anner.vittoriothevampire-第22节

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　He　caught　the　poor　fellow　and　dragged　him　to　the　kettle。　The　thin　paltry　demon　begged　and　whined　to　be　allowed　to　be　free；　but　his　wrists　were　both　slashed；　and　now；　though　he　turned　his　bony　face　away；　he　was　bled　furiously　into　the　soup。
　〃Ah；　you　are　better　than　Dante　with　your　circles　of　Hell；　aren't　you？〃　I　said。　But　it　hurt　me　that　I　had　taken　such　a　tone　with　her。　She　supported　me　utterly。
　〃They　are　peasants；　yes；　they　dream　of　being　Lords；　and　if　they　obey；　they　might。〃　I　recalled　now　that　the　demon　soldiers　who　had　brought　me　back　to　the　castle　had　been　rude　huntsmen。　How　well　it　was　all　thought　out；　but　this；　my　narrow…shouldered　love；　with　her　soft　yielding　arms　and　her　shining　tear…stained　face；　was　a　pure　Lady；　was　she　not？　〃Vittorio；　I　want　so　badly　for　you　not　to　die。〃
　〃Do　you；　dearest？〃　I　said。　I　had　my　arms　around　her。　I　could　no　longer　stand　without　this　support。　My　vision　was　fading。
　Yet　with　my　head　against　her　shoulder；　my　eyes　directed　to　the　crowd　below；　I　could　see　the　human　beings　surrounding　the　kettles　and　dipping　their　cups　into　the　brew；　dipping　their　cups　right　where　the　blood　had　fallen；　and　then　blowing　on　the　hot　liquid　to　cool　it　before　they　drank。
　A　soft；　horrid　laughter　echoed　up　the　walls。　I　think　it　came　from　those　spectators　above　on　the　balconies。
　There　was　a　sudden　swirl　of　red　color；　as　if　a　giant　unfurling　flag　had　fallen。
　But　it　was　a　Lady　dropping　down　from　the　remote　heights　above；　to　land　amid　the　worshipful　hordes　of　the　coop。
　They　bowed　and　saluted　her；　and　backed　away　from　her；　and　gave　forth　loud　gasps　of　awe　as　she　too　approached　the　kettle　and；　with　a　loud　rebellious　laugh；　cut　her　wrist　and　fed　her　blood　into　it。
　〃Yes；　my　darlings；　my　little　chicks；〃　she　declared。　She　looked　up　at　us。
　〃e　down；　Ursula；　have　pity　on　our　hungry　little　world；　be　generous　tonight。　So　it　is　not　your　night　to　give；　give　in　honor　of　our　new　acquisition。〃
　Ursula　seemed　shamed　by　all　of　this；　and　held　me　gently　with　her　long　fingers。　I　looked　into　her　eyes。　〃I'm　drunk；　drunk　merely　from　the　fragrance。〃
　〃My　blood　is　only　for　you　now；〃　she　whispered。
　〃Give　it　to　me　then；　I　hunger　for　it；　I'm　weak　to　dying；〃　I　said。　〃Oh；　God；　you've　brought　me　to　this。　No；　no；　I　did　it　myself。〃
　〃Sshhh；　my　lover；　my　sweet；〃　she　said。
　Her　arm　coiled　about　my　waist；　and　there　came　just　under　my　ear　her　tender　lips　sucking　on　the　flesh；　as　if　she　meant　to　make　a　pucker　there　on　my　neck；　warm　it　with　her　tongue；　and　then　the　prick　of　her　teeth。
　I　felt　ravaged；　and　with　both　hands　in　a　fantasy　I　reached　out　for　her　figure　as　we　ran　together　through　the　meadow　which　belonged　only　to　us　and　to　which　these　others　could　never　be　admitted。
　〃Oh；　innocent　love；〃　she　said　even　as　she　drank　from　me；　〃oh；　innocent　innocent　love。〃
　Then　a　sudden　icy　hot　fire　entered　the　wound　in　my　neck；　and　I　felt　it　as　if　it　were　a　delicate　parasite　of　long　tendrils　that　once　inside　my　body　could　find　the　most　remote　reaches　of　me。
　The　meadow　spread　out　around　us；　vast　and　cool；　and　utterly　given　over　to　the　blowing　lilies。　Was　she　with　me？　Beside　me？　It　seemed　in　one　radiant　instant　I　stood　alone　and　heard　her　cry　out　as　if　she　were　behind　me。　I　meant；　within　this　ecstatic　dream；　this　fluttering　cooling　dream　of　blue　skies　and　tender　breaking　stems；　to　turn　and　go　to　her。　But　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eyes；　I　beheld　something　of　such　splendor　and　magnificence　that　my　soul　leapt。　〃Look；　yes；　you　see！〃
　My　head　fell　back。　The　dream　was　gone。　The　high　white　marble　walls　of　the　prison　castle　rose　above　my　hurting　gaze。　She　held　me　and　stared　down　at　me；　bewildered；　her　lips　bloody。
　She　hoisted　me　in　her　arms。　I　was　as　helpless　as　a　child。　She　carried　me　down　the　stairs；　and　there　was　nothing　I　could　do　to　rouse　my　limbs。
　It　seemed　all　the　world　above　was　tiny　figures　ranging　on　balconies　and　battlements　and　laughing　and　pointing　with　their　tiny　outstretched　hands；　so　dark　against　the　torches　all　around　them。　Blood　red；　smell　it。
　〃But　what　was　it；　did　you　see　it　in　the　field？〃　I　asked　her。　〃No！〃　she　cried。　She　looked　so　frightened。
　I　lay　on　a　heap　of　hay；　a　makeshift　bed；　and　the　poor　underfed　demon　peasant　boys　stared　stupidly　down　at　me　with　bloodshot　eyes；　and　she；　she　wept；　her　hands　again　to　her　face。　〃I　cannot　leave　him　here；〃　she　said。
　She　was　far；　far　away。　I　heard　people　crying。　Was　there　a　revolt　among　the　drugged　and　the　damned？　I　heard　people　weeping。
　〃But　you　will；　and　e　to　the　kettle　first　and　give　your　blood。〃　Who　spoke　those　words？　I　didn't　know。　〃。。。　time　for　the　Mass。〃
　〃You　won't　take　him　tonight。〃
　〃Why　are　they　crying？〃　I　asked。　〃Listen；　Ursula；　they've　all　started　crying。〃
　One　of　the　scrawny　boys　stared　right　into　my　eyes。　He　had　a　hand　on　the　back　of　my　neck　and　a　warm　cup　of　brew　to　my　mouth。　I　didn't　want　it　to　slop　down　my　chin。　I　drank　and　drank。　It　filled　my　mouth。
　〃Not　tonight；〃　came　Ursula's　voice。　Kisses　on　my　forehead；　on　my　neck。　Someone　snatched　her　away。　I　felt　her　hand　hold　tight　to　mine；　then　I　felt　her　pulled　away。　〃e　now；　Ursula；　leave　him。〃
　〃Sleep；　my　darling；〃　she　cried　in　my　ear。　I　felt　her　skirts　brushing　me。　〃Vittorio；　sleep。〃
　The　cup　was　thrown　aside。　Stupidly；　in　utter　intoxication　I　watched　the　contents　spill　and　sink　darkly　into　the　mounded　hay。　She　knelt　before　me；　her　mouth　open　and　tender　and　luscious　and　red。
　She　took　my　face　in　her　cool　hands。　The　blood　poured　out　of　her　mouth　and　into　mine。
　〃Oh；　love；〃　I　said。　I　wanted　to　see　the　field。　It　didn't　e。　〃Let　me　see　the　field！　Let　me　see　it！〃
　But　there　was　no　meadow；　only　the　shocking　sight　of　her　face　again；　and　then　a　dimming　light；　a　gathering　embrace　of　darkness　and　sound。　I　could　no　longer　fight。　I　could　no　longer　speak。　I　could　no　longer　remember。。。　But　someone　had　said　that　very　thing。
　And　the　crying。　It　was　so　sad。　Such　crying；　such　doleful；　helpless　weeping。
　When　next　I　opened　my　eyes；　it　was　morning。　The　sun　hurt　me；　and　my　head　ached　unbearably。
　A　man　was　on　top　of　me；　trying　to　get　my　clothes　off　me。　Drunken　fool。　I　turned　over；　dizzy　and　sick；　sick　to　vomiting；　and　threw　him　off；　and　with　a　sound　blow　knocked　him　senseless。
　I　tried　to　get　up　but　I　couldn't。　The　nausea　was　intolerable。　All　around　me　others　slept。　The　sun　hurt　my　eyes。　It　scalded　my　skin。　I　snuggled　into　the　hay。　The　heat　beat　down　on　my　head；　and　when　I　ran　my　own　fingers　through　my　hair；　my　hair　felt　hot。　The　pain　in　my　head　throbbed　in　my　ears。
　〃e　into　the　shelter；〃　a　voice　said。　It　was　an　old　crone；　and　she　beckoned　to　me　from　beneath　a　thatched　roof。　〃e　in；　where　it's　cool。〃
　〃Curse　you　all；〃　I　said。　I　slept。　I　drifted。
　Sometime　during　the　late　afternoon　I　came　to　my　senses。
　I　found　myself　on　my　knees　near　one　of　the　kettles。　I　was　drinking　in　a　slovenly　wretched　manner　from　a　bowl　of　brew。　The　old　woman　had　given　it　to　me。
　〃The　demons；〃　I　said。　〃They　are　asleep。　We　can。。。　we　can。。。〃　but　then　the　futility　of　it　overcame　me。　I　wanted　to　throw　away　the　cup；　but　I　drank　the　hot　brew。
　〃It's　not　just　blood；　it's　wine；　it's　good　wine；〃　said　the　old　woman。　〃Drink　it；　my　boy；　and　feel　no　pain。　They'll　kill　you　soon　enough。　It's　not　so　terrible。〃　When　it　was　dark　again；　I　knew　it。　I　rolled　over。
　I　could　fully　open　my　eyes；　and　they　did　not　hurt　as　they　had　in　the　day
　I　knew　that　I　had　lost　the　whole　arc　of　the　sun　in　this　drugged　and　stupid　and　disastrous　languor。　I　had　fallen　into　their　plans。　I　had　been　helpless　when　I　should　have　been　trying　to　rouse　these　useless　ones　around　me　to　mutiny。　Good　God；　how　could　I　have　let　it　happen！　Oh；　the　sadness；　the　dim　distant　sadness。。。　And　the　sweetness　of　slumber。　〃Wake；　boy。〃　A　demon　voice。　〃They　want　you　tonight。〃
　〃Oh；　and　who　wants　me　for　what？〃　I　asked。　I　looked　up。　The　torches　were　alight。　All　was　twinkling　and　glowing；　and　there　came　the　soft　rustle　of　green　leaves　overhead　…　the　sharp　sweet　smell　of　the　orange　trees。　The　world　was　woven　of　dancing　flames　above　and　the　entrancing　patterns　of　the　black　leaves。　The　world　was　hunger　and　thirst。
　The　brew　simmered；　and　that　scent　blotted　out　all　else。　I　opened　my　mouth　for　it；　though　there　was　none　of　it　near　me。
　〃I'll　give　it　to　you；〃　said　the　demon　voice。　〃But　sit　up。　I　must　clean　you　up。　You　must　look　good　for　tonight。〃
　〃For　what？〃　I　said。　〃All　of　them　are　dead。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃My　family。〃
　〃There　is　no　family　here。　This　is　the　Court　of　the　Ruby　Grail。　You　are　the　property　of　the　Lord　of　the　Court。　Now；　e；　I　have　to　prepare　you。〃
　〃For　what　do　you　prepare　me？〃
　〃For　the　Mass；　you're　to　go；　get　up；〃　said　the　demon；　who　stood　wearily　over　me；　leaning　on　his　broom；　his　shining　hair　an　elfin　mess　around　his　face。　〃Get　up；　boy。　They'll　want　you。　It's　almost　midnight。〃
　〃No；　no；　not　almost　midnight；　no！〃　I　cried　out。　〃No！〃
　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　he　said；　coldly；　wearily。　〃It's　useless。〃
　〃But　you　don't　understand；　it's　the　loss　of　time；　the　loss　of　reason；　the　loss　of　hours　during　which　my　heart　beat　and　my　brain　slept！　I'm　not　afraid；　you　miserable　demon！〃　He　held　me　flat　to　the　hay。　He　washed　my　face。
　〃There；　there；　you　are　a　handsome　fine　one。　They　always　sacrifice　those　such　as　you　right　away。　You're　too　strong；　too　fine　of　limb　and　face。　Look　at