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nd myself in the midst of a circle。
No torches； no。 I was not in any conceivable danger。
For a long moment I allowed them to look at me； and form whatever conception they desired； and then I spoke：
〃You must tell me what you want to know。 For my part； I tell you plainly that I am a blood drinker。 I have lived for hundreds of years； and I can remember clearly when I was a mortal man。 It was in Imperial
Rome。 You may record this。 I have never separated my soul from that mortal time。 I refuse to do it。〃
For a moment only silence followed； but then Raymond began with the questions。
Yes； we had a 〃beginning；〃 I explained but I could say nothing of it。 Yes； we became much much stronger with time。 Yes； we tended to be lone creatures or to choose our panions very carefully。 Yes； we could make others。 No； we were not instinctively vicious； and we felt a deep love for mortals which was often our spiritual undoing。
There were countless other little questions。 And I answered them all to the best of my ability。 I would say nothing of our vulnerability to the sun or fire。 As for the 〃coven of vampires〃 in Paris and Rome； I knew little。
At last I said：
〃It's time for me to leave now。 I will travel hundreds of miles before dawn。 I lodge in another country。〃
〃But how do you travel？〃 one of them asked。
〃On the wind；〃 I said。 〃It's a gift that has e to me with the passing centuries。〃
I went to Raymond and I took him in my arms again； and then turning to several of the others I bade them e and touch me so that they could see I was a real being。
I stood back； took my knife and cut my hand with it； and held out my hand so that they could see the flesh heal。
There were gasps from them。
〃I must be gone now。 Raymond； my thanks and my love；〃 I said。
〃But wait；〃 said one of the most elderly of the men。 He had been standing back all the while； leaning on a cane； listening to me as intently as all the others。 〃I have one last question for you； Marius。〃
〃Ask me；〃 I said immediately。
〃Do you know anything of our origins？〃
For a moment I was puzzled。 I couldn't quite imagine what he meant in this question。 Then Raymond spoke：
〃Do you know anything about how the Talamasca came to be？ That is what we are asking you。〃
〃No；〃 I said in quiet astonishment。
A silence fell over them all； and I realized quickly that they themselves were confused about how the Talamasca had e about。 And it did e back to me that Raymond had told me something of this when first I met him。
〃I hope you find your answers；〃 I said。
Then off I went into the darkness。
But I didn't stay away。 I did what I had failed to do on my arrival。 I hovered quite close but just beyond their hearing and their vision。 And with my powerful gifts； I listened to them as they roamed their many towers and their many libraries。
How mysterious they were； how dedicated； how studious。
Some night in the far future perhaps I would e to them again； only to learn more of them。 But just now； I had to return to the shrine and to Bianca。
She was still awake when I came into the blessed place。 And I saw that she had lighted the hundred candles。
This was a ceremony that I sometimes failed to do； and I was pleased to see it。
〃And are you happy with your visit to the Talamasca？〃 she asked in her frank voice。 She had that beguiling look of simplicity on her face which always prompted me to tell her everything。
〃I was most pleased。 I found them the honest scholars they professed to be。 I gave them what knowledge I could； but by no means what I might； for that would have been too foolish。 But all they seek is knowledge and I left them more than happy。〃
She narrowed her eyes as if she could not quite imagine what the Talamasca was and I understood her。
I sat down beside her； folded her close and wrapped the fur cloak around us both。
〃You smell of the cold； good wind；〃 she said。 〃Perhaps we are meant to be creatures of the shrine only； creatures of the cold sky and the inhospitable mountains。〃
I said nothing； but in my mind I thought of only one thing： the far…off city of Dresden。 Pandora sooner or later always returned to Dresden。
31
A HUNDRED YEARS would pass before I found Pandora。 During that time my powers increased enormously。 That night after my return from the Talamasca in England； I tested all of them and made certain that； never again would I be at the mercy of Santino's miscreants。 For many nights I left Bianca to herself as I made certain of my advantages。
And once I was utterly sure of my swiftness； of the Fire Gift； and of an immeasurable power to destroy with invisible force； I went to Paris with no other thought but to spy upon Amadeo's coven。
Before I left for this little venture； I confessed my goals to Bianca and she had at once beseeched me not to court such danger。
〃No； let me go；〃 I responded。 〃I could hear his voice now over the miles perhaps if I chose to do it。 But I must be certain of what I hear and what I see。 And I shall tell you something else。 I have no desire to reclaim him。〃
She was saddened by this； but she seemed to understand it。 She kept her usual place in the corner of the shrine； merely nodding to me and exacting the promise from me that I would be most careful。
As soon as I reached Paris； I fed from one of several murderers； luring him by the powerful Spell Gift from his place in a fortable inn； and then I sought refuge in a high bell tower of Notre Dame de Paris itself to listen to the miscreants。
Indeed； it was a huge nest of the most despicable and hateful beings； and they had sought out a catab for their existence in Paris just as they had in ancient Rome centuries ago。
This catab was under the cemetery called Les Innocents； and those words seemed tragically apt when I caught their addle…brained vows and chants before they poured out into the night to bring cruelty as well as death to the people of Paris。
〃All for Satan； all for the Beast； all to serve God； and then return to our penitential existence。〃
It was not difficult for me to find； through many different minds； the location of my Amadeo； and within an hour or so of my arrival in Paris； I had him fixed as he walked through a narrow medieval street； never dreaming that I watched him from above in bitter silence。
He was dressed in rags； his hair caked with filth； and when he found his first victim； he visited upon her a painful death which appalled me。
For an hour or more my eyes followed him as he proceeded on； feeding on another hapless creature； and then circling back to walk his way to the enormous cemetery。
Leaning against the cold stone of the tower room； I heard him deep in his underground cell drawing together his 〃coven〃 as he himself now called it and demanding of each how he or she had harried； for the love of God； the local population。
〃Children of Darkness； it is almost dawn。 Each of you shall now open his or her soul to me。〃
How firm； how clear was his voice。 How certain he was of what he said。 How quick he was to correct any Child of Sata