JК
Danse Macabre :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 355 из 427To raise the possibility of it would be, I felt, a betrayal of his trust. For it would raise the issue of his being food for the ardeur . He was most adamant against it, ma petite .»
«What's the downside to being able to feed the ardeur like this?» I asked, looking back at the vampire kneeling at my feet.
«Everyone is eventually addicted to the ardeur , but for me, the addiction is immediate.»
«You're addicted again?» I said.
«Yes.» His eyes were so peaceful, more peaceful than I'd ever seen them. He looked happier and more at home in his own skin than ever before. I looked up, and it was Nathaniel's gaze that I caught. He looked solemn, eyes not peaceful at all.
«You always look happy at the beginning of an addiction,» Nathaniel said.
«What happens later?» I asked.
«You die.»
44
I DID TRY sniffing Travis's neck, but he hit my radar as wounded antelope. Since I didn't want to rip his throat out, I had to back off. Touching Pierce's hand had been an electrifying experience. Shit. I made Noel take Travis to the hospital room in the back, so he could shift and heal the damage. I had to give my most solemn word that I would not bond with either Pierce or Haven, and bring disaster to their pride, while they were resting. I promised. I meant it. I wasn't sure how to keep the promise, but I did mean it.
We all went to sit in the living room while we tried to get through our list of metaphysical emergencies before we had to get dressed for the ballet.
«We are running out of time, Jean-Claude,» Auggie said.
« Ma petite was able to free Requiem of an ardeur — related compulsion earlier today. We had thought to use the same technique to free you, Augustine. Are you saying that your freedom from the slavery of the ardeur can wait?»
«I need to send Octavius to fetch my clothes for this evening. He has expressed» — Auggie smiled — «reservations about my being here without him at my back. I came thinking I'd get my ashes hauled, and make a smash and grab on the local lions. Still might do the whole lion thing, but the rest didn't work out like I planned.»
«You are not going to do the whole lion thing,» I said. I was on the love seat sitting between Micah and Jean-Claude. Nathaniel and Damian were on the floor at our feet. Damian was touching my leg, and that one touch helped me think. He'd promised not to do anything but help me stay calm. There would be a learning curve on Damian's new power level, too. The grade on all of it seemed pretty damn steep.
Jean-Claude patted my knee, as if warning me to be calm.
«What's the downside to being able to feed the ardeur like this?» I asked, looking back at the vampire kneeling at my feet.
«Everyone is eventually addicted to the ardeur , but for me, the addiction is immediate.»
«You're addicted again?» I said.
«Yes.» His eyes were so peaceful, more peaceful than I'd ever seen them. He looked happier and more at home in his own skin than ever before. I looked up, and it was Nathaniel's gaze that I caught. He looked solemn, eyes not peaceful at all.
«You always look happy at the beginning of an addiction,» Nathaniel said.
«What happens later?» I asked.
«You die.»
44
I DID TRY sniffing Travis's neck, but he hit my radar as wounded antelope. Since I didn't want to rip his throat out, I had to back off. Touching Pierce's hand had been an electrifying experience. Shit. I made Noel take Travis to the hospital room in the back, so he could shift and heal the damage. I had to give my most solemn word that I would not bond with either Pierce or Haven, and bring disaster to their pride, while they were resting. I promised. I meant it. I wasn't sure how to keep the promise, but I did mean it.
We all went to sit in the living room while we tried to get through our list of metaphysical emergencies before we had to get dressed for the ballet.
«We are running out of time, Jean-Claude,» Auggie said.
« Ma petite was able to free Requiem of an ardeur — related compulsion earlier today. We had thought to use the same technique to free you, Augustine. Are you saying that your freedom from the slavery of the ardeur can wait?»
«I need to send Octavius to fetch my clothes for this evening. He has expressed» — Auggie smiled — «reservations about my being here without him at my back. I came thinking I'd get my ashes hauled, and make a smash and grab on the local lions. Still might do the whole lion thing, but the rest didn't work out like I planned.»
«You are not going to do the whole lion thing,» I said. I was on the love seat sitting between Micah and Jean-Claude. Nathaniel and Damian were on the floor at our feet. Damian was touching my leg, and that one touch helped me think. He'd promised not to do anything but help me stay calm. There would be a learning curve on Damian's new power level, too. The grade on all of it seemed pretty damn steep.
Jean-Claude patted my knee, as if warning me to be calm.