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They found their way through the many rooms to the bedchamber； and as both of them entered； they were astonished to see the gorgeous young woman seated on the side of the immense heavily draped bed。
I stood silent while the two of them absorbed the shock。 Immediately
Avicus was drawn to Zenobia； as drawn to her as he had been to Eudoxia； and this creature had yet to speak a single word。
In Mael I saw suspicion and a bit of concern。 He looked to me searchingly。 He was not spellbound by the young woman's beauty。 His feelings were under his mand。
Avicus drew near to Zenobia； and as I watched him； as I watched his eyes fire with a passion for her； I saw my way out。 I saw it plainly； and when I did； I felt a terrible regret。 I felt my solemn vow to be alone weigh heavily upon me； as if I had taken it in the name of a god； and perhaps I had。 I had taken it in the name of Those Who Must Be Kept。 But there must be no more thoughts of them now； not in Zenobia's presence。
As for the child woman herself； she was far more drawn to Avicus； perhaps because of his immediate and obvious devotion； than she was to the distant and somewhat suspicious Mael。
〃Thank you for ing；〃 I said。 〃I know it was not your choice to set foot in this house。〃
〃What's happened？〃 Mael asked。 〃Who is this creature？〃
〃The panion of Eudoxia； sent away for her own protection until the battle with us could be finished； and now that it is finished； here is the child。〃
〃Child？〃 asked Zenobia gently。 〃I am no child。〃
Avicus and Mael both smiled indulgently at her； though her look was grave and disapproving。
〃I was as old as Eudoxia；〃 she said； 〃when the Blood was given to her。 'Never make a blood drinker of a greater age；' said Eudoxia。 'For a greater mortal age can only lead to misery later on from habits learned in mortal life。' All of Eudoxia's slaves received the Blood at my age； and were therefore no longer children； but blood drinkers prepared for eternal life within the Blood。〃
I said nothing to this； but I never forgot it。 Mark me。 I never forgot it。 Indeed； there came a time a thousand years after； when these words meant a great deal to me； and they came to haunt my nights and to torture me。 But we will e soon enough to that； for I mean to pass over that thousand years very quickly。 But let me return to my tale。
This little speech from Zenobia was spoken tenderly as all her words had been spoken； and when she finished it I could see that Avicus was charmed。 This did not mean that he would love her pletely or forever； mind you； I knew that。 But I could see that there was no barrier between the child and himself。
He drew closer still and seemed at a loss to express his respect for her beauty； and then； surprising me pletely； he spoke to her：
〃My name is Avicus；〃 he said。 〃I am a long…time friend of Marius。〃 Then he looked at me； and then back to Zenobia。 He asked： 〃Are you alone？〃
〃Quite alone；〃 said Zenobia； though she did glance at me first to see if I meant to silence her； 〃and if you … all of you or perhaps one of you … do not take me with you out of here； or remain with me in this house； I'm lost。〃
I nodded to both my long…time panions。
Mael gave me a withering look and shook his head in negation。 He glanced at Avicus。 But Avicus was still looking at our child。
〃You won't be left here unprotected；〃 said Avicus； 〃that's unthinkable。
But you must leave us alone now； so that we may talk。 No； you remain where you are。 There are many rooms in this house。 Marius； where can we gather？ 〃
〃The library；〃 I said at once。 〃e； both of you。 Zenobia； don't be afraid； and don't try to listen； for you may hear only parts of what we say； and all is what matters。 All is what will contain the true sentiments of the heart。〃
I led the way； and we quickly seated ourselves in Eudoxia's fine library just as we had only a short time before。
〃You must take her；〃 I said。 〃I can't do it。 I'm leaving here and I'm taking the Mother and the Father； just as I've told you。 Take her under your wing。〃
〃This is impossible；〃 Mael declared； 〃she's far too weak。 And I don't want her！ I tell you that plainly； I don't want her！〃
Avicus reached out and covered Mael's hand with his own。
〃Marius can't take her；〃 said Avicus。 〃He's speaking the simple truth。 It's not a choice。 He cannot have such a little creature with him。〃
〃Little creature；〃 said Mael disgustedly。 〃Say what's really the truth。 She is a frail creature； an unknowing creature； and she will bring us harm。〃
〃I beg you both； take her；〃 I said。 〃Teach her all that you know。 Teach her what she needs to be on her own。〃
〃But she's a woman；〃 said Mael disgustedly。 〃How could she ever be on her own？〃
〃Mael； when one is a blood drinker such a thing doesn't matter；〃 I said。 〃Once she is strong； once she truly knows everything； she can live like Eudoxia once lived if she chooses。 She can live any way that she likes。〃
〃No； I don't want her；〃 said Mael。 〃I will not take her。 Not for any price or on any terms。〃
I was about to speak but when I saw the look on his face； I realized he was telling the truth more pletely than he knew himself。 He would never be reconciled to Zenobia； and if I did leave her with him； I would be leaving her in danger。 For he would abandon her or desert her； or even worse。 It would only be a matter of time。
I looked to Avicus only to see that he was miserably at the mercy of Mael's words。 As always he was in Mael's power。 As always he could not break free of Mael's anger。
Avicus pleaded with him。 Surely it would not change their lives so very much。 They could teach her to hunt； could they not？ Why； surely she knew already how to hunt。 She wasn't so very human； this lovely little girl。 It wasn't hopeless； and shouldn't they do what I had asked？
〃I want her to be with us；〃 said Avicus warmly。 〃I find her lovely。 And I see in her a sweetness that touches my heart。〃
〃Yes； there is that；〃 I said。 〃It's very true； this sweetness。〃
〃And why is such a thing of use in a blood drinker？〃 asked Mael。 〃A blood drinker should be sweet？〃
I couldn't speak。 I thought of Pandora。 The pain in me was simply too intense for me to form words。 But I saw Pandora。 I saw her； and I knew that she had always bined both passion and sweetness； and that both men and women can have such traits； and this child； Zenobia； might grow in both。
I looked off； unable to speak to either of them as they argued； but I realized suddenly that Avicus had grown angry； and that Mael was boiling to a rage。
When I looked back to them； they fell silent。 Then Avicus looked at me as if for some authority which I knew that I did not possess。
〃I can't mand your future；〃 I said。 〃I'm leaving you as you know。〃
〃Stay and keep her with us；〃 said Avicus。
〃Unthinkable！〃 I said。
〃You're stubborn； Marius；〃 said Avicus softly。 〃Your own strongest passions frighten you。 We could be the four of us in this house。〃
〃I've brought about the death of the owner of this house；〃 I said； 〃I cannot live in it。 It is blasphemy against the old gods that I linger this long。 The old gods will bring about vengeance not so much because they exist but because I once honored them。 As for this city； I've told you； I must leave it； and I must take Those Who Must Be Kept to where they are truly secret and safe。〃
〃The house is yours by right；〃 said Avicus。 〃And you know this。 You've offered it to us。〃
〃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。