-----
She finally looked straight at me. “I’ve heard the gossip about you and your German."
“Probably heightened to a ridiculous degree,” I said.
“Not in our world, Léon. We’re not affected by that human need to justify ourselves or make our actions look better. We can be nothing but truthful."
I hesitated then asked, "Are you willing to house-train another puppy for life in your world?"
I waited as she crossed to the barrel of water and washed her hands, using a bar of scented soap. I eyed it then her. She smiled. "Orange blossom."
"Very nice," I said, "but also strong."
"Not to humans," she chuckled as she removed her riding habit...and I saw she wore trousers and a waistcoat under it!
"Gabrielle," I said, in awe, "you don't like bustles?”
She sneered, "Have you seen the new ones? They make you look like a bloody camel. Women are fools to tolerate the things men make them wear. All right, so swap Franz for Dmitriy? But I hear you have yet to turn him, so why should I bother with you? I could take him..."
I took a deep breath. “You still need the Oyim’s permission, and they will...”
She was back to casting me her usual condescending stare. “You may fear them, but I do not. My retinue, they can order about...but not me. Not when a Blood Angel is my target.” She stood at a narrow window and looked down at the river, then said, “Still you think you can barter...”
“I have to. His blood calls to me because...because of something I did, and it cannot be denied for long. If you take him, first, he will be yours. And a worthy companion. He knows the rules of court."
"Then what is wrong with him?"
"He prefers women to men. That is not what I seek."
Her look turned to near pity. "You are so different from me," she finally said. "You want your mate to love you. To be yours, but this man cannot be. Your mistake was based on wishes, as well."
“Almost a mistake.”
“You have decided his future, Léon.”
"There...there was more to it than that." And I must admit, my tone was petulant.
"Oh. Of course. I beg your pardon." So mocking a response, I had to grunt with irritation.
Her eyes drilled into me, like they had even when I was a child as she added, “You know, aside from that small issue you would have made a fine mate, for me.”
Which took me by surprise. “Brother and sister?”
“We’re Blood Angels. We are all related to one extent or another. Such middle class concerns are immaterial.”
“Another reason for me to be glad I am who I am."
"I warned you, once. Never let lust determine your partner."
"Yes, and you chose Dmitriy for his intellect."
She laughed. "He proves the rule. Do you still want him?"
"Yes. Why? Is he still being troublesome?"
"You should be around him, for a while. Get a better sense of who and what he is. I grant you his beauty, but he is very expensive to keep. And his appetite? Difficult to quench."
I smiled, remembering our nights together. "I know. I saw him, in London."
"And now he is now at the barricades in Paris, rabble rousing with the communards. The young and the restless. They did not fare well. But Dmitriy did."
She shook her head then added, "You may not yet have him."
"My offer is to swap..."
"I know. But I will need him to help train your Franz. Give me a month, maybe two, and I will let you know if I will keep him or agree to your plan."
I made myself chuckle. "You are too good to me." But inside I was seething. I half-suspected she would keep them both.
She sensed my thoughts and smiled. "You don't trust me."
"I have seen too much to trust too much. I'm only willing to allow this because you're my older sister."
"Where is Franz?"
"Alexandria."
"So there is where I will journey. But be warned; he may soon be begging you to be yours."
"Would you allow him?"
She let that damned inscrutable smile of hers cross her lips as she said, "We'll see how he pleases me, first."
And that made me trust her even less.
No comments:
Post a Comment