10
Pale Kings and Princes
Translated by Dany, and Anna
Pamee Edited by Pamee
"I saw pale kings and princes,
and Pale warriors, death pale as were all of them. "
-John Keats," La Belle Dame Sans Merci "
When the car swayed along the Strand, Will raised a black-gloved hand and ran one of the velvet curtains of the window leaving a little yellow gaslight find way into the dark interior of the carriage.
"This is more like," said "as if we will have rain tonight." Tessa
followed his gaze, out of the window the sky was overcast and gray, a color steel ... usual for London, he thought.
Men with hats and long dark coats were to hurry along the sidewalk on both sides of the street, his shoulders hunched against a strong wind that was carrying coal dust, horse manure and trash all itchy-eyes on its way . Once again, Tessa thought she could smell the river. "
"That's a church, which is directly in the middle of the street, "she asked aloud.
"Santa Maria is the Strand him," Will said, "And there's a long story about it, but I will not tell it now. Have you been listening to some of what I've been saying? "
" I was, "said Tessa" Until she made a remark about the rain. Who cares about the rain? We are on the way to some kind of social event vampire ... and I have no idea how I'm supposed to act, and until now you did not help at all. "
corner of Will's mouth twisted up" only be careful when we get home, you can not look at me to ask for help or instruction. Remember, I'm your man subdued. Keeps me close by blood, blood whether or not, and nothing more. "
" So you're not going to speak tonight, "Tessa said," Absolutely. "
" No, unless I instructed to do so. "said Will.
"Tonight sounds like it could be better than I thought."
Will seemed not to have heard. With his right hand was clutching a knife holder in his shirt cuff in his left wrist. I was looking out the window, as if seeing something that was not visible to her. "I could be think of vampires as savage monsters, but these vampires are not like that. They are so educated and cruel. Sharp knives dull blades against humanity. "The line of his jaw tightened in the dark" will have to try to keep pace. And for the love of God, but can not say anything at all. They have a sense tortuous and opaque label. A serious social gaffe, can mean instant death. "
Tessa's hands clenched each other in their lap. Were cold. I could feel the coldness of the skin of Camille, even through his gloves.
"Are you kidding? "The way it was in the library about releasing the book? "
" No. "His voice was distant.
"Will, you're scaring me." The words came from Tessa's mouth before he could stop them, tensed, hoping to take the hair.
Will shifted his gaze from the window and looked as if some understanding had been born in it.
"Tess," he said, Tessa felt a momentary shock, no one had ever called Tess. Sometimes his brother had called Tessie, but that was it. "You know you got to do this if you want."
She took a deep breath, one did not need. "And then what? Do we turn around and come home? "
He stretched out his hands and took hers. Camille's hands were so small that the dark seemed to swallow Will gloves.
"One for all and all for one," he said.
She smiled at that, loosely, "The Three Musketeers?"
His steady gaze held hers. Her blue eyes were very dark, unique. Had known before people with blue eyes, but had always been light blue. Will those were just the color of the sky on the edge of the night. The long lashes watched as he said, "Sometimes, when I have to do something that I do, I pretend I'm the character in a book. It's easier to know what they would do. "
" Really? Who do you claim to be? "D'Artagnan?" Tessa asked, naming one of the Three Musketeers could remember.
"'This I do now, is better, much better than anything I did in life." He quoted Will. "'The rest that I will achieve much, much nicer than how much they knew before."
"Sydney Carton? But you said you hated Tale of Two Cities! "
" No really. "Will seemed unabashed by his lie.
And Sydney Carton was an alcoholic debauchery. "
" Exactly. He was worthless, and I knew it was not worth anything, however, low, latching to hide your soul, there was always a part of it capable of good action. "Will lowered his voice. "What does it say to Lucie Manette? What though is weak, you can still burn? "
Tessa, who had read A Tale of Two Cities, more times than he could have whispered," 'But I still feel weak want you to know how force some sparks kindled in me despite me not more than ash, sparks fire became. '"He hesitated," But that was because he loved her. "
" Yes, "Will said" I loved her enough to know she was better off without him. "His hands were still in them, and they heat burned through his gloves.
Outside, the wind was cool, and ruffled his hair black ink coma when they had crossed the courtyard of the Institute towards the carriage. Made him look younger and more vulnerable ... and their eyes, it was also vulnerable, open like a door. The way he looked at her, she would not have thought Will could, or would, look to anyone like that. If I could blush, he thought, as would be blushing now.
And then wished he had not thought of that. Well, that thought had inevitable and unpleasant to another. Was he seeing her now, or Camille, who was, in fact, exquisitely beautiful? Was that the reason for his change of expression? "Tessa could see through the disguise, or just their appearance?
He leaned back, pulling her hands from him, but were closed tightly around hers. It took a moment apart.
"Tessa ..." he began, but before I could say something more, the coach stopped with a jolt that made velvet curtains swayed.
Thomas shouted, "We!" From the driver's seat.
Will, after taking a deep breath, opened the door and jumped to the floor, raising his hand to help her down after him. Tessa
bowed his head from the carriage to avoid crushing any of the roses on the hat of Camille. Although Will was wearing gloves, as she did, I could almost imagine I felt the pulse of blood under your skin, even through the double layer of fabric between them. His face was red; bright color in her cheeks and she wondered if it was the whipping cold blood to your face, or something else.
were standing in front of a big white house with a high entrance pillars. She was surrounded by similar houses on each side, like a row of dominoes pale. At the top of a row of white steps had a pair of double doors painted black. Were ajar, and Tessa could see the glow of candlelight from inside, shining with a curtain.
Tessa turned to look at Will. Behind him, Thomas was sitting in the front of the carriage with his hat leaning forward to hide his face. The silver-handled gun tucked in pocket of his waistcoat, was completely hidden from view.
Somewhere in the back of his head, laughing Camille felt and knew, without knowing how I knew, I was feeling the fun of the fair woman by his admiration for Will. There you are, thought Tessa relieved despite his discomfort. Had begun to fear that the inner voice of Camille never get it.
Will turned away, raising his chin. The haughty pose was not natural to her but it was in Camille. "You're not going to lead me like Tessa, but as a servant would do," he said, his lips curled. "Now they see." He shook his head imperiously toward the steps, and left without looking back to see if he followed.
An elegantly dressed footman was waiting a few steps above. "Your Honor," he murmured, as he bent, Tessa saw two fang punctures on her neck, just above his shirt.
turned his head to see Will behind it, and was about to present to the groom, when Camille's voice whispered in the back of her head, unaccustomed human submit to our pets together. They are our property, no name, unless we decide to give them names.
Ugh, Tessa thought. In his just displeasure When did the footman noticed a long hallway led to a large room with marble floor. He bowed again and left. Will moved to his side, and for a moment both stood looking at him.
space was lit only by candles. Dozens of gold chandeliers dotted the room, white candles burned butter in brackets. Hand carved marble stretched from the walls, each holding a red candle, red wax drops and roses bloomed along the sides of carved marble. And among the vampires moving sconces, their faces as white as clouds, their movements graceful, fluid and strange.
Tessa could see similarities with Camille, the traits they shared, non-porous skin, eye color of gems, stained pale cheeks with artificial blush. Some seemed more human than others, many were dressed in the fashion of the past, shorts to the knee and ties, skirts as exuberant as that of Marie Antoinette or collected in a queue on the back, lace cuffs and frilly clothes.
Tessa's eyes scanned the room frantically looking for a familiar figure with blond hair, but Nathaniel was not in sight. Instead he found trying not to stare at a tall and skeletal, wearing a large wig and Fashion powdered hundred years ago. His face was hard and scary, whiter than the white powder from her hair.
Her name was Lady Delilah, Camille's voice whispered in the mind of Tessa. Lady Delilah
figure holding a small hand, and Tessa's mind back "A child" in this place? "But when the figure turned and saw he was a vampire too, sunken dark eyes were like holes in his round boyish face. Tessa smiled, fangs bared naked.
"We look for Magnus Bane," Will said quietly "He has the intention of guiding us through this mess, I shall indicate if I see him. "
was about to tell Will that recognize Camille Magnus, when he saw a thin man with a mane of blond hair, wearing a black tail suit. Tessa felt her heart beat ... and then fell into a bitter disappointment when he turned. It was Nathaniel.
That man was a vampire, his face pale and angular. His hair was not yellow like Nate, but it was almost colorless under the candlelight. Winked Tessa and began moving toward her pushing through the crowd. Not only were vampires among them, saw Tessa, but also had human subdued. They wore shiny serving trays, and in trays of empty glasses were groups together with the vessels had a series of extended silver utensils, all pointed.
knives, of course, and thin as tools used by cobblers awls to punch holes in leather.
While Tessa looked confused, one of the subjugated woman was arrested by the white powdered wig. He snapped his fingers imperiously, and the dark-pale boy with a gray jacket and trousers, turned his head away obediently. After taking a punch thin tray with his delicate fingers, the vampire said with the sharp point through the child's throat, just under the jaw.
vessels were shaken on the tray when his hand trembled, but did not drop the tray, even when the woman raised a glass and held it against her throat so that blood ran from him in a thin stream.
Tessa's stomach suddenly tightened with a mixture of repulsion ... and hunger could not deny hunger, even if it belonged to Camille, not her. Stronger than thirst, however, was his horror. He watched as the vampire raised his glass to his lips, the human boy standing at his side, his face ashen and shaking while she drank.
wanted to extend the hand of Will, but a vampire Baroness never hold his hand to his human slave labor. She straightened her spine, and called her back and Will with a quick snap of his fingers. He looked surprised, then moved towards her, clearly struggling to hide his annoyance, but it was necessary to hide.
"Now, do not go wandering, William," he said with a meaningful look. "I do not get lost in the crowd."
Will's jaw tightened "I have the strange feeling that you're enjoying this," he said softly.
"There is nothing strange about that." Feeling incredibly bold, Tessa lifted her chin with the tip of her lace fan. "Just behave yourself."
"They are so difficult to train, is not it?" The man with colorless hair emerged from the crowd, nodding to Tessa. "Humans subdued, I say," he said, mistaking his expression of surprise with confusion. "And then once you have them properly trained, they die of something or other. Delicate creatures, human beings. All the longevity of butterflies. "
smiled. His smile showed his teeth. Her skin had the pale blue ice hardened.
His hair was almost white and hung straight to her shoulders, brushing the collar of his dark coat, elegant silk jacket was gray, with patterns of distorted symbols of silver. He looked like a Russian prince out of a book. "It's good to see her, Lady Belcourt," he said, also had an accent in her voice was not French ... More Slovenia. "We took a look at the new coach, through the window?"
This is De Quincey, Camille's voice whispered Tessa's mind len.
images suddenly arose in his brain as a source turned, instead of pouring water views. She saw herself dancing with De Quincey, with his hands on his shoulders; standing next to a stream of black under a white night sky from the north, looking as pale and ate something lying on the grass, sitting still at a long table of other vampires, with De Quincey to the head, while shouting and yell and down his fist so hard that the marble table splintered cracking.
He yelled something about a werewolf and a relationship that she would live to regret. Then she sat alone in a room in the dark, and cried, and De Quincey came and knelt beside his chair and took her hand, trying to comfort her, although he had been the cause of your pain. Can vampires mourn? Was Tessa's first thought, then, they have been known for a long time, Alexei de Quincey and Camille Belcourt. They were friends once, and he thinks they are still friends.
"In fact, Alexei," she said, and as he said, he knew that was the name he had been trying to remember on the table at dinner the other night, the foreign name of the Dark Sisters had said. Alexei. "I wanted something a little more space ...." He held out his hand and stood still as he kissed her cold lips on his skin.
De Quincey's eyes slid from Tessa to Will, and licked his lips.
De Quincey's eyes slid from Tessa to Will, and licked his lips. "And a new subdued also, I see. This is quite attractive. "He spread a thin, pale hand, and slid his index finger on the side of Will's cheek to his jaw. "That unusual color," he meditated. "And those eyes."
"Thanks," said Tessa, in the form of someone being praised on a special taste in the choice of wallpaper on the walls. Quincey noted nervously as he moved even closer to Will, who looked pale and tense. It asked if she was having problems holding back when probably every one of his ribs was screaming Enemy! Enemy!
De Quincey drew his fingers from Will's jaw to his throat until his collarbone where your pulse pounding.
"There," he said, and this time he smiled, his white teeth were visible. Were thin and sharp at the ends, and needles. His eyelids fell, languid and heavy, and his voice when he spoke, he was hoarse. "He would not mind Camille, is not it, if only I have a little bite ..."
Tessa's vision turned white. Quincey saw again the face of his white shirt scarlet blood, and saw a body hanging from a tree, upside down on the dark side of the creek, pale fingers hanging in the black water ...
His hand moved quickly, faster than she had imagined might have been moved, and took the doll De Quincey.
"Dear, no," he said, a smarmy tone in his voice. "I like to keep to myself just a little. You know you miss your appetite sometimes. "She lowered her eyelids. De Quincey laughed gullet.
"For you, Camille, exercise my control." She pulled her wrist, and for a moment, under the serene flirting, Tessa thought she saw a flash of anger in his eyes, quickly masked "In honor of our long relationship."
"Thank you, Alexei."
"Did you give any other thought, my dear," he said, "to my offer of a membership in the Club Pandemonium? I know the mundane you're bored, but they are a source of funding, nothing more. Those of us who are on board are on the verge of some very ... exciting Discovering. Power beyond your wildest dreams, Camille. "
Tessa waited, but the inner voice of Camille was silent. Why? He fought the panic and gave him a smile ade Quincey. "My dream," he said, and hoped that he believed that the hoarseness in his voice was due to the fun, not fear, "may be more wild than it already can imagine."
At his side, could say that Will shot him a surprised look, he quickly mastered his face and left them white, and looked away.
De Quincey, his eyes shone, just smiled.
"I only ask that you consider my offer, Camille.Y now, I attend to my other guests. Do I trust I'll see you at the ceremony? "
Stunned, simply nodded. "Of course."
De Quincey bowed, turned and disappeared into the crowd. Tessa let out his breath. I did not know he had been holding.
"Do not," Will said softly beside him. "Vampires do not need to breathe, remember."
"By God, Will. "Tessa realized she was trembling. "I would have bitten."
Will's eyes were obscured by Larabie. "I would have killed first."
A voice spoke in the elbow of Tessa. "And then they would both be dead."
quickly turned and saw a tall man had appeared just behind her, as quietly as if he floated like smoke. She wore an elaborate embroidered jacket, like something out of the previous century, piled with white lace around his neck and sleeves. Under his long jacket, Tessa envisioned knee pants, and high-buttoned shoes. His hair was like rough black silk, so dark it glowed bright blue, her skin was dark, the shape of her features such as Jem. He wondered if maybe, like Jem, was of foreign origin. In one ear she wore a silver tie that rocked a diamond earring the size of a finger, shining brightly under the lights, and had diamonds on the head of his stick of silver. Seemed to shine in full, as magical light. Tessa stared, never seen anyone dressed in such a crazy fashion.
"This is Magnus," Will said quietly, sounding relieved. "Magnus Bane."
"My dear Camille," Magnus said, leaning over to kiss her gloved hand. "We've been apart too long."
The moment he touched, memories of Camille ran Magnus memories overflowing-hugging, kissing, touching on a distinctively intimate and personal. Tessa pulled her hand, removing it with a shriek. And now reappear, he thought with resentment toward Camille.
"I see," he murmured, straightening. His eyes, when Tessa rose to almost make it lose composure were cracked gold with green eyes, the eyes of a cat put on a face distinctively human. They were full of glowing fun. Unlike Will, whose eyes had a trace of sadness even when he was funny, Magnus eyes were full of surprising joy. They rushed to the side, and pulled his chin toward the far side of the room, indicating that Tessa would follow. "Come then. There is a private room where we can talk. "
Tessa followed him, bewildered, Will by his side. Had he imagined, or white faces turned vampires following her as she passed? A red-haired vampire woman in an elaborate glared blue dress as she passed, Camille's voice whispered that she was jealous of the consideration that De Quincey had with her. Tessa was grateful when they finally reached a door, so cleverly placed on the panels of the wall had not realized it was a puera until the witch took a key. He slid the door open with a soft click. Will & Tessa followed him inside.
The room was a library, obviously rarely used, although volumes lined the walls were blackened with powder, as well as the velvet curtains that hung across the windows. When the door is closed behind them, the light in the room dimmed, before Tessa could say anything, Magnus snapped his fingers and twin flames leapt to the fireplace on the other side of the room. The flames were blue, and the fire itself was a strong perfume, as joss sticks [1] burning.
"Oh!" Tessa could not prevent a small exclamation of surprise ran through his lips.
With a smile, Magnus threw himself to the great marble table in the center of the room, and lay down side, his head resting on his hand. "I had never seen a magician do magic?"
Will gave an exaggerated sigh. "Please refrain from making fun of it, Magnus. I hope that Camille has told you that she knows very little about the Shadow World. "
" Sure, "said Magnus without repentance," but it's hard to believe, considering what it can do. "His eyes were Tessa. "I saw his face when he kissed her hand. I immediately knew who he was, right? Camille knows what he knows. There are some wizards and demons that can change, take any shape. But I had never heard of one that could do what you do. "
" Can not say certainty that I am a witch, "said Tessa. "Charlotte says I'm not labeled as a witch would be marked."
"Oh, you're a witch. Create it. Just because you do not have bat ears ... "Magnus saw Tessa frowned and raised his eyebrows. "Oh, do not want to be a witch, right? Despise the idea. "
" I just never thought ... "Tessa said in a whisper. "That was something else than human."
Magnus's tone was not indifferent. "Poor. Now that you know the truth, never come back. "
"Leave her alone, Magnus." Will's tone was sharp. "I find the room. If you do not want to help, at least try not to torment Tessa while doing it. "He moved toward the large oak desk in the corner of the room and began to rummage among the papers on it.
Magnus Tessa looked and winked. "I think he's jealous," he said in a conspiratorial whisper.
Tessa shook her head and moved to the nearest bookseller. There was a book half open in the middle of the shelf as if they exhibit. The pages were covered with brilliant figures intricate parts of the illustrations gleamed as if they had been painted with gold on parchment. Tessa exclaimed in surprise. "It's a Bible."
"That shocks you," asked Magnus.
"I thought vampires could not touch cosassagradas."
"It depends on the vampire, how long they have been alive, what kind of faith they had. De Quincey, in fact, he collects old Bibles. He says that almost no other book out there with so much blood on the pages. "
Tessa looked
at the closed door. The weak crescendo of voices on the other side was audible.
"We're not encouraging any decomentario, well hidden here? The other, vampires ... I'm sure we looked as we passed. "
" They looked at Will. "Somehow Magnus's smile was as perplexing as a vampire, even though he had no tusks. "Will looks bad."
Tessa looked at Will, who was rummaging through desk drawers with gloved hands. "I find it hard to believe coming from someone dressed as you are," said Will.
Magnus please ignore this. "Will does not behave like other humans subdued. No stares at his wife with blind adoration, for example. "
" That's why his monstrous hat, "said Will. "I go out."
"Humans are never subjugated 'off,'" said Magnus. "They worship their master vampire, no matter what they use. Of course, guests also were staring because they know my relationship with Camille, and are wondering what could be doing here in the library ... alone. " He moved his eyebrows at Tessa.
Tessa thought again of his visions. "De Quincey ... Camille said something to regret about his relationship with a werewolf. It sounded like a crime she committed. "
Magnus, who lay back turning his stick over his head, shrugged his shoulders. "For him it would be. Vampires and werewolves despise each other. They say it has something to do with the fact that the two races of demons that spawned were wrapped in a blood feud, but if you ask me, this is simply because both are predators, and predators always suffer incursions into their territory. Not all vampires are in favor of this view, or mine either, but quite liked De Quincey. Think we're friends. In fact, I suspect you'd be more than friends. "Magnus smiled at the confusion of Tessa. "But I despise him, though he does not know."
"So why spend time with him at all?" Asked Will, who had moved to a wall unit between two windows and was considering content. "Why come to this house?"
"Policy," Magnus said another shrug. "He is the head of the clan, to Camille failure to come to their parties when invited would be understood as an insult. And for me, allowing her to attend one could be ... unwise. De Quincey is dangerous, not less so for their own kind. Especially those who have offended in the past. "
" Then you should ... "Will began, and paused, his voice altered. "I found something." He paused. "Maybe you should take a look at this, Magnus." Will came to the table and it left on what looked like a large sheet of paper rolled. Le Tessa motioned for him to join him, and unrolled the paper across the table surface.
[size = 14] "There was some interest in the desktop," he said, "but I found this, hidden in a fake drawer in the closet. Magnus, what do you think? "
Tessa, who had moved to stand next to Will on the table, looked down on paper. Was covered with a sketch of a human skeleton made of pistons, gears and metal plates hammered. The skull had a hinged jaw, open basins for eyes and a mouth that ended just behind the teeth. There a panel on his chest too, just like Miranda. Along the left side of the page was what looked like notes scribbled in a language that couldnot Tessa decipher. The letters were albolutamente unknown.
"A shot of an automaton," said Magnus, sucabeza cocked to one side. "A human being artificial. Humans have always been fascinated by the creatures ... I guess because the humanoid can not die or be injured. Have you ever read The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Instruments? "
" had not even heard, "said Will. "Is there some gloomy moors in it, wrapped in mysterious mists? Brides "ghost wandering the halls of castles in ruins? A handsome boy running to the rescue of a beautiful girl but penniless? "
" No, "said Magnus. "However, in the middle is a rather hot about gears, but most are actually quite dry."
"Then Tessa not read it," said Will.
Tessa glared at him but said nothing he had not read, and was in no mood to let Will you win.
"Well, then," said Magnus. "It is written by an Arab scholar, two centuries before Leonardo da Vinci, and describes how the machines could be built to mimic the actions of humanos.Ahora beings, there is nothing alarming about it. But is this, "Magnus the long finger gently brushed through writing on the left side of the page," what worries me. "
Will leaned closer. His arm brushed manga Tessa. "Yeah, that was what I wanted to ask. Is this a curse? "
Magnus nodded. "A spell-binding. Demonic energize means an inanimate object, and would give the subject a kind of life. I've seen the spell. Before the agreements, the vampires liked demonic fun creating small devices such as musical boxes could play only at night, riding mechanical horse only after sunset, that kind of nonsense. "He hit his head thoughtfully stick . "One of the great challenges of creating robots, of course, was always his appearance. No other material provides the absolute appearance of human flesh. "
" But what if one had used? Human flesh, I mean, "asked Tessa.
Magnus paused delicately. "The problem there, for human designers, is, ah, obvious. Preserving meat destroys its appearance. Would have to use magic. And then magic again, to link the demonic energy to mechanical body. "
" What achieved that? "Asked Will, an edge in his voice.
"They have built robots that can write poems, drawing landscapes, but only these are aimed to create. They have individual creativity or imagination. Buoyed by an energy demonic, however, a robot will measure thought and will. But any spirit bound is enslaved. Will inevitably be entirely obedient here is who made the connection. "
" An army mechanic, "said Will, and had a sort of bitter humor in his voice. "Born and not from Heaven and Hell."
"I would not go that far," said Magnus. "The demonic energies are hardly easier to get an item. We must summon the demons, then link them, and know that this is a difficult process. Get enough demonic energy to create an army would be almost impossible and an extraordinary risk. Even for a poor bastard thought of as de Quincey. "
" I see. "And with that, Will rolled up the paper and slipped it inside his jacket. "Many thanks for your help, Magnus."
Magnus looked slightly puzzled, but his reply was polite: "Absolutely."
"I have understood that Quincey will not regret it and have another go Vampire in place, "said Will. "What you quietly, watching really breaking the law?"
"A time. I was invited here to witness one of their 'ceremonies' As it turned out ... "Magnus
was strangely dark. "Well, let me show you."
He turned and walked to the bookcase that Tessa had been considered before, gesturing to join him. Will followed, with Tessa with him. Magnus snapped his fingers again, and blue sparks flew when the Bible illustrated slid aside, revealing a small hole was cut in the wood on the back of the shelf. When Tessa leaned forward, surprised, was offered a view of an elegant music room. At least that was what I thought at first, seeing the chairs in rows facing the back of the room, he did a kind of theater. Rows of lighted candles for lighting were installed. Red satin curtains that reach the floor as bloqueabanl rear walls and the floor was slightly raised, creating a sort of makeshift stage. There was nothing in it except a solitary chair with a high wooden support.
steel shackles were attached to the arms of the chair, shine like shells of insects to light candles. The wood of the chair was spotted here and there with dark patches of color red. The legs of the chair, he saw Tessa, were nailed to the floor.
"This is where they have their little ... action," said Magnus, with a tinge of disgust in his voice. "They bring the human and, or, retain the seat. Then he turns slowly drain its victim, while the crowd watches and cheers."
"And enjoy that?" said Will. The disgust in her voice was more than nuance. "Is the pain of the mundane? Does your fear?"
"Not all Children of the Night are well," Magnus said quietly. "These are the worst of them."
"And the victims?" Will said, "Where did you find?"
"Criminals, above all," said Magnus. "Addicts, drunks, prostitutes. The forgotten and lost. Those who will be missed." Will looked straight. "Would you like to draw your plan?"
"We'll start when we see that the law has been broken," said Will. "At the moment when a vampire moves to harm a human, I will make a signal to the Enclave. They will attack."
"Really," said Magnus. "How will you get?"
"Do not worry about it." Will was imperturbable. "Your job is to take Tessa to place and remove it safely out of here. Thomas is waiting outside with the carriage. Montenses it and take you back to the Institute. "
" It seems a waste of my talent, assigning me a girl to take care of moderate size. "Magnus noted." Surely they could use me ... "
" This is a matter of Shadow Hunters, " said Will. "We make the law and defend the law's help we've provided so far has been very valuable, but do not require anything more than you."
Magnus Tessa's eyes met over Will's shoulder, his gaze ironic. "Isolation proud of the Nephilim. They use to you when they have a use for you, but they do share a victory with the Underworld." Tessa turned
aWill. "You're chipping away too, before you start the fight? "
" I, "said Will." Camille would be better to not be seen cooperating with Cazadoresde Shadows. "
" That's nonsense, "said Tessa." From Quincey know-it-I brought you here. Know that she lied about where you found it. Does she think that after this, the rest of the clan will not know that is a traitor? "
Somewhere in the back of the head, the soft laughter of Camille purred. It did not seem scared.
Will and Magnus looked. "Do not wait," said Magnus, "a vampire just to be here tonight live through the night to accuse."
"The dead can not tell stories," said Will quietly. The flickering light in the room painted his face alternating shades of black and gold line of his jaw was hard. He looked toward the slit, eyes narrowing. "Look."
Three jostled to get close to the crack, through which they saw the sliding doors at one end of the music room opening. Through them was the great hall lit by chandeliers, the vampires began to flow through the doors, taking their places on the seats before the 'scene'.
"Time," Magnus said quietly, closing the slit. ***
The music room was almost full. Tessa arm Magnus, Will saw his way through the crowd, looking for three seats together. Kept his head down, eyes on the ground, but still ...
"They are still looking," Magnus told quietly. "A Will, I mean."
"Of course I do," Magnus said. His eyes reflected the light like a cat as he surveyed the room. "Look. The face of a bad angel and eyes like the night sky in Hell. It is very pretty, and vampires like that. I can not say that I have not fixed, either. "Magnus smiled." Black hair and blue eyes, my favorite combination. "Tessa
brushed pale blond curls of Camille.
Magnus seencogió shoulders." No one is perfect. "Tessa
answer escaped, Will had found a set of chairs together, and I was waving a gloved hand. He tried not to pay attention to the way the vampires looked at him as he let Magnus the lead into the seats. It was true that was beautiful, but why do they matter? Will was just food for them, right?
Magnus He sat on one side and Will on the other, taffeta silk of her skirt rustled like leaves in a gale. Room was cold, not like a room full human beings who have been issuing body heat. Will sleeve slid up his arm when he reached out to give a pat in the pocket of his waistcoat, and saw that his arm was dotted with goose bumps. He wondered if the human companions of the vampires were always cold.
A murmur of whispers went through the room, and tore his eyes Tessa Will. I light the candle did not reach the corners of the room, portions of the "scene", the back of the room were stained with shadows, and even Tessa vampire eyes could not discern what was moving through the darkness, until Quincey who suddenly appeared from the shadows.
The audience was silent. Quincey then smiled. It was a maniacal smile, showing teeth, and turned his face. Now he was ferocious and wild, like a wolf. A quiet murmur of appreciation passed through the room, the way human hearing could show their appreciation for an actor with a stage presence especially good.
"Good night," said De Quincey. "Welcome, friends. Those of you who join me here," and smiled directly to Tessa, who was too nervous to do anything but look back, "are proud sons and daughters of Children of the Night. Do not bend the neck under the oppressive yoke called the Act do not respond to the Nephilim. Nor will we abandon our old ways as they please. "
was impossible not to observe the effect that the speech of De Quincey was having on Will. I was so tense as a bow, hands clasped in her lap, the veins standing out in its neck.
"We have a prisoner," continued De Quincey. "His crime is to betray the Children of the Night." He swept his gaze across the waiting audience of vampires. "And what is the punishment for such treason ?
"It is death!" shouted a voice, the vampire woman Delilah. It stretched forward in his seat, terrible anxiety in her face. The other vampires
joined his cry. "Death!" Death! "
More dark shapes slid between the curtains that formed the spotlight. Two male vampires, including the debater holding of a human form. A black hood concealed the man's features. All I could see Tessa was that he was thin, probably young ... and dirty, his clothes torn and tattered fine. His bare feet left blood stains on the tables while the men crawled forward and threw him to the chair. A faint sigh escaped from her throat sympathy deTessa, Will felt tense at his side.
The man continued flailing feebly, like an insect on the tip of a pin, while the vampires tied wrists and ankles to the chair, then took a step back. De Quincey smiled, his fangs were out. Comoalfileres ivory sparkled as he watched the crowd. Tessa could feel the anxiety of the vampires, and most of his restlessness, his hunger. No longer resembled a well-educated audience of human spectators. They were as eager as lions prey sniffing, swaying forward in their chairs, their eyes wide and bright, their mouths open.
"When you call the Enclave?" Will Tessa said in an urgent whisper.
Will's voice was strained. "When blood is drawn. We see them doing it."
"Will ..."
"Tessa." Whispered his real name, his fingers gripping his own. "Be still."
Reluctantly, Tessa turned his attention to the stage where De Quincey was approaching the chained prisoner. "He paused beside his chair, reached out and pale, slender fingers touched the man's shoulder, light as a spider's touch. The prisoner convulsing, flailing desperately frightened when the vampire's hand slipped from his shoulder to his neck. De Quincey put two fingers in place white man's pulse, like a doctor checking a patient's heartbeat.
De Quincey had a silver ring on his finger, he saw Tessa, one side of which was a sharp needle tip that stood out when squeezed his hand into a fist. There was a flash of silver, and the prisoner screamed, the first sound he had done. There was something familiar about the sound.
A thin red line appeared in the prisoner's throat, like a loop of red wire. Blood flowed and spilled down into the hollow of his collarbone. The prisoner struck and struggled against Quincey, her face was now a rictus mask of hunger, two fingers extended to touch the liquid red. Raised stained fingertips to her mouth. The crowd was whistling and moaning, barely able to stay in their seats. Tessa looked at the woman with the white hat with feathers. His mouth was open, his chin wet with drool.
"Will," Tessa muttered. "Will, please."
Will looked beyond her, Magnus. "Magnus. Get her out of here. "Tessa
Something rebelled at the idea of \u200b\u200bbeing taken away." Will, no, I'm fine here ... "
Will's voice was low, but his eyes sparkled. "We talked about this. Go away or I will not call the Enclave. Go, or man die. "
" Come. "She was Magnus, her hand on his elbow, guiding her up. reluctantly allowed the witch throw up, and then to the doors. Tessa looked around anxiously to see if anyone noticed his heading, but nobody was watching them. All the attention was fixed on De Quincey and the prisoner, and many of the vampires were on their feet, whistling and cheering and making sounds inhuman hunger.
Among the busy crowd, Will sat still, leaning forward like a hunting dog longing to be released from the belt. His left hand slipped into his vest pocket, and came up holding some copper fingers.
Phosphorus.
Magnus opened the door behind them. "Fast." Tessa
hesitated, looking back on stage. De Quincey was standing behind the prisoner now. His smiling face was stained with blood. Reached out and grabbed the hood of the prisoner. Will
stood, Phosphorus in the air. Magnus swore and threw the arm of Tessa.
She turned as if to go with him, then froze when Quincey off his black hood to reveal the prisoner below.
His face was swollen and bruised with the beatings. One eye was black and closed the swelling. Her blonde hair was plastered to his skull with blood and sweat. But none of that mattered, Tessa would have known anyway, anywhere. He knew now why the cry of pain sounded so familiar to her.
was Nathaniel. ________________
[1] Mecha with powder and other ingredients to power rockets and other fireworks.
Translation: Dark Guardians
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