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it.
"What's my name, Santos? Who am I?"
"Who bloody cares? he screamed.
"I am myself. She stepped to the left. Duck, Santos."
"Duck? snapped Santos. What the hell do you mean, duck and right then a
steel girder, molten with heat, crashed down onto his head.
She watched him crumple, his head caving in like a piece of fruit, and dreamily
turned toward the window, reaching it just as the floor caved in and the whole building
collapsed.
Chapter Twelve
From the memoirs of The Revolutionary
We lay together in her bed, Angelica and I, still and quiet in the moonlight. Her
body was curled around mine, warm and soft, her head on my chest. That first night,
that magical first night. Drenched in happiness, love, contentment, we lay listening to
each other breathing.
"What happens now? she asked, voice quiet, sleepy.
"You're the Seer, I replied. You tell me."
She stretched, and snuggled closer. We get married, she said. I'll wear orange
blossoms in my hair and you can have a retinue of former conquests."
I smiled.
"And children, she went on. At least a dozen. Of each."
"Of course. And some sort of large shaggy dog."
"Naturally."
We were both quiet again, thinking about it.
"Angelica? I asked, voice nearly a whisper, half hoping she was asleep so I
wouldn't have to hear her answer.
"Mmm?"
"What really happens? For you and me?"
"I can't see it, if that's what you're asking."
"But do you believe it? That we'll be together. You and me. Ten, twenty, forty
years time. We'll stay together."
Cat Masters Empire 3: City of Lust 113
Angelica curled her arm around my chest and looked up at me, her sightless eyes
somehow meeting mine.
"We will be together, she said. Always."
* * *
By dawn the news was everywhere. The Empress, visiting the most dangerous
area of the city to buy a slave, had been killed in a horrific accident that had destroyed a
huge chunk of the South City. Imperial fire-fighters had bravely tackled the blaze, but
they were too late. An unidentifiably charred corpse bearing the DNA signature of the
Empress was found in the remains of what was believed to have been a vampire club.
Her face was everywhere. Every viewscreen. Every newscast. Posters and
protesters screamed for the Empress.
"No one knew her name, said Jack. Only me. To everyone else she was the
Empress."
Carver and Nalina were silent. Edward had vanished, as was his wont, leaving
the three of them on a bleak transport headed for Australia.
The Emperor had released a statement so heartfelt and emotional everyone knew
he hadn't written it. Jack wanted to scream every time anyone mentioned the Empress,
wanted to yell that she was his, that she'd loved him, that she wasn't damn well loyal to
the Empire, that she'd wanted to bring it down.
"She was mine, he said, tears choking him. That's what everyone forgets.
Before he even knew she existed, she was mine."
"I'm sorry, Jack, Nalina said.
"The Empire is a thief, said Carver. It steals and poisons and murders. Turns
beauty foul."
Jack stared bleakly at the endless ocean.
"We'll go to Australia, Nalina said, and find a transport out of there. I can still
travel unhindered, for the most part. We'll find George, and see if he has any
communication with..."
Cat Masters Empire 3: City of Lust 114
Jack stopped listening. He'd fight, but without the burning fire he'd always had.
Hating the Empire had been easy when Angelica had stood for it. And when she'd
returned to him, had matched his passion, the victory seemed almost within grasp.
And now ... now she was gone, and his hatred still remained, but like Edward
he'd lost his fire.
"Jack? said Nalina, and he continued to stare at the sea.
"I think I'm losing the fight, he said. Or ... the fight's losing me."
The fight will never lose you, said Angelica's voice from his memory. But that was
strange, because he didn't remember her ever saying it.
"Jack, we need you, Nalina said.
"Angelica is dead and Edward has lost his nerve, Carver said. We're the only
ones left. We can't give up now."
My rebel, said Angelica's voice. My Revolutionary.
How am I supposed to do it? he asked her memory. Without you?
You're never without me, Jack. You know me.
You are yourself, he replied, and a tear trickled down his cheek.
Return to the place where you loved me, she said. You'll find me there. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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