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I came close to him； and I spoke in a whisper。
〃Let me give you a gift； Raymond。 Now pay attention to me。 I will not kill you。 I will not harm you。 I want only to show you the teeth and the Blood； and if you will allow…and mark； I ask for your permission…I shall give you a drop of the Blood on your tongue；〃
I opened my mouth so that the fang teeth were visible to him and I felt his body stiffen。 He uttered a desperate prayer in Latin。
Then I cut my tongue with my teeth as I had done a hundred times with Amadeo。
〃Do you want this blood？〃 I asked。
He closed his eyes。
〃I will not make this decision for you； scholar。 Will you take this lesson？〃
〃Yes！〃 he whispered when in fact his mind said No。
I clamped his mouth in an ardent kiss。 The blood passed into him； and violently； he convulsed。
As I let him go； he could scarcely stand。 But he was no coward； this man。 And he bowed his head for only an instant and then he looked at me with clouded eyes。
He was enchanted for these small moments； and patiently； I let them pass。
〃My thanks to you； Raymond；〃 I said。 I prepared to take my leave through the window。 〃Write to me with all you know of Pandora； and if you cannot I will understand。〃
〃Don't ever see an enemy in us； Marius；〃 he said quickly。
〃Don't fear it；〃 I said。 〃I never really forget anything that happens。 I will always remember that you spoke to me of her。〃
And then I was gone。
I came back to my bedroom study； where Amadeo still slept as though wine had drugged him when it had only been mortal blood。
For a little while I wrote in my diary。 I tried to describe sensibly the conversation which had just taken place。 I tried to describe the Talamasca from all that Raymond Gallant had revealed to me。
But at last I gave in to writing the name Pandora over and over； foolishly； Pandora； and then I put my head down on my folded arms and dreamt of her； and whispered to her in my dreams。
Pandora in the northern countries； what countries； what could this mean？
Oh； if I were to find her Asian panion； how I would deal with him； how quickly and brutally would I free her from such oppression。 Pandora！ How could you let such a thing happen？ And no sooner had I asked such a question than I realized I was quarreling with her as I had done so often of old。
When it came time to leave the house that night to find our resting place。 I discovered Bianca asleep in my studio on a long silken couch。
''Oh； but you're too lovely；〃 I said to her； kissing her hair tenderly and squeezing her beautifully curved arm。
〃I adore you；〃 she whispered； then went on with her dreaming… my fine and wonderful girl。
On we went to the golden room in which our coffins awaited us。 I helped Amadeo lift the lid of his coffin before I lifted my own。
Amadeo was tired。 The dancing had wearied him。 But he whispered something sleepily to me。
〃What is it？ 〃I said。
〃When the time es； you will do it； you will give Bianca the Blood。〃
〃No；〃 I said； 〃stop speaking of that； you're infuriating me。〃
He laughed his cold unpassionate little laugh。 〃I know you will。 You love her too much to see her begin to wither。〃
I told him No。
And then I went to my rest； never dreaming that it was the last night of our life together； the last night of my supreme power； the last night of Marius de Romanus； citizen of Venice； painter and magician； the last night of my Perfect Time。
24
ON THE FOLLOWING NIGHT I rose as was my custom and waited the hour or so for Amadeo to open his eyes。 Being young he did not follow the sunset so quickly as I did； and the time of rising differs among blood drinkers even when age is not a question at all。
I sat in the gold…lined chamber； deep in my thoughts about the scholar named Raymond Gallant； and wondered if he had left Venice as I had advised him to do。 What danger could he bring to me； I thought； even if he meant to do it； for whom would he Incite against me and on what charge？
I was far too strong to be overe or imprisoned。 Such a thing was preposterous。 The very worst that could happen was that if this man marked me as some sort of dangerous alchemist； or even a demon； I should have to take Amadeo and go。
But I did not like these thoughts； and so I chose during these quiet moments to believe in Raymond Gallant； to be fond of him and to trust in him； and to let my mind search the city around me to see if I might find a trace of his presence； which would displease me in the extreme。
I had only started this search when something utterly ghastly blotted put my reason。
I heard screams ing from my own house。 And I heard the cry of blood drinkers！ I heard the cry of Satan worshipers…the chant of condemnations…and in my mind's eye I saw my rooms filled with spreading fire。
I beheld Bianca's face in the minds of others。 I heard the cries of my boys。
Quickly I threw off the cover of Amadeo's coffin。
〃e； Amadeo； I need you；〃 I cried in this frantic； foolish moment。 〃They're burning the house。 Bianca is in danger。 e。〃
〃Who is it； Master；〃 he said； flying up the steps beside me。 〃Is it Those Who Must Be Kept？〃
〃No； Amadeo；〃 I said； taking him under my arm and flying to the roof of the palazzo； 〃It's a band of demon…worshiping blood drinkers。 They're weak。 They will burn by their own torches！ We must save Bianca。 We must save the boys。〃
As soon as I reached the house； I realized that they were attacking it in unimaginable numbers。 Santino had realized his crazed dreams。 In every room there was a zealous assailant putting to the torch whatever he could。
The entire house was filled with fire。
As I rushed to the top of the main stairs I saw Bianca far below me； surrounded by the black…cloaked demons； who tormented her with torches as she screamed。 Vincenzo lay dead before the open front doors。
I could hear the shouts of the gondoliers pleading with those inside to e out。
I dropped to the bottom of the stairway； and with the Fire Gift burnt Bianca's young and blundering attackers； who all but tripped on their black robes as they went up in flames。 Some I could only force away with physical blows because I had no time to direct my powerful gifts。
Quickly I carried Bianca through the thick smoke and out onto the quais。 I heaved her into the arms of a boatman who at once moved to take her away。
As soon as I turned back to save the screaming boys； a host of black…clad monsters surrounded me and again I burnt them with the Fire Gift； battering at their torches clumsily as I did。
The house was everywhere in chaos。 Statues fell over the railings。 Tapestries were set ablaze and paintings smoldered； but the boys； what could I do to protect the boys？
As soon as I burnt one ring of monsters there came another； and from all sides the condemnations：
〃Heretic； blasphemer； Marius； the idolater； Marius； the pagan。 Santino condemns you to burn。〃
Again and again I knocked the torches aside。 Again and again I burnt the intruders。 Again and again I heard their dying cries。
The smoke blinded me as