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It was more than Amadeo could bear。
〃I live in the city of Venice； Father；〃 he said。 〃It's what I know now I have to go。〃
He was out of the tavern so quickly his father could not see it； and I； once seeing what he meant to do； had preceded him； and we stood in the snow…covered muddy street together。
〃It's time for us to leave this place； Master；〃 he said to me。 His gloves were gone； and the cold was fierce。 〃Oh； but that I had never e here and never seen him and never known that he suffered that I had been lost。〃
〃But look；〃 I said； 〃your mother es。 I'm sure of it。 She knew you and there； she es；〃 I pointed at the small figure approaching who held a bundle in her arms。
〃Andrei；〃 she said as she drew closer。 〃It's the last one you ever painted。 Andrei； I knew it was you。 Who else would have e？ Andrei； this is the ikon your father brought back on the day you were lost。〃
Why didn't he take it from her hands？
〃You must keep it； Mother；〃 he said of this ikon which he had once linked to his destiny。 He was weeping。 〃Keep it for the little ones。 I won't take it； no。〃
Patiently； she accepted this。
And then another small present she entrusted to him； a painted egg…one of those treasures of Kiev which mean so much to the people who decorate them with intricate designs。
Quickly； gently； he took it from her； and then he embraced her； and in a fervent whisper assured her that he had done nothing wicked to acquire his wealth and that he might some night be able to e again。 Oh； what lovely lies。
But I could see that this woman； though he loved her； did not matter to him。 Yes； he would give her gold； for that meant nothing。 But it was the man who had mattered。 The man mattered as the monks had mattered。 It was the man who had wrung the strong emotions from him。 The man had brought from him bold words。
I was stunned by all。 But wasn't Amadeo stunned by it himself？ He had thought the man dead； and so had I。
But finding him alive； Amadeo had revealed the obsession…the man had fought the monks for Amadeo's very soul。
And as we made our journey back to Venice； I knew that Amadeo's love for his father was far greater than any love he had ever felt for me。
We did not speak of it； you understand； but I knew that it was the figure of his father who reigned in Amadeo's heart。 It was the figure of that powerful bearded man who had so vigorously fought for life rather than death within the monastery who held supremacy over all conflicts that Amadeo was ever to know。
I had seen it with my own eyes； this obsession。 I had seen it in a matter of moments in a riverfront tavern； but I had known it for what it was。
Always before this journey to Russia I had thought the split in Amadeo's mind was between the rich and varied art of Venice and the strict and stylized art of old Russia。
But now I knew that was not so。
The split in him was between the monastery with its ikons and its penance on the one hand； and his father； the robust hunter who had dragged him away from the monastery on that fateful day。
Never again did Amadeo speak of his father and mother。 Never again did he speak of Kiev。 The beautiful painted egg he placed within his sarcophagus without ever explaining its significance to me。
And on certain nights when I painted in my studio； working fiercely on this or that canvas； he would e to keep me pany； and it seemed he perused my work with new eyes。
When would he finally pick up the brushes and paint？ I didn't know； but such a question didn't matter anymore。 He was mine and mine forever。 He could do what he pleased。
Yet silently in my secret soul； I suspected that Amadeo held me in contempt。 All I taught of art； of history； of beauty； of civilization…all this was meaningless to him。
When the Tatars captured him； when the ikon fell from his arms into the grass； it was not his fate that was sealed； it was his mind。
Yes； I could dress him in finery and teach him different languages； and he could love Bianca； and dance with her exquisitely to slow and rhythmic music； and he could learn to talk philosophy； and write poetry as well。
But his soul held nothing sacred but that old art and that man who lay drinking out his nights and days by the Dnieper in Kiev。 And I； with all my power； and all my blandishments； could not replace Amadeo's father in Amadeo's mind。
Why was I so jealous？ Why did this knowledge sting me so much？
I loved Amadeo as I had loved Pandora。 I loved him as I had loved Botticelli。 Amadeo was among these； the great loves of my long life。
I tried to forget my jealousy or ignore it。 After all； what was to be done about it？ Should I remind him of this journey and torment him with questions？ I could not do such a thing。
But I sensed that these concerns were dangerous to me as an immortal； and that never before had anything of this nature so tortured me or made me weak。 I had expected Amadeo； the blood drinker； to look upon his family with detachment and no such thing had taken place！
I had to admit that my love for Amadeo was all caught up with my involvement with mortals； that I had plunged myself into their pany； and he himself was still so very hopelessly close to them that it would take him centuries to gain the distance from mortals which I had experienced on the very night when I was first given the Blood。
There had been no Druid grove for Amadeo。 There had been no treacherous journey to Egypt； there had been no rescue of the King and Queen。
Indeed； as I mulled this over quickly I resolved I would not entrust him with the mystery of Those Who Must Be Kept even though the words had once or twice passed my lips。
Perhaps before the making of him； I had thought idly that I would take him to the shrine at once。 I would beg Akasha to receive him； as she had once received Pandora。
But now I thought otherwise。 Let him be more advanced； let him be more nearly perfected。 Let him bee more wise。
And was he not pany and consolation for me now more than I ever dreamt？ Even if a bad mood overtook him he remained with me。 Even if his eyes were dull as though the dazzling colors of my paintings did not matter to him； was he not near at hand？
Yes； he was quiet for a time after the journey to Russia。 But I knew his frame of mind would pass。 And indeed it did。
Within a few short months； he was no longer aloof and moody but had e back to be my panion； and was once again visiting the various feasts and balls of the great citizens which I attended regularly； and writing short poems for Bianca； and arguing with her about various paintings which I had done。
Ah； Bianca； how we loved her。 And how often did I search her mind to make certain that she had no inkling even now that we were not human beings。
Bianca was the only mortal I admitted to my studio； but naturally I could not work with my full speed and force when she was there。 I had to lift a mortal arm to hold the paintbrush but it was more than worth it to hear her pleasant mentary with Amadeo who also perceived in my works some grand design which was not there。
All was going well when； one night as I came down upon the roof of the palazzo； quite alone； for I had left Amadeo in the pany of Bianca； I sensed that a very young mortal was watching me from the roof of the palazzo across the canal。
Now I had e down so swiftly that not even Amadeo could have seen it had he been watching； yet this distant mortal marked my presence and when I realized it； I realized quite a deal more as well。
Here was a mortal spy who suspected me to be other than human。 Here was a mortal spy who had been observing me for some time。
Never in all my years had I known any such a threat to my secrecy。 And naturally I was tempted to immediately conclude that my life in Venice had failed。 Just when I thought I had fooled an entire city； I was to be caught for what I was。
But this young mortal had nothing to do with the grand society in which I moved。 I knew it the moment I penetrated his mind。 He was no great Venetian； no painter； no cleric； no poet； no alchemist； and certainly no member of th