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It was all I needed to push me into action。 I left the carriage and ran to her door。 I shot an evil glance at her mortal servants； which rendered them virtually powerless； and threw open the doors for myself。
I rushed up the marble steps。 I found her going madly along the walls； pounding the mirrors with her fists。 I found her shedding blood tears and shivering。 There was broken glass all around her。
I took her wrists。 I took them tenderly。
〃Stay with me；〃 I said。 〃Stay with me！〃
Quite suddenly behind me； I heard the presence of Arjun。 I heard his unhurried step and then he entered the room。
She had collapsed against my chest。 She was shaking。
〃Don't worry；〃 said Arjun in the same patient tone he had used with me in the Duke's palace。 〃We can talk of all these things in a courteous way。 I am not a wild creature； given to acts of destruction。〃
He seemed the perfect gentleman with his lace handkerchief and high…heeled shoes。 He looked about at the broken pieces of mirror which lay on the fine carpet； and he shook his head。
〃Then leave me alone with her；〃 I said。
〃Is this what you wish； Pandora？〃 he asked。
She nodded。 〃For a little while； my darling；〃 she said to him。
As soon as he had left the room； and shut the tall double doors behind him； I stroked her hair； and I kissed her again。
〃I can't leave him；〃 she confessed。
〃And why not？ 〃 I asked。
〃Because I made him；〃 she answered。 〃He is my son； my spouse； and my guardian。〃
I was shocked。
I had never supposed such a thing！
In all these years I had thought him some dominating creature who kept her in his power。
〃I made him so that he would take care of me；〃 she said。 〃I took him from India where I was worshiped as a very goddess by those few who had set eyes upon me。 I taught him European ways。 I placed him in charge of me so that in my weakness and despair； he would control me。 And it is his hunger for life which drives us both。 Without it I might have languished in some deep tomb for centuries。〃
〃Very well；〃 I said； 〃he is your child。 This I understand； but Pandora； you are mine！ What of this！ You are mine； and I have you in my possession again！ Oh； forgive me； forgive that I speak so harshly； that I use words such as possession。 What do I mean to say？ I mean to say I can't lose you！〃
〃I know what you mean；〃 she said； 〃but you see； I can't turn him away from me。 He has done far too well in what I have asked of him； and he loves me。 And he cannot live under your roof； Marius。 I know you only too well。 Where Marius lives； Marius rules。 You will never suffer a male such as Arjun to dwell with you on my account or for any other reason。〃
I was so deeply wounded that for one moment I couldn't answer her。 I shook my head as though to deny what she had said； but in truth I didn't know whether or not she was wrong。 I had always； always thought only of destroying Arjun。
〃You can't deny it；〃 she said softly。 〃Arjun is too strong； too willful； and has been too long his own master。〃
〃There must be some way；〃 I pleaded。
〃There will e a night； surely；〃 she said； 〃when it is time for Arjun to part from me。 The same may happen with you and your Bianca。 But this is not the time。 And so I beg you； let go of me； Marius； say farewell to me； and promise me that you will eternally persevere and I shall give you the same promise。〃
〃This is your vengeance； isn't it？〃 I asked quietly。 〃You were my child and within two hundred years I left you。 And so you tell me now that you won't do the same to him…。〃
〃No； my beautiful Marius； it isn't vengeance； it is only the truth。 Now； leave me。〃 She smiled bitterly。 〃Oh； what a gift to me this night has been； that I have seen you alive； that I know the Roman blood drinker Santino was wrong。 This night will carry me through centuries。〃
〃It will carry you away from me；〃 I said； nodding。
But then her lips caught me by surprise。 It was she who kissed me ardently； and then I felt her tiny sharp teeth pierce my throat。
I stood rigid； eyes closed； letting her drink； feeling the inevitable pull on my heart； my head suddenly full of visions of the dark forest through which she and her panion so often rode and I couldn't know whether these were her visions or mine。
On and on she drank； as though she was starving； and deliberately I created for her the luscious garden of my most cherished dreams； and in it I envisioned the two of us together。 My body was nothing but desire for her。 Through every sinew I felt the pull of her drinking and I gave no resistance。 I was her victim。 I held to no caution。
It seemed I was not standing any longer。 I must have fallen。 I didn't care。 Then I felt her hands on my arms； and I knew I was on my feet。
She drew back； and with blurred eyes I saw her gazing at me。 All of her hair had spilled down on her shoulders。
〃Such strong blood；〃 she whispered。 〃My Child of the Millennia。〃
It was the first time I had heard such a name for those of us who have lived so long and I was faintly charmed by it。
I was groggy； so strong had she been； but what did it matter？ I would have given her anything。 I steadied myself。 I tried to clear my vision。
She was far away across the room。
〃What did you see in the blood？〃 I whispered。
〃Your pure love；〃 she answered。
〃Was there any doubt？〃 I asked。 I was growing stronger by the moment。 Her face was radiant with the blood flush and her eyes were fierce as they had always been when we quarreled。
〃No； no doubt；〃 she said。 〃But you must leave me now。〃
I said nothing。
〃Go on； Marius。 If you don't； I can't bear it。〃
I stared at her as if I were staring at a wild thing of the wood； and so she seemed to be； this creature whom I had loved with all my heart。
And once again； I knew it to be finished。
I left the room。
In the grand hallway of the house； I stood stunned； and there Arjun was standing in the corner； staring at me。
〃I am so sorry； Marius；〃 he said； as if he meant it。
I looked at him； wondering if anything could work me into a rage to destroy him。 Were I to do that； she would have to stay with me。 And oh； how the thought of it blazed in my mind。 Yet I knew she would utterly and pletely hate me for it。 And I would hate myself。 For what did I have against this creature who wasn't her vile master as I'd always supposed； but her child！…a fledgling vampire of some five hundred years or less； young in the Blood and full of love for her。
I was far far from such a possibility。 And what a sublime being he was as he surely read these thoughts in my desperate and unveiled mind and yet stood his ground with such poise； merely looking at me。
〃Why must we part！〃 I whispered。
He shrugged。 He gestured eloquently with his hands。
〃I don't know；〃 he said； 〃except she wants it so。 It is she who wants ever to be on the move； it is she who draws designs upon the map。 It is she who draws the circles in which we travel； now and then making Dresden the center of our roamings； now and then choosing some other city； such as Paris or Rome。 It is she who says we must go on and on。 It is she。 And what can I say； Marius； except that it delights me。〃
I went towards him and for one moment he thought I meant to harm him and he stiffened。
I took his wrist before he could move。 I studied him。 What a noble being he was； his grand white wig in sharp contrast to his lustrous brown skin； his black eyes staring at me with such earnestness and seeming prehension。
〃Stay with me here；〃 I said。 〃Both of you。 Remain with me。 Stay with me and my panion； Bianca。〃
He smiled and shook his head。 There was no contempt in his eyes。 We were male to male and there was no contempt。 He told me only No。
〃She will not have it；〃 he said； his voice very placating and calm。 〃I know her。 I know all her ways。 She brought me to herself because I worshiped her。 And once having her blood I have never ceased in that worship。〃
I stood there； clutching his wrist still； and staring about me as if I were ready to cry out to the gods。 And it seemed my cry would bre