按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃There must be some way；〃 I pleaded。
〃There will e a night； surely；〃 she said； 〃when it is time for Arjun to part from me。 The same may happen with you and your Bianca。 But this is not the time。 And so I beg you； let go of me； Marius； say farewell to me； and promise me that you will eternally persevere and I shall give you the same promise。〃
〃This is your vengeance； isn't it？〃 I asked quietly。 〃You were my child and within two hundred years I left you。 And so you tell me now that you won't do the same to him…。〃
〃No； my beautiful Marius； it isn't vengeance； it is only the truth。 Now； leave me。〃 She smiled bitterly。 〃Oh； what a gift to me this night has been； that I have seen you alive； that I know the Roman blood drinker Santino was wrong。 This night will carry me through centuries。〃
〃It will carry you away from me；〃 I said； nodding。
But then her lips caught me by surprise。 It was she who kissed me ardently； and then I felt her tiny sharp teeth pierce my throat。
I stood rigid； eyes closed； letting her drink； feeling the inevitable pull on my heart； my head suddenly full of visions of the dark forest through which she and her panion so often rode and I couldn't know whether these were her visions or mine。
On and on she drank； as though she was starving； and deliberately I created for her the luscious garden of my most cherished dreams； and in it I envisioned the two of us together。 My body was nothing but desire for her。 Through every sinew I felt the pull of her drinking and I gave no resistance。 I was her victim。 I held to no caution。
It seemed I was not standing any longer。 I must have fallen。 I didn't care。 Then I felt her hands on my arms； and I knew I was on my feet。
She drew back； and with blurred eyes I saw her gazing at me。 All of her hair had spilled down on her shoulders。
〃Such strong blood；〃 she whispered。 〃My Child of the Millennia。〃
It was the first time I had heard such a name for those of us who have lived so long and I was faintly charmed by it。
I was groggy； so strong had she been； but what did it matter？ I would have given her anything。 I steadied myself。 I tried to clear my vision。
She was far away across the room。
〃What did you see in the blood？〃 I whispered。
〃Your pure love；〃 she answered。
〃Was there any doubt？〃 I asked。 I was growing stronger by the moment。 Her face was radiant with the blood flush and her eyes were fierce as they had always been when we quarreled。
〃No； no doubt；〃 she said。 〃But you must leave me now。〃
I said nothing。
〃Go on； Marius。 If you don't； I can't bear it。〃
I stared at her as if I were staring at a wild thing of the wood； and so she seemed to be； this creature whom I had loved with all my heart。
And once again； I knew it to be finished。
I left the room。
In the grand hallway of the house； I stood stunned； and there Arjun was standing in the corner； staring at me。
〃I am so sorry； Marius；〃 he said； as if he meant it。
I looked at him； wondering if anything could work me into a rage to destroy him。 Were I to do that； she would have to stay with me。 And oh； how the thought of it blazed in my mind。 Yet I knew she would utterly and pletely hate me for it。 And I would hate myself。 For what did I have against this creature who wasn't her vile master as I'd always supposed； but her child！…a fledgling vampire of some five hundred years or less； young in the Blood and full of love for her。
I was far far from such a possibility。 And what a sublime being he was as he surely read these thoughts in my desperate and unveiled mind and yet stood his ground with such poise； merely looking at me。
〃Why must we part！〃 I whispered。
He shrugged。 He gestured eloquently with his hands。
〃I don't know；〃 he said； 〃except she wants it so。 It is she who wants ever to be on the move； it is she who draws designs upon the map。 It is she who draws the circles in which we travel； now and then making Dresden the center of our roamings； now and then choosing some other city； such as Paris or Rome。 It is she who says we must go on and on。 It is she。 And what can I say； Marius； except that it delights me。〃
I went towards him and for one moment he thought I meant to harm him and he stiffened。
I took his wrist before he could move。 I studied him。 What a noble being he was； his grand white wig in sharp contrast to his lustrous brown skin； his black eyes staring at me with such earnestness and seeming prehension。
〃Stay with me here；〃 I said。 〃Both of you。 Remain with me。 Stay with me and my panion； Bianca。〃
He smiled and shook his head。 There was no contempt in his eyes。 We were male to male and there was no contempt。 He told me only No。
〃She will not have it；〃 he said； his voice very placating and calm。 〃I know her。 I know all her ways。 She brought me to herself because I worshiped her。 And once having her blood I have never ceased in that worship。〃
I stood there； clutching his wrist still； and staring about me as if I were ready to cry out to the gods。 And it seemed my cry would break the very walls of this house if I let it loose。
〃How can this be！〃 I whispered。 〃That I should find her and know her only for one night； one precious night of quarreling。〃
〃You and she are equals；〃 he said。 〃I am but an instrument。〃
I closed my eyes。
Quite suddenly I could hear her weeping； and when this sound came to my ears； Arjun gently freed himself from me and said in his soft gentle voice that he must go to her。
I walked slowly out of the hallway； and down the marble steps and into the night； ignoring my carriage。
I walked home through the forest。
When I reached my house； I went into my library； took off the wig which I had worn to the ball； threw it across the room and sat in a chair at my writing table。
I put my head down on my folded arms and silently wept as I had not wept since the death of Eudoxia。 I wept。 And the hours passed； and at last I realized that Bianca was standing beside me。
She was stroking my hair with her hand； and then I heard her whisper。
〃Time to e down the steps to our cold grave； Marius。 It is early for you； but I must go and I can't leave you this way。〃
I rose to my feet。 I took her in my arms and gave way to the most awful tears； and all the while she held me silently and warmly。
And then we went down to our coffins together。
The following night； I went immediately to the house where I'd left Pandora。
I found it deserted and then I searched all of Dresden and the many palaces or schlosses around it。
She and Arjun were gone； there was no doubt of it。 And going up to the Ducal Palace where there was a little concert in progress I soon learned the 〃official〃 news of it； of how the handsome black coach of the Marquis and the Marquis a De Malvrier had left before dawn for Russia。
Russia。
Being in no mood for the music； I soon made my apologies to those gathered in the salon and I went home again； as miserable as I have ever been in my existence。 As heartbroken。
I sat down at my desk。 I looked out over the river。 I felt t