than　we　both　were。　〃He's　healed；　Anita。　You　healed　him。〃
　〃I　called　his　beast；　I　didn't　heal　him。〃
　She　shrugged。　〃Same　difference。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃No；　I　couldn't　heal　him　last　night。〃
　She　frowned；　and　even　that　was　pretty。　She　was　buzzed　today；　shining　with　it。　I　glanced　at　Zane；　who　was　still　gazing　at　her。　Maybe　it　was　love　for　both　of　them。　Something　had　certainly　put　a　twinkle　in　her　eye。
　〃For　heaven's　sake；　Anita；　you　saved　him；　does　it　really　matter　how　you　did　it？〃
　It　was　my　turn　to　shrug。　〃I　just　don't　like　the　fact　that　Raina's　munin　seems　to　be　interfering　more　and　more　when　I　try　to　heal。〃
　The　doorbell　rang；　and　I　jumped　like　I'd　been　shot。　Nervous　　who　me？
　〃I　ordered　take…out；〃　Nathaniel　said。
　I　looked　at　him。　〃Please　tell　me　it's　Chinese。〃
　He　nodded；　smiling；　I　think　at　my　pleased　expression。　We'd　discovered　that　though　no　Chinese　restaurant　would　ordinarily　deliver　out　this　far；　that　for　a　sizable　tip；　and　I　mean　sizable；　they'd　make　an　exception　for　us。　Nathaniel　got　up；　but　Caleb　pushed　away　from　the　door。　〃I'll　get　it。　I　don't　seem　to　be　much　use　for　anything　else。〃　He　set　his　mug　on　the　island　and　threaded　his　way　between　us　to　vanish　into　the　living　room。
　〃What's　his　problem　today？〃　I　asked。
　Igor　answered；　〃He　tried　to　get　friendly　with　Claudia。〃
　〃And　me；〃　Cherry　said。
　I　looked　from　Cherry's　smiling　face　to　Claudia's　frown。　〃And　he's　not　bleeding　or　bruised？〃
　〃It　wasn't　necessary　to　hurt　him；〃　Claudia　said；　〃only　to　be　very；　very　clear。〃　The　tone　in　her　voice　and　the　look　in　her　eyes　made　my　own　eyes　go　cold。　I　don't　know　if　I'd　ever　met　a　woman　that　had　that　effect　on　me。　It　made　me　feel　sexist　to　say　that　it　was　more　unnerving　because　she　was　a　woman；　but　it　was　still　true。
　Her　nostrils　flared；　and　I　watched　all　of　them　sniff　the　air。　Everyone　moved　at　once；　scattering　around　the　room。　Claudia　stood；　grabbed　my　arm　　my　gun　arm　　and　pulled　me　back　towards　the　far　side　of　the　kitchen　and　the　wall。　She　already　had　her　gun　out　in　her　right　hand。　I　jerked　my　gun　arm　free　as　Igor　moved　with　her　and　they　stood　in　front　of　me；　blocking　my　view。　Igor　had　his　gun　out；　too。　I　was　about　to　ask　what　the　hell　was　going　on；　when　I　smelled　it。　The　acrid；　musty　scent　of　snakes。
　I　had　the　Browning　out　and　pointed　at　the　door；　sighted　two…handed　when　the　first　snake　man　came　through　the　kitchen　doorway　with　Caleb　in　front　of　him；　a　sawed…off　shotgun　pressed　into　the　angle　of　his　jaw。　〃Anyone　moves；　and　he　dies。〃
　
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　EVERYONE　FROZE；　AS　if　we'd　all　taken　a　collective　breath　and　held　it。　〃No　one　has　to　die　here；〃　the　snake　man　said。　He　looked　at　me　with　a　huge　copper…colored　eye。　The　strong　black　stripe　that　edged　the　eyes　looked　like　dramatic　makeup。　There　were　no　scars　on　this　one's　face。　He　was　shorter　and　seemed　younger。　His　scaled　face　almost　managed　a　smile；　but　the　jaw　of　a　snake　is　just　not　made　for　smiling。　His　eyes　were　as　empty　and　alien　as　the　rest　of　him。　〃Our　boss　just　wants　to　talk　to　Ms。　Blake；　that's　all。〃
　〃Have　him　pick　up　the　damn　phone　and　make　an　appointment；〃　I　said。　I　was　staring　down　the　barrel　of　the　Browning　at　a　point　near　the　center　of　his　chest；　far　enough　up　from　Caleb's　head　that　I　wasn't　worried　about　shooting　him