JК
Burnt Offerings :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 227 из 286"Unless they're doing it on purpose," I said.
He gave a long sigh. "No, ma petite , it is not on purpose. I did not realize that it was happening to the others."
"Why isn't it happening to our vampires?"
I think he laughed. "Our vampires, ma petite ?"
"You know what I mean."
"Yes, ma petite , I know what you mean. I have been protecting our people."
"Don't take this wrong, but I'm surprised you had the juice to keep the council from messing with your people."
"In truth, ma petite , so am I."
"So you're more powerful than Malcolm now?"
"It would appear so," he said quietly.
I thought about that for a minute. "But why the early rising? Why the increased hunger? Why would the council want that to be happening?"
"They do not want it, ma petite . It is merely a side effect of their proximity."
"Explain," I said.
"Their very presence will give unprotected vampires extra power: early rising, perhaps other gifts. The more voracious appetite and lack of control of the younger ones could mean that the council has decided not to feed while in my territory. I know the Traveler can take energy through lesser vampires without possessing them."
"So he takes part of the blood they drink?"
" Oui, ma petite ."
"Are the others feeding?" I asked.
"If all of the Church's members are experiencing this difficulty, I would think not. I think the Traveler has found a way to drain energy for all of them, though I cannot imagine Yvette going for even a night without causing pain to someone."
"She has Warrick to pick on." The moment I said it, I realized I hadn't had a chance to tell Jean-Claude about Warrick's little daytime excursion, or his warning. Jean-Claude had woken from his sleep while I was at the hospital surrounded by wereanimals. Since then I'd been moving from one emergency to another.
"Warrick came to visit me while you were out for the day," I said.
"What do you mean, ma petite ?"
I told him. All of it.
He was silent. Only his soft breathing let me know he was still there. Finally, he spoke. "I knew that Yvette gained power through her master, but I did not realize he was dampening Warrick's abilities." He laughed suddenly. "Perhaps that is why I did not realize I was a master vampire while I was with the council that first time. Perhaps my master, too, was preventing my powers from blossoming."
"Does Warrick's warning change our plans?" I asked.
"We are committed to a formal entertainment, ma petite .
He gave a long sigh. "No, ma petite , it is not on purpose. I did not realize that it was happening to the others."
"Why isn't it happening to our vampires?"
I think he laughed. "Our vampires, ma petite ?"
"You know what I mean."
"Yes, ma petite , I know what you mean. I have been protecting our people."
"Don't take this wrong, but I'm surprised you had the juice to keep the council from messing with your people."
"In truth, ma petite , so am I."
"So you're more powerful than Malcolm now?"
"It would appear so," he said quietly.
I thought about that for a minute. "But why the early rising? Why the increased hunger? Why would the council want that to be happening?"
"They do not want it, ma petite . It is merely a side effect of their proximity."
"Explain," I said.
"Their very presence will give unprotected vampires extra power: early rising, perhaps other gifts. The more voracious appetite and lack of control of the younger ones could mean that the council has decided not to feed while in my territory. I know the Traveler can take energy through lesser vampires without possessing them."
"So he takes part of the blood they drink?"
" Oui, ma petite ."
"Are the others feeding?" I asked.
"If all of the Church's members are experiencing this difficulty, I would think not. I think the Traveler has found a way to drain energy for all of them, though I cannot imagine Yvette going for even a night without causing pain to someone."
"She has Warrick to pick on." The moment I said it, I realized I hadn't had a chance to tell Jean-Claude about Warrick's little daytime excursion, or his warning. Jean-Claude had woken from his sleep while I was at the hospital surrounded by wereanimals. Since then I'd been moving from one emergency to another.
"Warrick came to visit me while you were out for the day," I said.
"What do you mean, ma petite ?"
I told him. All of it.
He was silent. Only his soft breathing let me know he was still there. Finally, he spoke. "I knew that Yvette gained power through her master, but I did not realize he was dampening Warrick's abilities." He laughed suddenly. "Perhaps that is why I did not realize I was a master vampire while I was with the council that first time. Perhaps my master, too, was preventing my powers from blossoming."
"Does Warrick's warning change our plans?" I asked.
"We are committed to a formal entertainment, ma petite .