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〃No； say what you must say；〃 I urged her at once。
〃Think of what he suffered；〃 she said。 〃He was but a child when it happened。〃
I agreed to all this。 Then I spoke again：
〃Well； he's no child now； Bianca。 He may be as beautiful as he was when I made him through the Blood； but he is a patriarch in the dust。 And all of Paris； the wondrous city of Paris； surrounds him。 I watched him move through the city streets alone。 There was no one there to restrict him。 He might have sought the Evil Doer as we do。 But he did not。 He drank deep of innocent blood； not once but twice。〃
〃Ah； I see。 This is what has so embittered you。〃
I thought on it。
〃Yes； you're right。 It's what turned me away； though I didn't even know it。 I thought it was the manner in which he spoke to his flock。 But you are right。 It was those two deaths； from which he drew his hot red feast； when Paris swarmed with mortals steeped in murder who might easily have been slain by him。〃
She laid her hand on mine。
〃If I choose to snatch any one of these Children of Darkness from his lair；〃 I said； 〃it is Santino。〃
〃No； but you mustn't go to Rome。 You don't know whether or not there are old ones among that coven。〃
〃Some night；〃 I said； 〃some night I shall go there。 When I am more certain of immense power； and when I am more certain of the ruthless rage it requires to destroy many others。〃
〃Be still now；〃 she said。 〃Forgive me。〃
I was quiet for a moment。
She knew how many nights I had wandered alone。 I had now to confess what I had been doing on those nights。 I had now to begin my secret plan。 I had now…for the first time in all our years together…to drive a wedge between her and me； while giving her precisely what she wanted。
〃But let's leave talk of Amadeo；〃 I said。 〃My mind is on happier things。〃
She was immediately interested。 She reached out and stroked my face and hair as was her custom。
〃Tell me。〃
〃How long has it been since you asked me if we could have our own dwelling？〃
〃Oh； Marius； don't tease me on this account。 Is it possible！〃
〃My darling； it's more than possible；〃 I said； warmed by her beaming smile。 〃I have found a splendid place； a lovely little city on the Elbe River in Saxony。〃
For this I received the sweetest kiss。
〃Now in these many nights when I have been off on my own； I have taken the liberty of acquiring a castle near the city； a much decayed place； and I hope you'll forgive me…。〃
〃Marius； this is momentous news！〃 she said。
〃I have already spent a considerable sum for the repairs…the new wooden floors and stairs； glass windows； and abundant furnishings。〃
〃Oh； but this is wonderful；〃 she said。 She put her arms around me。
〃I'm relieved that you're not angry with me；〃 I said； 〃for moving so quickly without you。 You might say I fell in love with the place； and taking several drapers and carpenters there I told them my dreams and now all is being done as I have directed。〃
〃Oh； how could I be angry？〃 she said。 〃I want it more than anything in the world。〃
〃There is one more aspect to this castle which I should disclose；〃 I said。 〃Though the more modern building above is more like a palace than a castle； its foundations are quite old。 Indeed； a major part of the foundations were built in early times。 And there are huge crypts beneath it； and a true dungeon。〃
〃You mean to move the Divine Parents？〃 she asked。 〃I do。 I think it's time for it。 You know as well as I that there are small cities and towns springing up all around us。 We aren't isolated here。 Yes； I want to move the Divine Parents。〃
〃If you say； of course； I go along with you。〃 She was too happy to conceal it。 〃But is it safe there？ Didn't you remove them to this remote place so that you never had to fear their discovery？〃 I thought on this for a while before answering。 At last I said：
〃It is safe there。 And with the passing centuries； the world of the Undead changes around us。 And I can't endure this place any longer。 And so I take them to a new place。 And there are no blood drinkers in it。 I have searched far and wide for them。 They aren't there。 I hear no young ones。 I hear no old ones。 I believe it's safe。 And perhaps the most true answer to that logic is this： I want to bring them there。 I want a new place。 I want new mountains and new forests。〃
〃I understand；〃 she said。 〃Oh； I do understand；〃 she said again。 〃And more than ever； I believe that they can defend themselves。 Oh； they need you； I don't doubt it； and that's why on that long ago night they opened the door for you and lighted the lamps。 I can still remember it so vividly。 But I spend long hours here simply gazing at them。 And I have many thoughts during these hours。 And I believe that they would defend themselves against any who sought to hurt them。〃
I didn't argue with her。 I didn't bother to remind her that centuries ago they had allowed themselves to be placed in the sun。 What was the purpose？ And for all I knew she was right。 They would crush anyone who tried to subject them to such injury。
〃e now；〃 she said； seeing me fallen into a mood。 〃I'm too happy with this good news。 Be happy with me。〃
She kissed me as if she couldn't stop herself。 She was so innocent in those moments。
And I； I was lying to her； truly lying to her for the first time in all our years together。
I was lying because I hadn't told her a word of Pandora。 I was lying because I didn't truly believe that she could harbor no jealousy of Pandora。
And because I couldn't tell her that my love for Pandora lay at the very heart of what I did。 What creature would want to reveal such a scheme to a lover？
I meant to place us in Dresden。 I meant to remain in Dresden。 I meant to be near Dresden at every sunset of my existence until such time as Pandora came again。 And I could not tell this to Bianca。
And so I pretended that it was for her that I had chosen this beautiful home； and indeed it was for her； there is no doubt of it。 It was for her to make her happy； yes。 But that was not all of it。
Within the month； we began work on the new shrine； utterly transforming the castle dungeon in Saxony into a fit place for the King and Queen。
Goldsmiths and painters and stone masons were brought down the many flights of stone steps to enhance the dungeon until it was the most marvelous private chapel。
The throne was covered in gold leaf as was the dais。
And once again； the proper bronze lamps were found； fresh and new。 And there were rich candelabra of gold and silver。
I alone labored on the heavy iron doors and their plex fastenings。
As for the castle； it was more of a palace than a castle； as I've said； having been rebuilt several times； and it was charming in its placement above the banks of the Elbe； and it had around it a lovely forest of beech； oak and birch trees。 There was a terrace from which one could look down at the river； and from many large windows； one could see the distant city of Dresden。
Of course we would never hunt in Dresden or in the surrounding hamlets。 We would go far afield as had always been our custom。 And we would waylay the forest brigands； an activity which had bee a regular sport for us。
Bianca had some concerns。 And only reluctantly she confessed to me that she had some fear of living in a place where she could not hunt for herself without me。
〃Dresden is big enough to serve your appetite；〃 I said； 〃if I were not able to carry you elsewhere。 You'll see。 It's a beautiful city； a young city I should say； but under the Duke of Saxony it's ing along magnificently。〃
〃You're sure of this；〃 she asked。
〃Oh； yes； I'm sure of it； and as I've told you； I'm also sure that the forests of Saxony and nearby Thuringia contain their number of murderous thieves who have always been such a special repast for us。〃
She thought on all this。
〃Let me remind you； my darling；〃 I said； 〃you can on any night cut your beautiful blond hair with the full confidence that it will grow back by day； and you can go out clothed as a man； traveling with preternatural speed and strength to hunt your victims。 Perhaps we should play at thi