lhamilton.thekillingdance-第30节

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　〃How　do　you　make　sure　they　don't　stage　a　palace　revolt？〃　I　asked。
　〃There　are　ways。〃
　〃Like　threatening　them　with　a　necromancer；〃　I　said。
　He　smiled。　〃Indeed。〃
　〃Not　everyone　will　believe　it。〃
　〃I　know　I　don't；〃　a　voice　said。
　
　
　15
　
　I　turned　to　find　another　new　vampire。　He　was　tall　and　slender　with　skin　the　color　of　clean　white　sheets；　but　sheets　didn't　have　muscle　moving　underneath；　sheets　didn't　glide　down　the　steps　and　pad　godlike　across　a　room。　His　hair　fell　past　his　shoulders；　a　red　so　pure　it　was　nearly　the　color　of　blood。　The　color　screamed　against　his　paleness。　He　was　wearing　a　black　frock　coat　like　something　out　of　the　1700s；　but　his　chest　gleamed　lean　and　naked　inside　it。　The　heavy　cloth　was　nearly　covered　in　thick　embroidery；　a　green　so　vivid　it　gleamed。　The　embroidery　matched　his　eyes。　Green　as　a　cat's　eyes；　green　as　an　emerald。　From　the　waist　down；　he　was　wearing　green　lycra　exercise　pants　that　left　little　to　the　imagination。　A　sash　was　tied　at　his　waist　like　a　pirate　belt；　black　with　green　fringe。　Knee…high　black　boots　pleted　the　outfit。
　I　thought　I　knew　all　the　bloodsuckers　in　town；　but　here　were　two　new　ones　in　less　than　two　minutes。　〃How　many　new　vampires　are　in　the　city？〃　I　asked。
　〃A　few；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　〃This　is　Damian。　Damian；　this　is　Anita。〃
　〃I　feel　silly　in　this　outfit；〃　he　said。
　〃But　you　look　splendid；　doesn't　he；　ma　petite？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Splendid　is　one　way　of　putting　it。〃
　Jean…Claude　walked　around　the　new　vampire；　flicking　imaginary　specks　of　lint　from　the　coat。　〃Don't　you　approve；　Anita？〃
　I　sighed。　〃It's　just　。　。　。〃　I　shrugged。　〃Why　do　you　make　everyone　around　you　dress　like　they　stepped　out　of　a　sexual　fantasy　with　a　high　costume　budget？〃
　He　laughed；　and　the　sound　wrapped　around　me；　tugged　at　things　lower　than　he'd　ever　gotten　to　touch。　〃Stop　that；〃　I　said。
　〃You　enjoy　it；　ma　petite。〃
　〃Maybe；　but　stop　it　anyway。〃
　〃Jean…Claude　has　always　had　a　killer　fashion　sense；〃　Damian　said；　〃and　sex　was　always　one　of　his　favorite　pastimes；　wasn't　it？〃　There　was　something　about　the　way　he　said　that　last　that　made　it　not　a　pliment。
　Jean…Claude　faced　him。　〃And　yet；　for　all　my　foppish　ways；　here　you　are；　in　my　lands；　seeking　my　protection。〃
　The　pupils　in　Damian's　eyes　were　swallowed　by　a　rush　of　green　fire。　〃Thank　you　so　much　for　reminding　me。〃
　〃Remember　who　is　master　here；　Damian；　or　you　will　be　banished。　The　council　themselves　interceded　with　your　old　master；　rescued　you　from　her。　She　did　not　want　to　give　you　up。　I　spoke　for　you。　I　ransomed　you　because　I　remember　what　it　was　like　to　be　trapped。　To　be　forced　to　do　things　you　didn't　want　to　do。　To　be　used　and　tormented。〃
　Damian　stood　a　little　straighter　but　didn't　look　away。　〃You've　made　your　point。　I　am　。　。　。　grateful　to　be　here。〃　He　looked　away；　then　to　the　floor；　and　a　shudder　ran　through　him。　〃I　am　glad　to　be　free　of　her。〃　When　he　looked　back　up；　his　eyes　had　returned　to　normal。　He　managed　a　smile　that　didn't　quite　reach　his　eyes。　〃Wearing　a　few　costumes　is　not　the　worst　thing　I've　ever　done。〃
　There　was　a　sorrow　to　his　voice　that　made　me　want　to　ask　Jean…Claude　to　let　him　change　into　a　pair　of　pants；　but　I　didn't。　Jean…Claude　was　walking　a　very　fine　line　here。　Damian　was　over　five　hundred　years　old。　He　wasn't　a　master；　but　that　was　still　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　power。　Jean…Claude　might　be　able　to　handle　Liv　and　Damian；　but　if　there　were　more；　Master　of　the　City　or　not；　he　wasn't　up　to　the　job。　Which　meant　these　little　dominance　games　were　necessary。　The　others　couldn't　be　allowed　to　forget　who　was　Master；　because　once　they　did；　he　was　done　for。　If　he'd　asked　for　my　vote　before　he　put　out　the　invitations；　I'd　have　said　no。
　A　door　at　the　far　side　of　the　room　opened。　It　was　a　black　door　in　the　black　walls；　and　it　seemed　almost　magical　as　a　woman　stepped　out。　She　was　about　my　own　height；　with　wavy；　waist…length　brown　hair　that　foamed　over　the　shoulders　of　her　ankle…length　black　coat。　She　was　wearing　a　pair　of　hot　turquoise　exercise　pants　with　a　matching　sports　bra。　Crisscrossing　straps　went　from　pants　to　the　bra；　emphasizing　her　small　waist。　Black　vinyl　boots　reached　to　her　knees；　with　a　small　projection　that　covered　the　knees。　She　walked　down　the　steps　and　strode　across　the　floor　with　a　freeswinging　walk　that　was　almost　a　run。　She　entered　the　room　like　it　was　her　room；　or　maybe　she　was　her　own　room；　fortable　wherever　she　went。
　She　stopped　by　us；　smiling；　pleasant；　hazel　eyes　greener　because　of　the　strip　of　turquoise　around　her　neck。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　〃You　look　lovely；　Cassandra；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃You　look　better　in　yours　than　I　do　in　mine；〃　Damian　said。
　〃That's　a　matter　of　opinion；〃　I　said。
　The　woman　looked　at　me。　Her　eyes　flicked　down　the　length　of　Damian's　body。　She　met　my　eyes；　and　we　both　laughed。
　Damian　looked　puzzled。　Jean…Claude　looked　at　me。　〃Share　your　humor　with　us；　ma　petite；　please。〃
　I　met　Cassandra's　eyes　again；　swallowed　another　laugh；　and　shook　my　head。　I　took　a　few　deep　breaths。　When　I　was　pretty　sure　I　could　speak　without　laughing；　I　said；　〃Girl　humor；　you　wouldn't　understand。〃
　〃Very　diplomatic；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃I'm　impressed。〃
　〃If　you　knew　how　hard　diplomacy　es　to　ma　petite；　you　would　be　even　more　impressed；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　He　had　gotten　the　joke；　as　if　there'd　been　any　doubt。
　Damian　was　frowning　at　us；　still　puzzled。　It　was　just　as　well。
　Jean…Claude　looked　from　Cassandra　to　me　and　back　again。　〃Do　you　two　know　each　other？〃
　We　shook　our　heads　in　unison。
　〃Cassandra；　Anita。　My　newest　wolf；　meet　the　light　of　my　life。　Cassandra　is　one　of　your　guards　for　the　night。〃
　〃You're　very　good。　I　wouldn't　have　picked　up　on　it。〃
　Her　smile　widened。　〃Richard　said　you　didn't　know　he　was　a　werewolf　at　first；　either。〃
　Instantly；　a　little　spark　of　jealousy　flared。　Of　course；　if　she　were　a　werewolf　and　with　Jean…Claude；　then　she　was　one　of　Richard's　followers。　〃You　weren't　at　the　meeting。〃
　〃Jean…Claude　needed　me　here。　He　couldn't　do　without　both　Jason　and　me。〃
　I　looked　at　Jean…Claude。　I　knew　what　Jason　did　for　him。　He　bled　Jason　when　he　woke；　and　sucking　blood　was　damn　close　to　sex　for　a　vampire。　〃Really；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　worry；　ma　petite。　Cassandra　won't　share　blood　with　me；　either。　She　and　Richard　have　many　similarities。　I　believe　that　Richard　chose　her　for　me　because　she　bears　a　certain　resemblance　to　you；　not　just　physically；　but　a　certain　je　ne　sais　quoi。〃
　〃Je　ne　sais　quoi　is　French　for　nothing；〃　I　said。
　〃It　means　an　indefinable　something　that　is　difficult　to　put　into　words；　ma　petite。　A　quality　that　transcends　vocabulary。〃
　〃He　does　talk　pretty；　doesn't　he？〃　Cassandra　said。
　〃He　has　his　moments；〃　I　said。　〃You　can't　be　draining　Jason　every　morning。　Even　a　werewolf　needs　a　little　recoup　time。〃
　〃Stephen　is　a　willing　donor。〃
　〃Why　wasn't　Stephen　with　you　last　night？〃　I　asked。
　〃Is　that　an　accusation？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　〃Just　answer　the　question。〃
　〃He　had　requested　an　evening　off　to　spend　time　with　his　brother。　Who　am　I　to　stand　in　the　way　of　familial　obligations？〃　He　stared　at　me　while　he　answered　like　he　wasn't　pletely　happy　with　the　conversation。　Tough。　Neither　was　I。
　Stephen's　own　brother　had　betrayed　him；　acted　as　bait　for　the　trap。　Damn。　〃Where　is　Stephen？〃
　〃He's　in　the　back　room；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃He　helped　me　get　into　this　thing。　I　couldn't　reach　all　the　straps。〃　She　dropped　the　coat　off　her　shoulders　and　turned　so　I　could　see　her　back。　The　straps　formed　a　tight　web；　most　of　them　in　places　you　couldn't　have　fastened　without　help。　She　slipped　the　coat　back　on　and　turned；　looking　at　me。　〃You're　taking　this　alpha　female　thing　seriously；　aren't　you？〃
　I　shrugged。　〃I'm　serious　about　Stephen's　safety。〃
　Cassandra　nodded；　face　solemn；　thoughtful。　〃I　like　that。　Sometimes　alpha　female　is　just　a　token　position。　Just　a　word　for　the　pack　leader's　lover。　Most　of　them　aren't　as　active　as　Raina。〃　She　made　a　face　when　she　said　the　name；　like　she'd　tasted　something　bitter。
　Jean…Claude　interrupted。　〃I　will　leave　you　two　girls　to　your　conversation。　I　have　things　to　attend　to　before　the　club　opens。〃　He　kissed　the　back　of　my　hand　and　was　gone；　leaving　us　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　club；　alone。　Damian　had　gone　at　his　heels　as　if　he'd　been　asked。
　For　a　moment；　I　was　nervous。　Cassandra　and　I　were　very　much　in　the　open。　〃Let's　go　over　there。〃　I　motioned　to　the　steps　that　led　to　the　next　level。　We　sat　down　on　them；　me　having　to　smooth　my　skirts　down。　Even　that　didn't　help。　I　had　to　keep　my　feet　and　knees　together　or　I　would　have　flashed　the　room。　Sigh。
　〃Let　me　guess；〃　I　said。　〃Raina　wanted　you　for　her　movies。〃
　〃She　wants　everyone　that　is　remotely　attractive　for　her　movies。　Though　sometimes　sharing　her　bed　for　a　tryout　can　get　you　out　of　it。　She　offered　me　to　Gabriel　for　my　tryout。　That　damn　leopard　is　not　even　a　pack　member。〃
　〃If　he　were；　she'd　make　him　pack　leader；〃　I　said。
　Cassandra　shook　her　head。　〃Gabriel　couldn't　defeat　Marcus；　let　alone　Richard。　He's　the　leader　of　the　wereleopards　only　because　there's　no　one　stronger。　He's　an　alpha；　but　he's　flawed。　It　makes　him　weak。〃
　〃Sexual　perversion　doesn't　always　mean　you'll　lose　a　fight；〃　I　said。
　〃It's　not　that；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃He's　into　dangerous　sex。　Lycan