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eed he kept to my bedchamber； for he no longer knew simple camaraderie with the other boys。
What could I give this child that would prompt him to leave me？
What could I give him to more purely train him to be the panion I wanted with all my soul？
Both questions tormented me。
At last a plan came to me…one last trial must be passed by him； and should he fail it； I would mit him with irresistible wealth and position to the mortal world。 How that might be done； I did not know； but it did not strike me as a difficult thing。
I meant to reveal to him the manner in which I fed。
Of course this was a lie； this question of a trial； for once he had beheld me in the act of feeding； in the act of murder； how then could he pass unscathed into a productive mortality； no matter how great his education； his refinements and his wealth？
No sooner had I put that question to myself than I remembered my exquisite Bianca； who remained quite steadily at the helm of her ship in spite of the poisonous cups she had passed。
All this； evil and cunning； made up the substance of my prayers。 Was I asking permission of Akasha and Enkil to make this child a blood drinker？ Was I asking permission to admit Amadeo to the secrets of this ancient and unchangeable shrine？
If I did ask； there came no answer。
Akasha gave me only her effortless serenity； and Enkil his majesty。 The only sound came from my movements as I rose from my knees； as I laid my kisses at the feet of Akasha； as I withdrew and closed behind me the immense door； and bolted it shut。
There was wind and snow in the mountains on that evening。 It was bitter and white and pure。
I was glad to be home in Venice within minutes； though my beloved city was also cold。
No sooner did I reach my bedchamber than Amadeo came into my arms。
I covered his head with kisses and then his warm mouth； taking the breath from him； and then with the smallest bite； giving him the Blood。
〃Would you be what I am； Amadeo？〃 I asked。 〃Would you be changeless forever？ Would you live a secret for eternity？〃
〃Yes； Master；〃 he said with a feverish abandon。 He laid both his warm hands on the sides of my face。 〃Give it to me； Master。 Do you think I've not brooded upon it？ I know that you fathom our minds。 Master； I want it。 Master； how is it done？ Master； I'm yours。〃
〃Find the heaviest cloak to protect you against the winter；〃 I said； 〃And then e up to me on the roof。〃
It seemed scarcely a moment before he joined me。 I looked out towards the sea。 The wind was strong。 I wondered if it hurt him and I did fathom his mind； and I measured his passion。
And looking into his brown eyes I knew that he had left the mortal world behind him more effortlessly perhaps than any other mortal I might have plucked from my garden； for those memories still festered within him； though he was disposed pletely to believe in me。
I wrapped him in my arms and； covering his face； I carried him with me down into a wretched district of Venice； in which thieves and beggars slept where they could。 The canals reeked of refuse and dead fish。
There I found a mortal victim within minutes； and to Amadeo's amazement caught the miserable fellow with preternatural speed as he sought to stab me； and brought him up to my lips。
I let Amadeo see the cunning teeth with which I pierced the throat of the wretch； and then my eyes closed and I became Marius； the blood drinker； Marius； the slayer of the Evil Doer； and the blood flowed into me； and it did not matter to me that Amadeo was witness； that Amadeo was there。
When it was finished； I dropped the body silently into the filthy water of the canal。
I turned； feeling the blood in my face and in my chest and then slowly moving into my hands。 My vision was dim； and I knew that I was smiling…not a vicious smile； you understand； but something secretive and beyond anything the child had ever beheld。
When at last I looked at him； I saw only amazement。
〃Have you no tears for the man； Amadeo？〃 I asked。 〃Have you no questions as to the disposition of his soul？ Without Sacred Rites； he died。 He died only for me。〃
〃No； Master；〃 he answered； and then a smile played on his lips as though it were a flame which had sprung from mine。 〃It's marvelous what I saw； Master。 What do I care for his body or his soul？〃
I was too angry to respond。 There had been no lesson in it！ He was too young； the night too dark； the man too wretched； and all that I had foreseen had e to nought。
Once again； I wrapped him in my cloak； covering his face so that he could see nothing as I traveled through the air silently； moving over the rooftops and then breaking deftly and silently through an upper window that had been shuttered against the night air。
Through the rear chambers of the house； I moved from this breach till we stood together in the shadowy and sumptuous bedroom of Bianca； and through the salons before us； I saw her turn from her guests。 I saw her ing to us。
〃Why are we here； Master？〃 asked Amadeo。 He looked towards the front rooms fearfully。
〃You would see it again to understand it；〃 I said angrily。 〃You would see it among those whom we claim to love。〃
〃But how； Master？〃 Amadeo demanded。 〃What are you saying？ What do you mean to do？〃
'T hunt the Evil Doer； child；〃 I said to him。 〃And you shall see that there is evil here as rich as there was in that poorling whom I mitted to the dark water； unconfessed and unmourned。〃
Bianca stood before us； asking us as gently as she could； How had we e to be in her private rooms？ Her pale eyes looked at me searchingly。
Quickly I accused her。
〃Tell him； my beloved beauty；〃 I said； my voice muted so that the pany should take no notice； 〃tell him what awful deeds lie behind your gentle posure。 Tell him what poison guests have drunk beneath your roof。〃
How calm she was as she answered me。
〃You anger me； Marius。 You e improperly。 You accuse me without authority。 Leave me and e again in the gentle manner in which you have e so many times before。〃
Amadeo was trembling。 〃Please； Master； let us leave here。 We have nothing but love for Bianca。〃
〃Oh； but I would have more of her； rather than love of her；〃 I said to him。 〃I would have her blood。〃
〃No； Master；〃 Amadeo whispered。 〃Master； I beg you。〃 〃Yes； for it's evil blood；〃 I said； 〃and it's all the more savory to me。 I would drink the stuff of murderers。 Tell him； Bianca； of wine laced with potions； and lives forfeit for those who have made you the instrument of their most wicked plans。〃
〃Leave me now；〃 she said again without the slightest fear of me。 Her eyes blazed。 〃Marius de Romanus； you cannot judge me。 Not you with your magician's powers； not you with your boys。 I will say nothing except that you must leave my house。〃
I moved to take her in my arms。 I did not know when I would stop but only that I would reveal the horror of it to him； that he must see it； he must see the suffering； he must see the pain。
〃Master；〃 he whispered； struggling to e between us； 〃I will give up my petitions to you forever； if only you do not harm her。 Do you understand？ Master； I will beg nothing further。 Let her go。〃
I held her； looking down at her； smelling the sweetest perfume of her youth； her hair； her blood。
〃Take her and I die with her； Master；〃 said Amadeo。
It was enough。 It was more than enough。
I moved away from her。 I felt a strange confusion。 The music in the rooms became a noise。 I think I sat upon her bed。 The blood thirst in me was terrible。 I might have slain them all； I thought； looking toward the crowd beyond； and then I believe I said：
〃We are murderers together； you and I； Bianca。〃
I saw that Amadeo was weeping。 He stood with his back to the pany。 His face was glistening with tears。
And she； she the fragrant beauty with her braided blond hair came to sit beside me； so boldly； and to take my hand； my very hand。
〃We are murderers together； my lord；〃 she said； 〃Yes； I can speak for myself as you demanded。 But understand that I am given the missions by those who would as easily send me to Hell in the s