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〃Why is this？〃 I asked protectively。 But at once my panions let me know that they wanted to go too。 〃How many are you？〃 I asked the boys。
〃Eudoxia will answer your questions；〃 said the boy who had given me the scroll。 〃Please do e with us without further conversation。 Eudoxia has been hearing of you for some time。〃
We were escorted a long way through the streets； until finally we came to a quarter of the city even richer than that in which we lived； and to a house much larger even than our own。 It had the usual harsh stone facade； enclosing no doubt an inner garden and rich rooms。
During this time； the boy blood drinkers cloaked their thoughts very well； but I was able to divine； perhaps because they wanted me to do； that their names were Asphar and Rashid。
We were admitted to the house by another pair of mortal slaves who guided us into a large chamber pletely decorated with gold。
Torches burned all about us； and in the center of the room； on a gilded couch with purple silk pillows there reclined a gorgeous blood drinker woman； with thick black curls not unlike those of the boys who had e to us； though she wore them long and fretted with pearls； her damask robe and under dress of silk as fine as anything I'd seen in Constantinople so far。
Her face was small； oval； and as close to perfection as anything I've ever beheld； even though she bore no resemblance to Pandora who was for me perfection itself。
Her eyes were round and extremely large。 Her lips were perfectly rouged； and there came a perfume from her that was no doubt made by a Persian magician to drive us out of our wits。
There were numerous chairs and couches scattered about on the mosaic floor where rampant Grecian goddesses and gods were as tastefully represented as they might have been some five hundred years before。 I saw similar images on the walls surrounding us； though the slightly crude but ornate columns seemed of later design。
As for the vampire woman's skin it was perfectly white； and so totally without a touch of humanity that it sent a chill through me。 But her expression； which manifested itself almost entirely by a smile； was cordial and curious in the extreme。
Still leaning on her elbow； her arm covered in bracelets； she looked up at me。
〃Marius；〃 she said in cultured and perfect Latin； her voice as lovely as her face； 〃you read my walls and floor as though they were a book。〃
〃Forgive me；〃 I said。 〃But when a room is so exquisitely decorated； it seems the polite thing to do。〃
〃And you long for old Rome；〃 she said； 〃or for Athens； or even for Antioch where you once lived。〃
This was a formidable blood drinker。 She'd plucked this knowledge of me from the deepest of my memories。 I closed my mind。 But I didn't close my heart。
〃My name is Eudoxia；〃 she said。 〃I wish I could say that I bid you wele to Constantinople； but it is my city and I am not altogether pleased that you are here。〃
〃Can we not e to some understanding with you？〃 I asked。 〃We've made a long and arduous journey。 The city is vast。〃
She made some small gesture； and the mortal slaves withdrew。 Only Asphar and Rashid remained； as if waiting for her mand。
I tried to tell if there were other blood drinkers in this house； but I couldn't do this without her knowing I was doing it； and so my attempt was rather weak。
〃Sit down； all of you； please；〃 she said。 And at that invitation； the two beautiful boys； Asphar and Rashid； made to bring the couches in closer so that we might gather in a natural way。
At once I asked if I might have a chair。 And Avicus and Mael in an uncertain whisper echoed the same request。 It was done。 We were seated。
〃An old Roman；〃 she said with a sudden luminous smile。 〃You disdain
a couch； and would have a chair。〃
I laughed a small courteous laugh。
But then something quite invisible yet strong caused me to cast a glance at Avicus and to see that he was staring at this splendid female blood drinker as though Cupid had just sent an arrow right into his heart。
As for Mael； he glared at her as he had glared at me in Rome many centuries before。
〃Don't worry about your friends；〃 said Eudoxia suddenly； startling me pletely。 〃They're loyal to you and will follow you in whatever you say。 It's you and I who must talk now。 Understand that though this city is immense and there is blood enough for many； rogue blood drinkers e here often and must be driven away。〃
〃Are we rogues？ 〃 I asked gently。
I couldn't help but study her features； her rounded chin with its single
dimple； and her small cheeks。 She appeared as young in mortal years as the two boys。 As for her eyes they were jet black； with such a fringe of lashes that one might suspect there was Egyptian paint on her face when in fact there was none。
This observation put me suddenly in mind of Akasha； and I felt a panic as I tried to clear my mind。 What had I done bringing Those Who Must Be Kept here？ I should have stayed in the ruins of Rome。 But again； I could not think on this matter now。
I looked directly at Eudoxia； a bit dazzled by the countless jewels of her robe； and the vision of her sparkling fingernails； far brighter than any I'd ever beheld except those of Akasha； and I gathered my strength again and tried to penetrate her mind。
She smiled sweetly at me； and then she said； 〃Marius； I am far too old in the Blood for what you mean to do； but I will tell you anything you want to know。〃
〃May I call you by the name you've given us？〃 I asked。
〃That was my intent；〃 she replied； 〃in giving you the name。 But let me tell you； I expect honesty from you； otherwise； I will not tolerate you in my realm。〃
I suddenly felt a wave of anger emanating from Mael。 I threw a warning glance to him； and once again I saw that totally entranced expression on the face of Avicus。
I realized suddenly that Avicus had probably never beheld such a blood drinker as this。 The young women blood drinkers among the worshipers of Satan were deliberately dirty and disheveled； and here； reclining on her magnificent couch lay a woman who looked like the Empress who reigned over Byzantium。
Indeed； perhaps this was how this creature perceived herself。
She smiled as though all these thoughts were transparent to her； and then with a little movement of her hand she told the two blood drinker boys； Asphar and Rashid； to withdraw。
Then her eyes passed very calmly and slowly over my two panions as though she were drawing from them every single coherent thought which had ever passed through their minds。
I continued my study of her； of the pearls in her hair； and the ropes of pearls about her neck； and the jewels that adorned her naked toes as well as her hands。
At last； she looked to me； and a smile spread itself once more on her features； brightening her entire countenance。
〃If I grant you permission to stay…and I am not at all sure that I mean to do it…you must show me loyalty when others e to break the peace that we share。 You must never side with them against me。 You must keep Constantinople only for us。〃
〃And just what will you do if we