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〃You didn't destroy her；〃 I said。 〃Now let us return to the question at hand。 Will you take this girl？ 〃
〃We will not；〃 said Mael。
Avicus could say nothing。 He had no choice。
I looked away once more。 My thoughts were purely and pletely with Pandora on the isle of Crete； something which I could not even envision。 Pandora； the wanderer。 I said nothing for the longest while。
Then I rose without addressing either one of them； for they had disappointed me； and I went back into the bedchamber where the lovely young creature lay on the bed。
Her eyes were closed。 The lamplight was soft。 What a lush and passive being she seemed to be； her hair cascading over the pillow； her skin flawless； her mouth half closed。
I sat down beside her。
〃Besides your beauty； why did Eudoxia choose you？〃 I asked。 〃Did she ever say？〃
She opened her eyes as if startled； which could be the case with one so young； and then she reflected before answering； to say finally in a soft voice：
〃Because I was quick of wit and knew whole books by memory。 She had me recite them to her。〃 Without rising from the pillows； she held her hands as if she had a bound book in them。 〃I could but glance at a page and remember all of it。 And I had no mortals to grieve for。 I was but one of a hundred attendants to the Empress。 I was a virgin。 I was a slave。〃
〃I see。 Was there anything more？〃
I was aware that Avicus had e to the door； but I said nothing to acknowledge him。
Zenobia thought for a moment； then answered：
〃She said my soul was incorruptible； that though I'd seen
wickedness in the Imperial palace； I could still hear music in the rain。〃
I nodded。 〃Do you still hear it； this music？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃More than ever； I think。 Though if you leave me here； it won't sustain me。〃
〃I'm going to give you something before I leave you；〃 I said。
〃What is that？ What can it be？〃 She sat up； pushing herself back against the pillows。 〃What can you give me that will help me？〃
〃What do you think？〃 I asked gently。 〃My blood。〃
I heard Avicus gasp at the doorway； but I paid no attention to it。 Indeed； I paid no attention to anything but her。
〃I'm strong； little one；〃 I said； 〃very strong。 And after you've drunk from me； as long as you wish and however much you wish； you'll be a different creature from the one you are now。〃
She was mystified and drawn by the notion。 Timidly she lifted her hands and placed them on my shoulders。
〃And this I should do now？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 I was seated firmly there； and I let her take hold of me； and as I felt her teeth go into my neck； I gave out a long sigh。 〃Drink； precious one；〃 I said。 〃Pull hard to take as much blood from me as you can。〃
My mind was flooded with a thousand tripping visions of the Imperial palace； of golden rooms； and banquets； of music and magicians； of the daylight city with its wild chariot races crashing through the Hippodrome； of the crowd screaming with applause； of the Emperor rising in his Imperial box to wave to those who worshiped him； of the huge processions passing into Hagia Sophia； of candles and incense； and once again of palatial splendor； this time beneath this roof。
I grew weak。 I grew sick。 But it didn't matter。 What mattered was she must take all that she could。
And at last； she fell back on the pillows； and I looked down at her； and I saw her cheeks stark white with the Blood。
Scrambling to sit up； to look at me； she stared like a newborn blood drinker as if she'd never had the true vision of the Blood before。
She climbed off the bed and walked about the room。 She made a huge circle； her right hand clenching the fabric of her tunic； her face shining with its new whiteness； her eyes wide and swimming and bright。
She stared at me as if she'd never seen me before。 Then she stopped； obviously hearing distant sounds to which she'd been deaf。 She put her hands to her ears。 Her face was full of quiet awe and
sweetness； yes； sweetness； and then her eyes played over me。
I tried to climb to my feet but I was too weak for it。 Avicus came to help me but I waved him away。
〃What have you done to her！〃 he said。
〃You see what I've done；〃 I answered。 〃Both of you； you who wouldn't take her。 I've given her my blood。 I've given her a chance。〃
I went to Zenobia and made her look at me。
〃Pay attention to me；〃 I said。 〃Did Eudoxia tell you of her early life？〃 I asked。 〃Do you know that you can hunt the streets as a man？〃
She stared at me with her new eyes； too dazzled； unprehending。
〃Do you know that your hair； if cut； will grow back in the space of one day； and be as long and full as before？〃
She shook her head； her eyes passing over me and over the myriad bronze lamps of the room； and over the mosaics of the walls and the floor。
〃Listen to me； lovely creature； I don't have that much time to teach you；〃 I said。 〃I mean to leave you armed with knowledge as well as strength。〃
Assuring her again that her hair would grow back； I cut it off for her； watching as it fell to the floor； and then taking her to the rooms of the male blood drinkers； I dressed her in male clothes。
Then ordering Mael and Avicus sternly to leave us； I took her out with me into the city； and tried to show her the manner in which a man would walk； and how fearless he might be； and what was the life of the taverns； which she'd never even dreamt of； and how to hunt on her own。
All the while I found her enchanting as I had before。 She seemed now to be her own older； wiser sister。 And as she laughed over the usual wasted cup of wine at the table in the tavern； I found myself half resolving that I would urge her to e with me； but then I knew I could not。
〃You don't really look like a man； you know；〃 I said to her； smiling； 〃hair or no hair。〃
She laughed。 〃Of course； I don't。 I know it。 But to be in such a place as this； a place I'd never see if it weren't for you。〃
〃You can do anything now；〃 I told her。 〃Merely think on it。 You can be male。 You can be female。 You can be neither。 Seek the Evil Doer as I do and you will never choke on death。 But always； whatever your joys； whatever your misery； don't put yourself in danger of the judgment of others。 Measure your strength and take care。〃
She nodded； her eyes wide with fascination。 Of course the men in the tavern shot glances at her。 They thought I had brought my pretty boy out drinking with me。 Before things got out of hand； I left with her； but not before she had tested her powers to read the minds of those around her； and to daze the poor slave boy who had brought our wine。
As we walked through the streets； I gave her random instructions in the ways of the world which I thought she might need。 I enjoyed doing this far too much。
She described for me all the secrets of the Imperial palace so that I might better penetrate it to satisfy my curiosity； and then we found ourselves in a tavern again。
I warned her；
〃You'll e to hate me for what I did to Eudoxia； and for what I did to the other blood drinkers as well。〃
〃No； that's not so；〃 she said plainly。 〃You must understand that Eudoxia never allowed me one moment of freedom； and as for the
others they felt only contempt for me or jealousy； I never knew which。〃
I nodded； accepting this； but then I asked her；
〃Why do you think that Eudoxia told me the story of her life； of how she herself had once wandered in a boy's clothing in Alexandria； when she never told you such things？ 〃
〃She had some hope of loving you；〃 Zenobia answered。 〃She
confided this to me； not directly you understand； but through her descriptions of you and her enthusiasm for seeing you。 But these emotions were mixed up in her mind with wariness and cunning。 And I think that her fear of you won out。〃
I was quiet； thinking it over； the tavern noises like music。
Zenobia was watching me and then she said；
〃From me； she wanted no such knowledge of herself or understanding。
She was content to have me as a plaything。 And even when I read to her or sang for her； she would not really look at me； or care for me。 But you？ You； she saw as a being who was worthy of her。 When she spoke of you； it was as if no one was listening。 She went on and on； making her plan to summon you to her house and speak with you。 It was an obsession full of fear。 Don't you see？〃
〃It went so wrong；〃 I said。 〃But e； there are many things I must teach you。 We have only so many hours before dawn。〃
We went out into the night； holding fast to each other。 How I loved teaching her！ There was such a spell to it for me。
I showed her how she might climb walls effortlessly； and how easy it was to get past mortals in the shadows； and how she could draw mortal victims to herself。
We crept into Hagia Sophia； a thing she believed to be impossible； and for the first time since she'd been given the Blood she saw the great church she'd known so well when she was alive。
Finally； after we'd both claimed victims in the back streets for the night's thirst； at which time she learnt of her considerable new strength； we returned to the house。
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