lhamilton.thekillingdance-第77节

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　I　traced　my　fingers　along　his　face。　His　teeth　bit　in　enough　to　draw　the　first　faint　blood。　I　gasped；　and　his　claws　dug　into　me。　I　ran　my　fingers　along　either　side　of　his　face；　tracing　his　cheeks；　his　eyebrows。　He　came　up　for　air；　eyes　wide　and　unfocused；　lips　half…parted。　I　caressed　his　face　and　pulled　him　in　for　a　kiss。　I　traced　his　thick　eyebrows。　As　he　kissed　me；　he　closed　his　eyes；　and　I　put　my　thumbs　over　his　eyelids。　His　eyelashes　fluttered　against　my　skin。　I　shoved　my　thumbs　into　both　eyes；　digging；　trying　to　shove　my　thumbs　into　his　brain　and　out　the　other　side。
　Gabriel　reared　back；　shrieking。　His　claws　ripped　up　my　back。　I　gasped　but　didn't　have　time　for　screaming。　I　drew　the　big　knife　from　the　back　sheath。
　Raina　screamed　instead。
　I　shoved　the　blade　under　Gabriel's　ribs。　I　shoved　it　into　his　heart。　He　tried　to　fall　backwards；　but　my　weight　pinned　his　knees；　so　his　back　bowed　backwards；　but　he　didn't　fall。　I　shoved　the　blade　through　him。　I　felt　the　tip　of　it　burst　out　the　other　side。
　Raina　was　suddenly　there；　grabbing　me　by　the　hair；　flinging　me　off　him。　I　flew　through　the　air；　smashed　into　the　fake　wall；　and　kept　going。　The　wall　splintered。　I　lay　on　my　stomach；　relearning　how　to　breathe。　My　pulse　was　so　loud　in　my　head。　I　was　deaf　for　a　few　seconds。　My　body　stopped　being　numb　in　stages；　and　let　me　know　it　was　scraped　and　bruised；　but　nothing　was　broken。　It　should　have　been。　Two　marks　and　I　was　suddenly　Anita　the　human　battering　ram。　When　it　happened　the　first　time；　I　hadn't　appreciated　it。　Now　I　did。　I　wasn't　hurt　badly；　hurrah；　but　I　still　had　to　get　past　Raina。　Everybody　else　would　fold　and　run　for　cover　if　she　were　dead。　Question　was；　how　to　get　her　there？
　I　looked　up　and　realized　I　was　right　next　to　the　prop　table　with　my　guns　on　it。　Were　they　loaded？　If　I　went　for　them　and　they　weren't；　Raina　was　going　to　kill　me。　Of　course；　if　I　just　lay　here　and　bled；　she'd　kill　me　anyway。
　I　heard　her　high　heels　ing　my　way。　I　pushed　to　my　knees；　my　feet；　and　went　for　the　table。　She　still　couldn't　see　me　through　the　partial　wall；　but　she　could　hear　me。　She　rushed　up　her　side　of　the　wall　in　those　ridiculous　high　heels。
　I　grabbed　for　the　Firestar　and　rolled　over　the　table　as　I　moved。　I　ended　on　my　back；　staring　up　as　she　leapt　over　the　table。　I　hit　the　safety　with　my　thumb　and　pulled　the　trigger。　The　gun　exploded　in　my　hand　and　took　her　in　the　upper　stomach。　The　bullet　seemed　to　slow　her　in　midmotion；　and　I　had　time　for　another　shot；　higher　up　in　the　chest。
　Raina　collapsed　to　her　knees；　honey　brown　eyes　wide　with　shock。　She　reached　out　one　hand；　and　I　scooted　backwards；　still　on　my　butt　and　lower　back。　I　watched　her　eyes　go；　that　light　sliding　away。　She　slumped　over　on　her　side；　her　long　hair　spilling　like　auburn　water　across　the　floor。
　The　crew　had　hightailed　it。　Only　Heidi　was　crouched　by　the　wall；　crying；　covering　her　ears　as　if　afraid　to　leave　or　stay。
　I　got　to　my　feet；　using　the　prop　table　for　support。　I　could　see　Gabriel's　body　now。　Blood　and　clear　fluid　flowed　down　his　face　from　his　eyes。　His　body　still　hadn't　fallen。　It　knelt　in　a　strange　parody　of　life；　as　if　he　would　open　his　eyes　and　it　would　all　be　pretend。
　Edward　came　in　through　the　covered　door。　He　had　a　shotgun　at　his　shoulder。　Harley　followed　at　his　side　with　a　machine　gun。　He　surveyed　the　room　and　finally　came　back　to　me。　〃Is　Anita　in　this　room？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Edward　said。
　〃I　can't　recognize　her；〃　Harley　said。
　〃Hold　your　fire。　I'll　go　find　her　for　you。〃　He　walked　towards　me；　eyes　taking　it　all　in。
　〃How　much　of　this　blood　is　yours？〃　he　asked。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃How'd　you　find　me？〃
　〃I　tried　to　return　your　message。　Nobody　knew　where　you'd　gone。　Then　nobody　knew　where　Richard　had　gone；　or　Jean…Claude；　or　Raina。〃
　I　felt　Richard　scream　through　me　and　I　didn't　fight　it　this　time；　I　let　the　scream　e　out　my　mouth。　If　Edward　hadn't　caught　me；　I　would　have　fallen。　〃We've　got　to　get　to　Jean…Claude　and　Richard。　Right　now！〃
　〃You　can't　even　walk；〃　he　said。
　I　grabbed　his　shoulders。　〃Help　me；　and　I'll　run。〃
　Edward　didn't　argue；　he　simply　nodded　and　slid　one　arm　around　my　waist。
　Harley　handed　my　knives　and　the　Browning　to　Edward。　I　was　inches　away；　but　he　didn't　try　to　touch　me。　He　looked　past　me　as　if　I　wasn't　there。　Maybe；　for　him；　I　wasn't。　I　cut　the　legs　of　my　jeans　off；　which　left　me　in　nothing　but　underwear　and　Nikes　from　the　waist　down；　but　I　could　run　now；　and　we　needed　to　run。　I　could　feel　it。　I　could　feel　the　power　growing　on　the　summer　night。　Dominic　was　preparing　the　blade。　I　could　taste　it。　I　prayed　as　we　ran。　Prayed　that　we'd　be　in　time。
　
　
　44
　
　We　ran。　I　ran　until　I　thought　my　heart　would　burst；　jumping　trees　and　dodging　things　in　the　dark　only　half…felt　and　not　seen　at　all。　Branches　and　weeds　raked　my　legs　in　thin　scratches。　A　branch　caught　my　cheek　and　sent　me　stumbling。　Edward　caught　me。　Harley　said；　〃What　is　that？〃
　There　was　a　bright；　white　glow　through　the　trees。　It　wasn't　fire。　〃Crosses；〃　I　said。
　〃What？〃　Harley　asked。
　〃They've　hung　Jean…Claude　with　crosses。〃　As　the　words　left　my　mouth；　I　knew　they　were　the　truth。　I　ran　towards　the　glow。　Edward　and　Harley　followed。
　I　spilled　out　to　the　edge　of　the　clearing　with　them　at　my　back。　I　raised　the　Browning　without　thinking　about　it。　I　had　a　second　to　take　it　all　in。　Richard　and　Jean…Claude　were　bound　so　thick　with　chains　that　they　could　barely　move；　let　alone　escape。　A　cross　had　been　thrown　around　Jean…Claude's　neck。　It　glowed　like　a　captive　star；　resting　on　the　folds　of　chain。　Someone　had　blindfolded　him　as　if　afraid　the　glow　would　hurt　his　eyes。　Which　was　odd；　since　they　meant　to　kill　him。　Considerate　murderers。
　Richard　was　gagged。　He'd　managed　to　work　one　hand　free；　and　he　and　Jean…Claude　were　touching　fingertips；　straining　to　retain　that　touch。
　Dominic　stood　over　them　in　a　white　ceremonial　robe。　The　hood　was　thrown　back；　his　arms　wide；　holding　a　short　sword　half　the　length　of　my　body。　He　held　something　dark　in　his　other　hand。　Something　that　pulsed　and　seemed　to　live。　It　was　a　heart。　Robert　the　vampire's　heart。
　Sabin　sat　in　Marcus's　stone　chair；　dressed　as　I'd　seen　him　last；　hood　up；　hiding　in　the　shadows。　Cassandra　was　a　shining　whiteness　on　the　other　side　of　the　circle　of　power；　forming　the　last　point　of　a　triangle　with　her　two　men。　My　two　men　lay　bound　on　the　ground。
　I　pointed　the　Browning　at　Dominic　and　fired。　The　bullet　left　the　gun。　I　heard　it；　I　saw　it；　but　it　didn't　go　near　Dominic。　It　didn't　seem　to　go　anywhere。　I　blew　my　breath　out　and　tried　again。
　Dominic　stared　at　me。　His　dark…bearded　face　was　calm；　totally　unafraid。　〃You　are　of　the　dead；　Anita　Blake；　neither　you；　nor　anything　of　yours　may　pass　this　circle。　You　have　e　only　to　watch　them　die。〃
　〃You've　lost；　Dominic；　why　kill　them　at　all；　now？〃
　〃We　will　never　find　what　we　need　again；〃　the　necromancer　said。
　Sabin　spoke；　his　voice　thick；　awkward；　as　if　talking　was　hard。　〃It　must　be　tonight。〃　He　pushed　to　his　feet　and　shoved　the　hood　back。　His　flesh　was　almost　pletely　gone；　only　straggles　of　hair　and　raw；　putrefying　tissue　were　left。　Dark　liquid　oozed　from　his　mouth。　Maybe　he　didn't　have　one　more　night　of　sanity。　But　that　wasn't　my　problem。
　〃The　vampire　council　has　forbidden　any　of　you　to　fight　each　other　until　Brewster's　Law　is　either　passed　or　voted　down。　They'll　kill　you　for　disobeying　them。〃　I　was　half　guessing　on　this；　but　I'd　been　around　enough　masters　of　the　city　to　know　how　very　seriously　they　took　disobedience。　The　council　was；　in　fact；　the　biggest；　baddest；　master　of　the　city　around。　They　would　be　less　forgiving；　not　more。
　〃I　will　take　that　chance；〃　Sabin　said；　every　word　careful；　showing　the　effort　it　took　to　speak。
　〃Did　Cassandra　tell　you　about　my　offer？　If　we　can't　cure　you　tomorrow；　I'll　let　Jean…Claude　mark　me。　Tonight　you　only　have　part　of　what　you　need　for　the　spell。　You　need　me；　Sabin；　one　way　or　another；　you　need　me。〃　I　didn't　tell　them　I　was　already　marked。　They　obviously　hadn't　felt　it。　If　they　knew　I　was　already　marked；　all　I　could　offer　was　to　die　tonight　with　the　boys。
　Dominic　shook　his　head。　〃I　have　searched　Sabin's　body；　Anita。　Tomorrow　will　be　too　late。　There　will　be　nothing　to　save。〃　He　dropped　to　his　knees　beside　Richard。
　〃You　don't　know　that　for　sure；〃　I　said。
　He　laid　the　still…beating　heart　on　top　of　Richard's　bare　chest。
　〃Dominic；　please！〃
　It　was　too　late　for　lies。　〃I'm　marked；　Dominic。　We're　the　perfect　sacrifice。　Open　the　circle；　and　I'll　e　inside。〃
　He　looked　at　me。　〃If　this　is　true；　then　you　are　all　far　too　dangerous　to　trust。　The　three　of　you　together　without　the　circle　would　overwhelm　us。　You　see；　Anita；　I　have　been　part　of　a　true　triumvirate　for　centuries。　You　have　no　dreams　of　the　power　you　can　touch。　You　and　Richard　are　more　powerful　than　Cassandra　and　I。　You　would　have　been　a　force　to　be　reckoned　with。　The　council　itself　might　have　feared　you。〃　He　laughed。　〃They　may　forgive　us　for　that　alone。〃
　He　spoke　words　that　curled　power　over　me。
　I　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　circle　and　touched　it。　It　was　like　my　skin　tried　to　crawl　off　my　bones。　I　fell　forward　and　slid　down　something　that　couldn't　be　there。　Jean…Claude　shrieked。　It　hurt　too　much　for　me　to　scream。　I　lay　curled　by　the　circle；　and　even　when