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ore me。 I must have it。 I must have it as soon as I can。〃
Again she nodded。 She stared at me as firmly as before。 She was shivering； and she brought up out of her clothes a linen handkerchief and wiped at her tears。
What could these words mean to her？ They must have sounded like old poetry。 HOW could I expect her to grasp what I had said？
Her eyes never wavered。
〃The Evil Doer；〃 she confessed suddenly。 〃My lord； Amadeo told me；〃 she whispered。 〃I cannot play the game any longer that I don't know。 You feed upon the Evil Doer。 Don't be angry。 Amadeo confided his secret a long time ago。〃
I was angry。 Instantly and pletely； I was angry； but what did it matter？ Hadn't this dreadful catastrophe swept everything in its path？
So Amadeo had confided the secret to our beauteous Bianca after all his tears and promises to me！ So I had been the fool for confiding in a mere child。 So I had been the fool to let Santino live！ What did it matter now？
She had grown still and was staring at me yet； her eyes full of the fire of the torch； her lower lip trembling； and a sigh ing out of her as though she was about to cry again。
〃I can bring the Evil Doer here to this chamber；〃 she said； her face quickening。 〃I can bring the Evil Doer down these very steps。〃
〃And suppose such a being should overpower you before you have reached this place；〃 I said in a low voice； 〃how then should I establish any justice or revenge？ No； you cannot take such a risk。〃
〃But I will do it。 Rely upon me。〃 Her eyes grew brighter and it seemed she looked about； as though absorbing the beauty of the walls。 〃How long have I kept your secret？ I don't know； only that nothing could pry it from me。 And no matter what others suspected never did I betray you with one word。〃
〃My precious； my darling；〃 I whispered。 〃You will not take such risks for me。 Let me think now； let me use whatever powers of mind still remain to me。 Let us sit here in quiet。〃
She seemed perturbed and then her face hardened。
〃Give me the Blood； my lord；〃 she said suddenly； her voice low and quick。 〃Give it to me。 Make me what you made Amadeo。 Make me a blood drinker； and then I will have the strength to bring the Evil Doer to you。 You know it is the way。〃
I was pletely caught off guard。
I cannot say that in my burnt soul I had not thought of this very action…I had thought of it immediately when I had heard her weeping…but to hear it e from her own lips； and with such spirit； that was more than I had ever expected； and I knew as I had known from the beginning that it was the perfect plan。
But I must think on this！ Not only for her sake； but for my own。 Once the magic had worked in her…assuming that I had the strength to give it…how then would we； two weak blood drinkers； hunt the city of Venice for the blood we needed and then make the long journey North？
As a mortal she might have brought me to the Alpine pass of Those Who Must Be Kept by means of a wagon and armed guards； whom I might have left in the small hours to visit the chapel alone。
As a blood drinker； she would have to sleep by day with me； and therefore we would both be at the mercy of those who transported the sarcophagi。
In my pain； I could not imagine it。
I could not take all the steps necessary。 Indeed； it seemed suddenly that I could think of nothing； and shaking my head； I tried to prevent her from embracing me； from frightening herself all the more by embracing me and feeling the stiff dried creature that I had bee。
〃Give me the Blood；〃 she said again with urgency。 〃You have the strength to do it； don't you； my lord？ And； then I shall bring here all the victims you require！ I saw the change in Amadeo afterwards。 He didn't have to show me。 I will be that strong； will I not？ Answer me； Marius。 Or tell me； tell me how else I may cure you； or heal you； or bring you fort in this suffering that I see。〃
I could say nothing。 I was trembling with desire for her； with anger at her youth … at the conspiracy of her and Amadeo against me that he had told her … and consumed with desire for her here and now。
Never had she seemed more alive； more purely human； more utterly natural in her rosy beauty … a thing not to be despoiled。
She settled back as if she knew that she had pushed me a little too hard。 Her voice came softer； yet still insistent。
〃Tell me again the story of your years；〃 she said； her eyes blazing。 〃Tell me again of how it was that Venice did not exist or Florence either when you were already Marius； tell me this story once more。〃
I went for her。
She couldn't have escaped。
In fact I think that she tried to escape。 Surely she screamed。
No one outside heard her。 I had her too quickly for that； and we were too deep in the golden room。
Pushing the mask aside and covering her eyes with my left hand； I sank my teeth into her throat； and her blood came into me in a rush。 Her heart pounded faster and faster。 And just before it made to stop I drew back from her； shaking her violently and crying out against her ear
〃Bianca； wake！〃
At once I slashed my tight dried wrist until I saw the seam of blood and this I forced across her open mouth against her tongue。
I heard her hiss and then she clamped her mouth； only to moan hungrily。 I drew back the burnt unyielding flesh and cut it open once again for her。
Oh； it was not enough for her…I was too burnt； too weak…and all the while her blood went on a rampage through me； forcing its way into the collapsed and burnt cells that had once been alive。
Again and again I cut my twisted bony wrist and forced it against her mouth； but it was useless。
She was dying！ And all the blood she'd given me had been devoured。
Oh； this was monstrous。 I couldn't endure it…no； not to see the life of my Bianca snuffed out like one small candle。 I should go screaming mad。
At once I stumbled up the stone steps； not caring what my pain or weakness； forging my mind and heart together； and rising up； I opened the bronze door。
Once at the head of the steps above the quais I called to her boatman：
〃Hurry；〃 and then went back inside that he should follow me； which he did。
Not one second after he entered the house did I fall upon the poor unfortunate innocent and drink all the blood from him； and then； scarce able to breathe for the fort and soothing pleasure it gave me； I made my way back to the golden room； to find her where I had left her； dying still； at the foot of the stairs。
〃Here now； Bianca； drink； for I have more blood to give；〃 I said against her ear； my cut wrist on her tongue once more。 This time the blood flowed from it； scarce a deluge but what she must have and her mouth closed over the fount and she began to pull against my heart。
〃Yes； drink； my Bianca； my sweet Bianca；〃 I said； and she in her sighs answered me。
The Blood had imprisoned her tender heart。
The night's dark journey had only begun。 I could not send her in search of victims！ The magic in her was scarce plete。
Bent over like a hunchback in my weakness； I carried her put and into the gondola； each step achingly painful； my movements slow and unsure。
And； once I had her seated against the cushions； half awake and answering me； her face never more beautiful； never more pale； I took up the solitary oar。
Into the darker regions of Venice I traveled； the mist hanging thick over the canals； to those dimly lighted places where ruffians abound。
〃Wake； princess；〃 I said to her； 〃we are on the silent battlefield； and very soon will see our enemy； and the little war we love so much will begin。〃
In my pain I could scarcely stand upright； but as always happens in such situations； those we sought came out to do harm to us。
Sensing in my posture and her beauty the very shape of weakness； they forfeited their strength at once。
Into her arms； I easily enticed a proud and youthful victim； 〃who would pleasure the lady if that's what we wished〃 and from this one she easily consumed a fatal draught； his dagger falling into the bottom of the boat。
The next victim； a swaggering drunkard who hailed us down with pro