anner.bloodandgold-第44部分

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nted　or　took　such　an　offering；　I　can't　say。
　　　〃Long　ago　in　Antioch；　I　offered　victims　to　the　Divine　Parents。　I　brought　the　Evil　Doers；　drugged　and　unknowing；　into　the　shrine。　But　neither　the　Mother　or　the　Father　ever　took　this　blood。
　　　
　　　〃I　don't　know　why　the　Mother　drank　from　Eudoxia　except　that　Eudoxia　offered　herself；　and　I　had　prayed　for　a　sign。　It's　finished；　this　matter　of　Eudoxia。　She　is　gone；　with　all　her　beauty　and　her　charm。
　　　〃But　listen　hard　to　what　I　must　tell　you　now。　I'm　leaving　you。　I'm　leaving　this　city；　which　I　detest；　and　I　will　take　the　Mother　and　the　Father　with　me；　of　course。　I'm　leaving　you；　and　I　urge　you　to　remain　together；　as　I'm　sure　you　mean　to　do；　for　your　love　for　one　another　is　the　source　of　your　endurance　and　your　strength。〃
　　　〃But　why　leave　us！〃　demanded　Avicus。　His　expressive　face　was　charged　with　emotion。　〃How　can　you　do　such　a　thing？　We've　been　happy　here；　the　three　of　us；　we've　hunted　together；　we've　found　Evil　Doers　aplenty。　Why　would　you　go　now？〃
　　　〃I　must　be　alone；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　so　before　and　it's　so　now。〃
　　　〃Marius；　this　is　folly；〃　said　Mael。　〃You'll　end　up　in　the　crypt　again　with　the　Divine　Parents；　slumbering　until　you're　too　weak　to　be
　　　　awakened　on　your　own。〃
　　　〃Perhaps；　but　if　such　a　thing　happens；〃　I　said；　〃you　can　be　more　than　certain　that　Those　Who　Must　Be　Kept　will　be　safe。〃
　　　〃I　can't　understand　you；〃　said　Avicus。　He　began　to　weep　again。　He　wept　as　much　for　Eudoxia　as　for　me。
　　　I　didn't　try　to　stop　him。　The　tavern　was　dim　and　overcrowded　and　no　one　took　notice　of　one　being；　albeit　a　splendid　figure　of　a　male　with　a　white　hand　covering　his　face；　drunk　perhaps　over　his　cup　of　wine　for　all　anyone　knew；　weeping　into　it；　and　wiping　at　his　tears。
　　　Mael　looked　dreadfully　sad。
　　　〃I　must　go；〃　I　tried　to　explain。　〃You　must　realize；　both　of　you；　that　the　secret　of　the　Mother　and　the　Father　must　be　kept。　As　long　as　I　remain　with　you；　the　secret　isn't　safe。　Anyone；　even　those　as　weak　as　Eudoxia's　slaves；　Asphar　and　Rashid；　can　pick　it　out　of　your　minds。〃
　　　〃But　how　do　you　know　they　did！〃　Mael　protested。
　　　Oh；　it　was　all　too　sad。　But　I　couldn't　be　deterred。
　　　〃If　I　am　alone；〃　I　said；　〃then　I　alone　possess　the　secret　of　where　the　Divine　Parents　sit　in　state；　or　lie　in　sleep。〃　I　paused；　quite　miserable　and　wishing　that　all　of　this　could　have　been　done　simply；　and　despising　myself　as　much　perhaps　as　I　ever　have。
　　　I　wondered　again　why　I　had　ever　fled　Pandora；　and　it　seemed；　quite　suddenly；　that　I　had　put　an　end　to　Eudoxia　for　the　same　reason…that　these　two　creatures　were　more　surely　linked　in　my　mind　than　I　was　willing　to　admit。
　　　But　no；　that　wasn't　true。　Rather　I　didn't　know　it　for　certain。　What　I　knew　was；　I　was　a　weak　being　as　well　as　a　strong　being　and　I　could　have　loved　Eudoxia；　perhaps　as　much　as　I'd　loved　Pandora；　if　time　had　given　me　the　chance。
　　　〃Stay　with　us；〃　Avicus　said。　〃I　don't　blame　you　for　what　you　did。　You　mustn't　leave　because　you　think　I　do。　I　was　caught　by　her　spell；　yes；　I　admit　it；　but　I　don't　despise　you　for　what　you　did。〃
　　　〃I　know　that；〃　I　said；　taking　his　hand　and　seeking　to　reassure　him。　〃But　I　have　to　be　alone。〃　I　couldn't　console　him。　〃Now　listen　to　me；　both　of　you；〃　I　said。　〃You　know　well　how　to　find　concealment　for　yourself。　You　must　do　it。　I　myself　will　go　to　Eudoxia's　old　house　to　make　the　plans　for　my　departure；　as　I　have　no　other　house　in　which　I　can　work。　You　may　e　with　me　if　you　like　and　see　what　crypts　there　might　be　beneath　the　structure　but　such　is　a　dangerous　thing　to　do。〃
　　　Neither　of　them　wanted　to　go　near　the　house　of　Eudoxia。
　　　〃Very　well　then；　you're　wise；　you　always　have　been。　I'll　leave　you　now　to　your　own　designs。　I　promise　I　won't　leave　Constantinople　for　some　nights。　There　are　things　I　want　to　revisit　again；　among　them　the　great　churches　and　even　the　Imperial　palace。　e　to　me　at　the　house　of　Eudoxia；　or　I'll　find　you。〃
　　　I　kissed　them　both；　as　men　kiss；　roughly；　with　gruff　and　heated　gestures　and　tight　embraces；　and　then　I　was　off　on　my　own　as　I　so　longed　to　be。
　　　Eudoxia's　house　was　utterly　deserted。　But　some　mortal　slave　had　been　there；　for　lamps　were　lighted　in　almost　every　room。
　　　I　searched　these　palatial　chambers　most　carefully　and　found　no　trace　of　any　recent　occupant。　There　were　no　other　blood　drinkers　to　be　discovered。　The　sumptuous　sitting　rooms　and　spacious　library　all　lay　under　a　thin　blanket　of　silence；　the　only　sound　being　the　several　　fountains　in　her　lovely　inner　garden　into　which　the　sun　might　penetrate　by　day。
　　　There　were　crypts　beneath　her　house　with　heavy　bronze　caskets；　and　I　made　a　count　of　these　to　confirm　that　I　had；　indeed；　destroyed　all　her　blood　drinker　slaves。
　　　Then；　without　difficulty　I　found　the　crypt　where　she　had　lain　during
　　　　the　sunlight　hours；　with　all　her　treasure　and　wealth　hidden　there；　and　two　gorgeous　sarcophagi　decorated　thickly　with　gold　and　silver　and　rubies　and　emeralds　and　large；　perfect　pearls。
　　　Why　two？　I　didn't　know；　except　perhaps　that　she　had　had　a　panion　once　who　was　now　gone。
　　　As　I　studied　this　magnificent　chamber；　a　harrowing　pain　gripped　me；　a　harrowing　pain　rather　like　the　grief　I　felt　in　Rome　when　I　realized　that　I　had　utterly　lost　Pandora；　and　that　nothing　could　bring　her　back。　Indeed；　it　was　worse　than　that；　for　Pandora　might　surely　exist　somewhere；　and　Eudoxia　did　not。
　　　I　knelt　beside　one　of　the　sarcophagi　and　I　folded　my　arms　beneath　my　head　and；　wearily；　I　shed　tears　as　I　had　last　night。
　　　For　little　more　than　an　hour　I'd　been　there；　wasting　the　night　away　in　morbid　and　miserable　guilt；　when　suddenly　I　was　aware　of　a　footfall　on　the　stairs。
　　　It　wasn't　a　mortal；　I　knew　that　immediately；　and　I　knew　as　well　that　it　was　no　blood　drinker　whom　I'd　seen　before。
　　　I　didn't　bother　to　move。　Whoever　it　was；　it　wasn't　a　strong　one；　and　in　fact；　the　creature　was　so　weak　and　young　as　to　let　me　hear　its　bare　feet。
　　　Quietly　there　appeared　in　the　torchlight　a　young　girl；　a　girl　perhaps　no　older　than　Eudoxia　when　she'd　been　taken　into　Darkness；　a　girl　with　black　hair　parted　in　the　middle　and　streaming　down　over　her　shoulders；　her　clothes　as　fine　as　those　of　Eudoxia　had　been。
　　　Her　face　was　unblemished；　her　troubled　eyes　gleaming；　her　mouth　red。　She　was　blushing　with　the　human　tissue　which　she　still　possessed。　And　the　painful　seriousness　of　her　expression　gave　a　sharpness　to　all　her　features　and　to　the　strong　line　of　her　full　lips。
　　　Of　course　I　must　have　seen　someone　somewhere　who　was　more　beautiful　than　this　child；　but　I　could　not　think　of　that　one。　I　was　so　humbled；　indeed；　so　astonished　by　this　beauty　that　I　felt　a　pure　fool。
　　　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　terrib