cpike.thelastvampire-第7章

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　It　was　when　I　was　sixteen　that　the　first　of　the　six　men　who　had　witnessed　his　birth　disappeared。　The　man　just　vanished。　Later　that　same　year　another　of　the　six　disappeared　also。　I　asked　my　father　about　it；　but　he　said　that　we　could　not　hold　Yaksha　to　blame。　The　boy　was　growing　up　well。　But　the　next　year；　when　another　two　of　the　men　vanished；　even　my　father　began　to　have　doubts。　It　was　not　long　after　that　my　father　and　I　were　the　only　ones　left　in　the　village　who　had　been　there　that　horrible　night。　But　the　fifth　man　did　not　just　vanish。　His　body　was　found　gored　to　death；　as　if　by　a　wild　animal。　There　was　not　a　drop　of　blood　left　in　his　corpse。　Who　could　doubt　that　the　others　had　not　ended　up　the　same　way？
　I　begged　my　father　to　speak　up　about　what　was　happening；　and　Yaksha's　part　in　it。　By　then　Yaksha　was　ten　and　looked　twenty；　and　if　he　was　not　the　leader　of　the　village；　few　people　doubted　that　he　would　be　in　charge　soon。　But　my　father　was　softhearted。　He　had　watched　Yaksha　grow　up　with　pride；　no　doubt　feeling　personally　responsible　for　the　birth　of　this　wonderful　young　man。　And　his　sister　was　still　Yaksha's　stepmother。　He　told　me　not　to　say　anything　to　the　others；　that　he　would　ask　Yaksha　to　leave　the　village　quietly　and　not　e　back。
　But　it　was　my　father　who　was　not　to　e　back；　although　Yaksha　vanished　as　well。　My　father's　body　was　never　found；　except　for　a　lock　of　his　hair；　down　by　the　river；　stained　with　blood。　At　the　ceremony　honoring　his　death　I　broke　down　and　cried　out　the　many　things　that　had　happened　the　night　Yaksha　had　been　born。　But　the　majority　of　people　believed　I　was　consumed　with　grief　and　didn't　listen。　Still；　a　few　heard　me；　the　families　of　the　other　men　who　had　vanished。
　My　grief　over　my　lost　father　faded　slowly。　〃Yet　two　years　after　his　death　and　the　disappearance　of　Yaksha；　near　my　twentieth　birthday；　I　met　Rama；　the　son　of　a　wandering　merchant。　My　love　for　Rama　was　instantaneous。　I　saw　him　and　knew　I　was　supposed　to　be　with　him；　and　by　the　blessings　of　Lord　Vishnu；　he　felt　the　same　way。　We　were　married　under　the　full　moon　beside　the　river。　The　first　night　I　slept　with　my　husband　I　dreamed　of　Amba。　She　was　as　she　had　been　when　we　had　sung　late　at　night　together。　Yet　her　words　to　me　were　dark。　She　told　me　to　beware　the　blood　of　the　dead；　never　to　touch　it。　I　woke　up　weeping　and　was　only　able　to　sleep　by　holding　my　husband　tightly。
　Soon　I　was　with　child；　and　before　the　first　year　of　my　marriage　was　over；　we　had　a　daughter…Lalita；　she　who　plays。　Then　my　joy　was　plete　and　my　grief　over　my　father　faded。　Yet　I　was　to　have　that　joy　for　only　a　year：
　One　moonless　night　I　was　awakened　late　by　a　sound。　Beside　me　slept　my　husband；　and　on　my　other　side　our　daughter。　I　do　not　know　why　the　sound　woke　me；　it　was　not　loud。　But　it　was　peculiar；　the　sound　of　nails　scraping　over　a　blade。　I　got　up　and　went　outside　my　house　and　stood　in　the　dark　and　looked　around。
　He　came　from　behind　me；　as　he　often　used　to　when　we　were　friends。　But　I　knew　he　was　there　before　he　spoke。　I　sensed　his　proximity…his　inhuman　being。
　〃Yaksha；〃　I　whispered。
　〃Sita。〃　His　voice　was　very　soft。
　I　whirled　around　and　started　to　shout；　but　he　was　on　me　before　I　could　make　a　sound。　For　the　first　time　I　felt　Yaksha's　real　strength；　a　thing　he　had　kept　hidden　while　he　lived　in　our　village。　His　hands；　with　their　long　nails；　were　like　the　paws　of　a　tiger　around　my　neck。　A　long　sword　banged　against　his　knee。　He　choked　off　my　air　and　leaned　over　and　whispered　in　my　ear。　He　had　grown　taller　since　I　last　saw　him。
　〃You　betrayed　me；　my　love；〃　he　said。　〃If　I　let　you　speak；　will　you　scream？　If　you　scream　you　will　die。　Understood？〃
　I　nodded　and　he　loosened　his　grip；　although　he　continued　to　keep　me　pinned。　I　had　to　cough　before　I　could　speak。　〃You　betrayed　me；〃　I　said　bitterly。　〃You　killed　my　father　and　those　other　men。〃
　〃You　do　not　know　that；〃　he　said。
　〃If　you　didn't　kill　them；　then　where　are　they？〃
　〃They　are　with　me；　a　few　of　them；　in　a　special　way。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　You　lie…they　are　dead；　my　father's　dead。〃
　〃Your　father　is　dead；　that　is　true；　but　only　because　he　did　not　want　to　join　me。〃　He　shook　me　roughly。　〃Do　you　wish　to　join　me？〃
　It　was　so　dark；　I　could　see　nothing　of　his　face　except　in　outline。　But　I　did　believe　he　was　smiling　at　me。　〃No；〃　I　said。
　〃You　do　not　know　what　I　am　offering　you。〃
　〃You　are　evil。〃
　He　slapped　me；　hard。　The　blow　almost　took　off　my　head。　I　tasted　my　own　blood。　〃You　do　not　know　what　I　am；〃　he　said；　angry；　but　proud　as　well。
　〃But　I　do。　I　was　there　that　night。　Didn't　the　others　tell　you　before　you　killed　them？　I　saw　it　all。　It　was　I　who　named　you…Yaksha…cursed　son　of　a　yakshini！〃
　〃Keep　your　voice　down；〃
　〃I　will　do　nothing　you　say！〃
　He　gripped　me　tight　again；　and　it　was　hard　to　breathe。　〃Then　you　will　die；　lovely　Sita。　After　first　watching　your　husband　and　child　die。　Yes；　I　know　they　are　asleep　in　this　house。　I　have　watched　you　from　afar　for　a　while　now。〃
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　gasped；　bitter。
　He　let　me　go。　His　tone　was　light　and　jovial；　which　was　cruel。　〃I　have　e　to　offer　you　two　choices。　You　can　e　with　me；　be　my　wife；　bee　like　me。　Or　you　and　your　family　can　die　tonight。　It　is　that　simple。〃
　There　was　something　strange　in　his　voice　besides　his　cruelty。　It　was　as　if　he　were　excited　over　an　unexpected　discovery。　〃What　do　you　mean；　bee　like　you？　I　can　never　be　like　you。　You　are　different　from　anybody　else。〃
　〃My　difference　is　my　greatness。　I　am　the　first　of　my　kind；　but　I　can　make　others　like　me。　I　can　make　you　like　me　if　you　will　consent　to　our　blood　mixing。〃
　I　didn't　know　what　he　was　offering；　but　it　frightened　me；　that　his　blood；　even　a　little；　should　get　inside　mine。　〃What　would　your　blood　do　to　me？〃　I　
　it；　the　space　beyond　the　black　space　in　the　sky　where　the　yakshinis　came　from。　Just　with　that　tiny　bite　I　felt　as　if　every　drop　of　my　blood　turned　from　red　to　black。　I　felt　invincible。
　Still；　I　hated　him；　more　than　ever。
　I　took　a　step　away。
　〃I　watched　you　grow　up；〃　I　said。　〃You　watched　me。　You　know　I　always　speak　my　mind。　How　can　I　be　your　wife　if　I　hate　you　so？　Why　would　you　want　a　wife　like　me？〃
　He　spoke　seriously。　〃I　have　wanted　you　for　years　now。〃
　I　turned　my　back　on　him。　〃If　you　want　me　so；　it　must　mean　you　care　about　me。　And　if　you　care　about　me；　then　leave　this　place。　Go　away　and　don't　e　back。　I　am　happy　with　my　life。〃
　I　felt　his　cold　hand　on　my　shoulder。　〃I　will　not　leave　you。〃
　〃Then　kill　me。　But　leave　my　husband　and　child　alone。〃
　His　grip　on　my　shoulder　tightened。　Truly；　I　realized；　he　was　as　strong　as　ten　men；　if　not　more。　If　I　cried　out；　Rama　would　be　dead　in　a　moment。　Pain　radiated　from　my　shoulder　into　the　rest　of　my　body；　and　I　was　forced　to　stoop。
　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃You　must　e　with　me。　It　was　destiny　that　you　were　there　that　night。　It　is　your　destiny　to　follow　me　now；　to　the　edge　of　night。〃
　〃The　edge　of　night？〃
　He　pulled　me　up　and　kissed　me　hard　on　the　lips。　Once　more　I　tasted　his　blood；　mixed　with　mine。　〃We　will　live　for　eternity；〃　he　swore。　〃Just　say　yes。　You　must　say　yes。〃　He　paused　and　glanced　at　my　house。　He　did　not　have　to　say　it　again；　I　understood　his　meaning。　I　was　beaten。
　〃Yes。〃
　He　hugged　me。　〃Do　you　love　me？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　lie；　but　it　doesn't　matter。　You　will　love　me。　You　will　love　me　forever。〃
　He　picked　me　up　and　carried　me　away。　Into　the　dark　forest；　to　a　place　of　calm；　of　silence；　where　he　opened　his　veins　and　mine　with　his　nails；　and　pressed　our　arms　together；　and　held　them　such；　for　what　seemed　forever。　In　that　night　all　time　was　lost；　and　all　love　was　tainted。　He　spoke　to　me　as　he　changed　me；　but　it　was　with　words　I　did　not　understand；　the　sounds　yakshinis　must　make　when　they　mate　in　their　black　hells。　He　kissed　me　and　stroked　my　hair。
　Eventually；　the　power　of　his　transfusion　overwhelmed　my　body。　My　breathing；　my　heartbeat…　they　raced　faster　and　faster；　until　soon　they　chased　each　other；　until　I　began　to　scream；　like　one　dropped　into　a　boiling　pot　of　oil。　Yet；　this　I　did　not　understand；　and　still　do　not。　The　worst　of　the　agony　was　that　I　could　not　get　enough　of　it。　That　it　thrilled　me　more　than　the　love　any　mortal　could　give　to　me。　In　that　moment　Yaksha　became　my　lord；　and　I　cried　for　him　instead　of　for　Vishnu。　Even　as　the　race　of　my　breathing　and　heartbeat　collided　and　stopped。　Yes；　as　I　died　I　forgot　my　God。　I　chose　the　path　my　father　had　rejected。　Yes；　it　is　the　truth；　I　cursed　my　own　soul　by　my　own　choice　as　I　screamed　in　wicked　pleasure　and　embraced　the　son　of　the　devil。
　
　
　4
　
　
　The　expression　〃the　impatience　of　youth〃　is　silly。　The　longer　I　live；　the　more　impatient　I　bee。　True；　if　nothing　much　is　happening；　I　can　sit　perfectly　still　and　be　content。　Once　I　stayed　in　a　cave　for　six　months　and　had　only　the　blood　of　a　family　of　bats　to　dine　on。　But　as　the　centuries　have　gone　by；　I　want　what　I　want　immediately。　I　enter　into　relationships　swiftly。　Therefore；　in　my　mind；　I　already　consider　Ray　and　Seymour　friends；　although　we　have　just　met。
　Of　course；　I　often　end　friendships　as　quickly。
　It　is　Ray's　knocking　at　my　door　that　brings　me　out　of　my　rest。　How　does　a　vampire　sleep？　The　answer　is　simple。　Like　something　dead。　True；　I　often　dream　when　I　sleep；　but　they　are　usually　dreams　of　blood　and　pain。　Yet　the　dream　I　just　had；　of　Amba　and　Rama　and　Yaksha；　of　the　beginning；　is　the　one　I　find　the　most　painful。　The　pain　never　lessens　as　the　time　goes　by。　It　is　with　a　heavy　step　that　I　walk　from　the　bedroom　to　answer　the　front　door。
　Ray　has　changed　out　of　his　school　clothes　into　jeans　and　a　gray　sweatshirt。　It　is　ten　o'clock。　A　glance　at　Ray　tells　me　that　he　is　wondering　what　he　is　doing　at　my　house　after　dark。　This　girl　he　has　just　met。　This　girl　that　has　such　hypnotic　eyes。　If　he　wasn't　thinking　about　sex　before；　he　might　be　thinking　about　it　soon。
　〃Am　I　too　late？〃　he　asks。
　I　smile。　〃I'm　a　vampire。　I　stay　up　all　night。〃　I　step　aside　and　gesture。　〃Please　e　in；　and　please　forgive　the　bare　rooms。　As　I　said；　a　lot　of　the　furniture　is　still　in　the　garage。　The　moving　people　couldn't　get　into　the　house　when　they　came。〃
　Ray　glances　around　and　nods　his　approval。　〃You　said　your　parents　are　away？〃
　〃I　did　say　that；　yes。〃
　〃Where　are　they？〃
　〃Colorado。〃
　〃Where　did　you　live　in　Colorado？〃
　〃In　the　mountains；〃　I　say。　〃Would　you　like　something　to　drink？〃
　〃Sure。　What　do　you　have？〃
　〃Water。〃
　He　laughs。　〃Sounds　perfect。　As　long　as　you'll　join　me。〃
　〃Gladly。　I　might　have　a　bottle　of　wine　as　well。　Do　you　drink？〃
　〃I　have　a　beer　every　now　and　then。〃
　We　head　for　the　kitchen。　〃Wine　is　much　better；　red　wine。　Do　you　eat　meat？〃
　〃I'm　not　a　vegetarian；　if　that's　what　you　mean。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃Just　wondering；〃　I　say。　He　is　so　darling；　it　is　hard　to　resist　nibbling　on　him。
　We　have　a　glass　of　wine　together；　standing　in　the　kitchen。　We　drink　to　world　peace。　Ray　is　anxious　to　get　to　work；　he　says。　He　is　just　anxious。　Alone　with　a　mortal；　my　aura　of　difference　is　greater。　Ray　knows　he　is　with　a　unique　female；　and　he　is　intrigued；　and　confused。　I　ask　how　Pat　is。　May　as　well　confront　his　confusion。
　〃Fine；〃　he　says。
　〃Did　you　tell　her　you　were　ing　to　visit　me？〃
　He　lowers　his　head。　He　feels　a　twinge　of　guilt；　but　no　more。　〃I　told　her　I　was　tired　and　wanted　to　go　to