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into the bottom of the boat。
The next victim； a swaggering drunkard who hailed us down with promises of a nearby banquet to which we'd all be admitted； stepped fatally into my grasp。
I had barely the strength for it； and once again the blood ran riot within me； healing me with such violent magic that it bordered upon an increasing pain。
The third who came into our arms was a vagabond； whom I enticed with a coin I did not possess。 Bianca took him； her words slurred； disappointed that he had been so frail。
And all of this； beneath the veil of the ink…black night； and far away from the lights of the houses such as our own。
On and on we went。 The Mind Gift in me grew stronger with each kill。 My pain was eased with each kill。 My flesh was more fully restored with each kill。
But it would take a wilderness of kills to restore me； an inconceivable wilderness of victims to bring back to me the vigor which I had possessed before。
I knew that beneath my clothes； I appeared as one made of ropes dipped in pitch； and I could not imagine the dreadful terror that my face had bee。
Meantime； Bianca waked from her daze and suffered the pains of her mortal death； and now longed to return to her rooms for fresh clothing so that she might return with me to the golden lined room； in garments fit for her to be my bride。
She had had all too much of the blood of the victims and needed more of mine； but she did not know this； and I did not tell her as much。
Only reluctantly did I concede to her request； taking her back to her palazzo； and waiting uneasily in the gondola until she came； marvelously dressed； to join me； her skin like her purest white pearls。
Forsaking forever her many rooms； she brought with her many bundles； indeed all the clothes she wished to take with her； and all her jewels； and many candles； that we might be together in our hiding place without the roar of the torch。
At last we were in the golden chamber by ourselves； and she was brimming with happiness as she gazed at me； her secretive and silent masked bridegroom。
And only a single candle gave its slender light for us both。
She had spread out a cloak of green velvet that we might sit on it； and so we did。
My legs were crossed； and she leant back on her ankles。 My pain was quiet in me yet terrible。 Quiet in that it did not lurch with each breath I took but remained steady and allowed me to breathe as I would。
Out of her many bundles she produced for me a polished mirror with a bone handle。
〃Here； take the mask off； if you wish；〃 she said； her oval eyes very brave and hard。 〃You will not frighten me！〃
I looked at her for a long moment； cherishing her beauty； studying all the subtle changes which the Blood had worked in her…how it had made her so extravagantly and richly the replica of her former self。
〃You find me pleasing； do you not？〃 she asked。
〃Always；〃 I said。 〃There was a time when I wanted so to give you the Blood that I couldn't look at you。 There was a time when I would not go to your rooms for fear that I should lure you to the Blood with all my charms； such as they ever were。〃
She was amazed。 〃I never dreamt it；〃 she said。
I looked into the mirror。 I saw the mask。 I thought of the name of the Order： Talamasca。 I thought of Raymond Gallant。
〃You can read nothing of my mind now； can you？〃 I asked her。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃nothing。〃 She was most puzzled。
〃It's the way；〃 I said。 〃Because I made you。 You can read the minds of others； yes。。。〃
〃。。。 yes；〃 she answered。 〃The minds of our victims； yes； and when the blood flows； I see things。。。〃
〃。。。 yes。 And always you will see things； but never with that tool fall for the allure of the innocent； or the blood you drink will suddenly appear on your hands。〃
〃I understand it；〃 she answered too quickly。 〃So Amadeo told me all that you'd taught him。 Only the Evil Doer。 Never the innocent； I know。〃
Again； I felt a terrible anger； that these two； these blessed children； had shut me out。 I wondered when and how Amadeo had told her these secrets。
But I knew that I should put such jealousy aside。
The awful； awful sadness was that Amadeo was gone from me。 Gone。 And I could not possibly bring him back。 Amadeo was in the hands of those who meant to do unspeakable things。 I could not think of it。 I could not。 I would go mad。
〃Look into the mirror；〃 she said again。
I shook my head。
I removed my left glove and stared at my bony fingers。 She gave an awful little cry and then she was ashamed。
〃Would you still see my face？〃 I asked。
〃No； not for both our sakes；〃 she said。 〃Not till you've hunted more and I have traveled with you more and am stronger； the better to be your pupil as I promised； as I will be。〃
She nodded as she spoke； her voice quite determined。
〃Lovely Bianca；〃 I said softly； 〃meant for such harsh and strong things。〃
〃Yes； and I shall do them。 I will always be with you。 You will e in time to love me as you loved him。〃
I didn't answer。 The agony of losing him was monstrous。 How could I deny it with a single syllable？
〃And what is happening to him？〃 I asked； 〃or have they merely destroyed him in some hideous fashion； for you know of course that we can die by the light of the sun； or by the heat of a terrible fire。〃
〃No； not die； only suffer；〃 she said quickly； looking at me questioningly。 〃Are you not the living proof？〃
〃No； die；〃 I said。 〃With me it's what I told you； that I have lived for over a thousand years。 But with Amadeo？ It could be death very easily。 Pray that they do not design cruelties but only horrors； that whatever they do； they do it quickly or not at all。〃
She was filled with fear； and her eyes were watching me as if there were an actual expression on the leather face mask that I wore。
〃e now； you must learn to open this coffin；〃 I said to her。 〃And before that； I must give you more of my blood。 I've taken so many victims； I have more now to give and you must have it or you won't be strong as Amadeo； not at all。〃
〃But 。 。 。 I've changed my clothes；〃 she said。 〃I don't want to get them bloody。〃
I laughed。 I laughed and laughed。 The whole golden chamber echoed with my laughter。
She stared at me blankly。
〃Bianca；〃 I said gently。 〃I promise you； I won't spill a drop。〃
26
WHEN I AWOKE； lay quiet for an hour； weak and keenly in pain。 So bad was the pain； in fact； that sleep seem preferable to wakefulness； and I dreamt of things long ago； times when Pandora and I had been together and when it had not seemed possible that we would ever part。
What finally jarred me from my uneasy slumber was the sound of Bianca screaming。
Over and over in terror she screamed。
I rose； somewhat stronger than the night before； and then once I was certain that I had my gloves and mask in place； I crouched beside her coffin and called out to her。
At first she couldn't hear me； so loud were her frantic screams。 But at last； she grew quiet in her desperation。
〃You have the strength to open the coffin；〃 I said。 〃I revealed this to you last night。 Put your hands against the lid and move it。〃
〃Let me out of it； Marius；〃 she pleaded； sobbing。
〃No； you must do it for yourself。〃
Softer sobs came from her； but she followed my instructions。 There came a grinding noise from the marble and the lid moved to one side； and then she rose； pushing the lid out of her way； and she freed herself from the box altogether。
〃e here to me；〃 I said。
She obeyed me； shivering with sobs； and with my gloved hands I stroked her mussed hair。
〃You knew you had the strength；〃 I said… 〃I showed you that even with your mind you could move it。〃
〃Please light the candle；〃 she begged。 〃I need the light。〃
I did as she asked me to do。 〃 You must try to quiet your soul；〃 I said。 I took a long deep breath。 〃You're strong now； and after we hunt tonight you'll be even stronger。 And as I grow ever more strong； I will give you more of my blood。〃
〃Forgive me for my fear；〃 she whispered。
I had little strength myself to fort her； but I knew that she nee