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〃You'll live forever； unchanging？〃 I asked； 〃feeding upon mortals who can be your brothers and sisters no more？〃
〃Yes； forever unchanging；〃 he answered； 〃Among them； though they are my brothers and sisters no more。〃
Once again； I gave him the Blood Kiss。 And then I lifted him and carried him to the bath。
I stripped off his thick and soiled velvet clothes。 And into the warm water I placed him； and there with the blood from my mouth I sealed all the cuts in the flesh made by Lord Harlech。 I shaved off for all time any beard that he might have。
Now he was ready for the magic as one who had been prepared for sacrifice。 And his heart beat slowly and his eyes were too heavy to open anymore。
And in a simple long silk shirt I clothed him and carried him out of the room。
The others were waiting anxiously。 What lies I told them I do not know。 How mad I was in these moments。 To Bianca I gave some solemn charge that she must fort and thank the others； and that Amadeo's life was safe in my hands。
〃Leave us now； my beauty；〃 I said to her。 Even as I held him； I kissed her。 〃Trust in me； and I shall see that you never e to harm。〃
I could see that she believed in me。 All fear was gone from her。
Within moments Amadeo and I were alone。
Then into my grandest painted salon I took him。 It was the room into which I'd copied Gozzoli's magnificent painting The Procession of the Magi； stolen from the original in Florence as a test of my memory and skill。
Into this intense color and variation； I plunged him； setting him down on his feet on the cold marble； and then giving him through the Blood Kiss； the greatest draught of blood which I had given so far。
With the Fire Gift I lighted the candelabra up one side of the chamber and down the other。 The painting was bathed in light。
〃You can stand now； my blessed pupil；〃 I told him。 〃My blood runs through you after the poison。 We have begun。〃
He trembled； fearing to let go of me； his head hanging heavily； his luxuriant hair soft against my hands。
〃Amadeo；〃 I said； kissing him once again as the blood flowed over my lips and into his mouth； 〃what was your name in that lost land？〃 Again I filled my mouth with blood and I gave it to him。 〃Reach back for the past； child； and make it part of the future。〃
His eyes opened wide。
I stepped away from him。 I left him standing。 I let loose my red velvet cloak and pushed it away from me。
〃e to me；〃 I said。 I held out my arms。
He took the first steps； unsure of himself； so full of my blood that surely the light itself must have amazed him； but his eyes were moving over the multitude of figures painted on the wall。 Then he looked directly at me。
How knowing； how clever was his expression！ HOW full of triumph he seemed suddenly in his silence and patience。 How utterly damned。
〃e； Amadeo； e and take it from me；〃 I said； my eyes full of tears。 〃You are the victor。 Take what I have to give。〃
He was in my arms instantly； and I held him warmly； whispering close to his ear。
〃Don't be afraid； child； not even for a moment。 You'll die now to live forever； as I take your blood and give it back to you。 I won't let you slip away。〃
I sank my teeth into his throat and tasted the poison in his blood as soon as it flowed into me； my body destroying the poison； my body consuming his blood effortlessly； as it might have consumed a dozen such young ones； and into my mind there came the visions of his childhood…of the Russian monastery where he had painted his flawless ikons； of the cold chambers in which he'd lived。
I saw monks half walled up alive as they fasted； eating only what would sustain them。 I smelled the earth。 I smelled decay。 Oh； how ghastly was this passage to salvation。 And he had been part of it； half in love with the sacrificial cells and their starving inhabitants； save for his gift： that he could paint。
Then for one instant I saw nothing but his paintings； one image tumbling upon another； rapt faces of Christ； the Virgin…I saw the halos studded with costly jewels。 Ah； such riches in the dark； cheerless monastery。 And then came the rich bawdy laughter of his father； wanting him to leave the monastery； to ride out with him into the grasslands where the Tatars rode。
Prince Michael； their ruler； wanted to send Amadeo's father into the grasslands。 It was a foolish mission。 The monks railed against it； that Amadeo's father would take him into such danger。 The monks wrapped the ikon and gave it to Amadeo。 Out of the darkness and bitter earth of the monastery； Amadeo came into the light。
I stopped； I drew back from the blood and the visions。 I knew him。 I knew the relentless and hopeless darkness inside of him。 I knew the life that had been forecast in hunger and bitter discipline。
I cut the flesh of my throat and I held his head near me。 〃Drink；〃 I said。 I pushed his head forward。 〃Put your mouth to the wound。 Drink。〃
At last； he obeyed me； and suddenly with all his force he drew on the blood。 Had he not tasted it enough to crave it？ And now it came without measure； and he was passionate for it； and I closed my eyes； and felt an exquisite sweetness that I had not known since the long ago night when I had given my blood to my blessed Zenobia to make her all the more strong。
〃Be my child； Amadeo；〃 I whispered in this sweetness。 〃Be my child forever；〃 I said。 〃Have I ever loved anyone more than you？〃
I drew him back away from the wound； and as he cried out I sank my teeth into his throat again。 This time it was my blood mingled with his that flowed into me。 The poison was no more。
Again； I saw the ikons。 I saw the dim corridors of the monastery； and then in the falling snow； I saw the two on their horses； Amadeo and his father。 Amadeo held the ikon； and the priest ran beside him； telling him that he must place the ikon in a tree； that the Tatars would find it and count it as a miracle； and Amadeo； how innocent he looked to be such a bold rider； to be chosen to ride with his father for Prince Michael's mission； as the snow came down heavily； as his hair was whipped by the wind。
And so it was your undoing。 Turn your back on it now。 You have seen it for what it was。 Look to the fabulous painting on the wall； Amadeo。 Look to the riches which I have given you。 Look to the glory and virtue which lie in beauty as varied and magnificent as what you see here。
I let loose of him。 He gazed at the painting。 I pressed his lips to my throat again。
〃Drink；〃 I said。 But he needed no counsel。 He held fast to me。 He knew the blood； as I knew him。
How many times did we do it； the passing of blood from one to the other？ I know not。 I know only that never having done it pletely since that long ago night in the Druid grove； I trusted to nothing； and made of him the strongest fledgling that I could。
And as he drank from me； I gave him my lessons； my secrets。 I told him of the gifts that might one night e to him。 I told him pf my long ago love for Pandora。 I told him of Zenobia； of Avicus； of Mael。 I told him all but the final secret。 That I kept from him。
Oh； thank the gods that I kept it。 I kept it close in my heart！
Well before morning it was finished。 His skin was wondrously pale； and his dark eyes fiercely bright。 I ran my fingers through his auburn hair。 Once again； he smiled at me so knowingly； with such a quiet air of triumph。
〃It's plete now； Master；〃 he said； as if he were speaking to a child。
And together we walked back to the bedchamber where he put on his handsome velvets； and we went out to hunt。
I taught him how to find his victims； to use the Mind Gift to make certain that they were Evil Doers； and I also remained with him through the few hours of his mortal Death。
His powers were very simply enormous。 It would not be long before he could use the Cloud Gift； and I could not find a test to outdo his strength。 He could not only read the minds of mortals； he could make spells as well。
His mind； quite naturally； was closed to me； though this was still something I did not pletely accept。 Of course it had happened with Pandora； yet I hoped that it would not happen with Am