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k to you before you know the hour。 And then we'll speak of Blood Kisses and secrets and meantime tell no one that you belong to me。〃
〃Have I ever told anyone； Master？〃 he responded。 He kissed my cheek。 He placed his warm hand on my cheek as if he would know how inhuman I was。
I closed my lips over his。 I let a small stream of blood pour into him。 I felt him shudder。
I drew back from him。 He was limp in my arms。
I called for Vincenzo and I gave Amadeo over to him； and off I went into the night。
I left the splendid city of Venice with her glistering palaces； and I withdrew to the chilly mountain sanctuary； and I knew that the fate of Amadeo was sealed。
20
HOW LONG I WAS with Those Who Must Be Kept； I don't know。 A week； perhaps more。 I came into the shrine； confessing my astonishment that I had confided the mere phrase 〃Those Who Must Be Kept〃 to a mortal boy。 I confided again that I wanted him； I wanted him to share my loneliness。 I wanted him to share all that I could teach and give。
Oh； the pain of it！ All that I could teach and give！
What was this to the Immortal Parents？ Nothing。 And as I trimmed the wicks of the lamps； as I filled them with oil； as I let the light grow bright around the eternally silent Egyptian figures； I knew the same penance I had always known。
Twice with a gust of the Fire Gift； I lighted the long bank of one hundred tall candles。 Twice I let it burn down。
But as I prayed； as I dreamt； one clear conclusion did e to me。 I wanted this mortal panion precisely because I had put myself into the mortal world。
Had I never stepped into Botticelli's workshop this mad loneliness would not have e over me。 It was mixed up with my love of all the arts； but most particularly painting； and my desire to be close to those mortals who nourished themselves gracefully upon the creations of this period as I fed upon blood。
I also confessed that my education of Amadeo was almost plete。
On waking I listened with the powerful Mind Gift to the movements and thoughts of Amadeo who was no more than a few hundred miles away。 He was obedient to my instructions。 In the night hours he kept to his books； and did not go to Bianca。 Indeed 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 Anmdeo。 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； rny 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 ans