Blood and Gold - Anne Rice [100]
As for the child woman herself, she was far more drawn to Avicus, perhaps because of his immediate and obvious devotion, than she was to the distant and somewhat suspicious Mael.
“Thank you for coming,” I said. “I know it was not your choice to set foot in this house.”
“What’s happened?” Mael asked. “Who is this creature?”
“The companion of Eudoxia, sent away for her own protection until the battle with us could be finished, and now that it is finished, here is the child.”
“Child?” asked Zenobia gently. “I am no child.”
Avicus and Mael both smiled indulgently at her, though her look was grave and disapproving.
“I was as old as Eudoxia,” she said, “when the Blood was given to her. “Never make a blood drinker of a greater age,’ said Eudoxia. “For a greater mortal age can only lead to misery later on from habits learned in mortal life.’ All of Eudoxia’s slaves received the Blood at my age, and were therefore no longer children, but blood drinkers prepared for eternal life within the Blood.”
I said nothing to this, but I never forgot it. Mark me. I never forgot it. Indeed, there came a time a thousand years after, when these words meant a great deal to me, and they came to haunt my nights and to torture me. But we will come soon enough to that, for I mean to pass over that thousand years very quickly. But let me return to my tale.
This little speech from Zenobia was spoken tenderly as all her words had been spoken, and when she finished it I could see that Avicus was charmed. This did not mean that he would love her completely or forever, mind you, I knew that. But I could see that there was no barrier between the child and himself.
He drew closer still and seemed at a loss to express his respect for her beauty, and then, surprising me completely, he spoke to her:
“My name is Avicus,” he said. “I am a long-time friend of Marius.” Then he looked at me, and then back to Zenobia. He asked: “Are you alone?”
“Quite alone,” said Zenobia, though she did glance at me first to see if I meant to silence her, “and if you—all of you or perhaps one of you—do not take me with you out of here, or remain with me in this house, I’m lost.”
I nodded to both my long-time companions.
Mael gave me a withering look and shook his head in negation. He glanced at Avicus. But Avicus was still looking at our child.
“You won’t be left here unprotected,” said Avicus, “that’s unthinkable. But you must leave us alone now, so that we may talk. No, you remain where you are. There are many rooms in this house. Marius, where can we gather?”
“The library,” I said at once. “Come, both of you. Zenobia, don’t be afraid, and don’t try to listen, for you may hear only parts of what we say, and all is what matters. All is what will contain the true sentiments of the heart.”
I led the way, and we quickly seated ourselves in Eudoxia’s fine library just as we had only a short time before.
“You must take her,” I said. “I can’t do it. I’m leaving here and I’m taking the Mother and the Father, just as I’ve told you. Take her under your wing.”
“This is impossible,” Mael declared, “she’s far too weak. And I don’t want her! I tell you that plainly, I don’t want her!”
Avicus reached out and covered Mael’s hand with his own.
“Marius can’t take her,” said Avicus. “He’s speaking the simple truth. It’s not a choice. He cannot have such a little creature with him.”
“Little creature,” said Mael disgustedly. “Say what’s really the truth. She is a frail creature, an unknowing creature, and she will bring us harm.”
“I beg you both, take her,” I said. “Teach her all that you know. Teach her what she needs to be on her own.”
“But she’s a woman,” said Mael disgustedly. “How could she ever be on her own?”
“Mael, when one is a blood drinker such a thing doesn’t matter,” I said. “Once she is strong, once she truly knows everything, she can live like Eudoxia once lived if she chooses. She can live any way that she likes.”
“No, I don’t want her,” said Mael. “I will not take her. Not for any price or on any terms.”
I was about to speak but when