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lood Drinkers。' And that constituted the entire history he bequeathed to me。
'If I went against him in any particular； he hit me。 It wasn't a terribly hard blow； but it was enough to stop me from ever opposing him on any count。
〃When I tried to put the household in some sort of order； he stared at me dully； never offering to help but never striking me either。 I rolled out some of the Babylonian rugs。 I put some of the marble statues along the wall so that they looked respectable。 I cleaned up the courtyard。
〃Now during this time； I heard other blood drinkers in Alexandria。 I even glimpsed them； but never did they e very close。
〃When I told him about them； he only shrugged and said that they were no worry of mine。 Tm too strong for them；' he told me； 'and besides they don't want any trouble。 They know that I know too much about them。' He didn't explain further； but he told me I was very blessed in that he'd given me old blood。
〃I don't know what kept me so happy during that time。 Perhaps it was hunting different parts of Alexandria； or just reading new books； or swimming in the sea。 He and I did go out together and swim in the sea。
〃I don't know if you can imagine this…what the sea meant to me； that I might bathe in it； that I might walk along the shore。 A closeted Greek housewife would never have that privilege。 And I was a blood drinker。 I was a boy。 I hunted the ships in the harbor。 I walked with brave and evil men。
〃One night my Maker failed to cut off my hair； as was the evening custom； and he took me to a strange place。 It was in the Egyptian quarter of the city； and once we opened the door； we had to follow a long descending tunnel； before we came into a great room covered with the old picture writing of Egypt。 There were huge square pillars supporting the ceiling。 It was rather an awe…inspiring place。
〃I think it brought to memory a more refined time to me； when I had known things of mystery and beauty； though I cannot now really say。
〃There were several blood drinkers there。 They were pale and appeared extremely beautiful； but nothing as white as my Maker and they were clearly afraid of him。 I was quite astonished to see all this。 But then I remembered his phrase； 'Temple Blood Drinkers；' and I thought； So we are with them。
〃He pushed me forward as a little miracle which they had not beheld。 There was a quarrel then in their language； which I could just barely understand。
〃It seemed they told him that the Mother would make the decision； and then and only then could he be forgiven for his ways。 As for him； my Maker； he said that he didn't care whether or not he was forgiven； but he was going off now； and he wanted to be rid of me and if they would take me； that was all he wanted to know。
〃I was terrified。 I didn't entirely like this gloomy place； grand though it was。 And we had spent several years together。 And now he was leaving？
〃I wanted to ask him； What had I done？ I suppose I realized in that moment that I loved him。 I would do anything if he would only change his mind。
〃The others fell upon me。 They took hold of me by both arms and dragged me with unnecessary force into another gigantic room。
〃The Mother and the Father were there； resplendent and shining； seated on a huge throne of black diorite； above some six or seven marble steps。
〃This was the main room of a temple； and all its columns and walls were decorated beautifully with the Egyptian writing； and the ceiling was covered with plates of gold。
〃Naturally I thought； as we all do； that the Mother and the Father were statues； and as I was dragged closer to them； I was mad with resentment that such a thing was taking place。
〃I was also curiously ashamed； ashamed that I wore old sandals and a dirty boyish tunic； and that my hair was tumbled down all around me…for on this one night my Maker had failed to hack it off…and I was in no way prepared for what ritual was to take place。
〃Akasha and Enkil were of the purest white； and they sat as they have always done； since I have e to know them…as they sit in your underground chapel now。〃
Mael broke the narrative with an angry question：
〃How do you know how the Mother and Father appear in our underground chapel？〃
I was deeply disturbed that he had done this。
But Eudoxia remained utterly posed。
〃You have no power to see through the minds of other blood drinkers？〃 she asked。 Her eyes were hard； perhaps even a little cruel。
Mael was confused。
And I was keenly aware that he had given away a secret to Eudoxia； the secret being that he didn't have such a power； or that he didn't know that he did； and I wasn't quite sure what I should do。
Understand he knew that he could find other blood drinkers by hearing their thoughts； but he didn't know how to use this power to even greater advantage； seeing what they saw。
Indeed； all three of us were uncertain of our powers。 And I realized how foolish this was。
At this moment； when Eudoxia received no answer to her question； I tried vainly to think of some way to distract her。
〃Please；〃 I said to Eudoxia； 〃will you continue？ Tell us your story。〃 I didn't dare to apologize for Mael's rudeness because that might have made him furious。
〃Very well；〃 said Eudoxia looking straight at me as though she were dismissing my panions as impossible。
〃As I was telling you；〃 she said； 〃My Maker pushed me forward and told me to kneel before the Father and the Mother。 And being exceedingly frightened； I did as I was told。
〃I looked up at their faces； as blood drinkers have done since time immemorial and I saw no vitality； no subtlety of expression； only the relaxation of dumb animals； no more。
〃But then there came a change in the Mother。 Her right hand was raised ever so slightly from her lap and it turned and thereby made the simplest beckoning gesture to me。
〃I was astonished by this gesture。 So these creatures lived and breathed？ Or was it trickery； some form of magic？ I didn't know。
〃My Maker； ever so crude even at this sacred moment； said； 'Ah； go to her； drink her blood。 She is the Mother of us all。' And with his bare foot； he kicked me。 'She is the First One；' he said。 'Drink。'
〃The other blood drinkers began to quarrel with him fiercely； speaking the old Egyptian tongue again； telling him that the gesture wasn't clear； that the Mother might destroy me； and who was he to give such a mand； and how dare he e to this temple with a pitiful female blood drinker who was as soiled and untutored as he was。
〃But he overrode them。 'Drink her blood and your strength will be beyond measure；' he said。 Then he lifted me to my feet and all but threw me forward so that I landed with my hands on the marble steps before the throne。
〃The other blood drinkers were shocked by his behavior。 I heard a low laugh from my Maker。 But my eyes were on the King and the Queen。
〃I saw that the Queen had moved her hand again； opening her fingers； and though her eyes never changed； the beckoning gesture was certain。
〃 'From her neck；' said my Maker。 'Don't be afraid。 She never destroys those whom she beckons。 Do as I say。' And I did。
〃I drank as much from her as I was able to drink。 And mark my words； Marius； this was over three hundred years before the Elder ever put the Mother and Father in the Great Fire。 And I was to drink from her more than once。 Heed my words； more than once； long before you ever came to Alexandria； long before you took our King and Queen。〃
She raised her dark black eyebrows slightly as she looked at me； as though she wanted me to understand her point most keenly。 She was very very strong。
〃But Eudoxia； when I did e to Alexandria；〃 I answered her。 〃When I came in search of the Mother and Father； and to discover who had put them in the sun； you weren't there in the temple。 You weren't in Alexandria。 At least you didn't make yourself known to me。〃
〃No；〃 she said； 〃I was in the city of Ephesus where I had gone with another blood drinker whom the Fire destroyed。 Or I should say； I was making my way home to Alexandria； to find the reason for the Fire； and to drink of the healing fou