Lina208: переводы

→“Mortality, not humanity. I am not humane,” he said bitterly.
Kalona studied him. “How did you manage to survive your wounds?”
Rephaim looked away from his father and answered as truthfully as possible. “I am not entirely sure how or even why I survived.” I will never understand why Stevie Rae saved me, his mind added silently. “Much of that time remains a blur for me.”

→“Who is it Neferet has killed?” Rephaim was so distracted by relief, he spoke the words without thinking.
“What possible difference could it make to you who the Tsi Sgili sacrificed?”
Rephaim’s mind refocused on the here and now swiftly. “I am simply curious.”
“I feel a change in you, my son.”

→Rephaim was trying to sift through the mixture of panic and fear and chaos in his mind and conjure a response that might distract Kalona from his pursuit of Stevie Rae when the air around them rippled and changed. Shadows within shadows appeared to quiver briefly but ecstatically. His questioning eyes went from the Darkness lurking in the corners of the rooftop, to his father.

→Carefully, Rephaim remained silent.
“The more I think on it, the more I like the idea. Neferet gains power if we use the Red One, and Zoey loses someone close to her. Yes, that pleases me. Very much.”

→Rephaim felt like a giant fist was closing around his heart. “The Red One evoked the black bull—the manifestation of Light. I do not think she can be swayed from the Goddess’s path.”
“You said she also conjured the bull of Darkness, did you not?”
“I did, but from what I observed she did not call upon Darkness intentionally.”

→“True enough for most vampyres, but you’re forgetting the new breed of bloodsucker the Tsi Sgili created. They do not seem to have the same scruples.”
“The red fledglings,” Rephaim said.
“Ah, but they aren’t all fledglings, are they? I hear another of the boys has Changed. And then there is the new High Priestess, the Red One. I am not so sure she is as dedicated to Light as is her friend Zoey.”

→Kalona’s expression relaxed a little. “The Tsi Sgili most desires lording power over humans. We give it to her by helping her begin a war between vampyres and humans. She means to use the war as an excuse for the destruction of the High Council. With them gone, vampyre society will be in disarray and Neferet, using the title of Nyx Incarnate, will rule.”
“But vampyres have become too rational, too civilized, to war with humans. I think they would withdraw from society before they would fight.”

→What Rephaim was not used to was feeling resentful of them.
Rephaim could sense the immortal’s gaze studying him. The Raven Mocker cleared his throat and said what he knew his father expected to hear.
“What is it that Neferet most desires and how do we give it to her?”

→“You’ll be with him again. Some souls find each other again and again. Yours will; you have my oath on it.”
“Did I do okay back there?”
“You were perfect, my son.” Then Nyx, the Goddess of Night, opened her arms and enfolded Jack, and with her touch the last remnants of mortal
pain and sadness and loss dissolved from his spirit, leaving love—only and always, love. And Jack knew perfect happiness.

→He knew her instantly. He’d always known her.
“Hello, Nyx,” he said softly.
The Goddess smiled. “Hello, Jack.”
“I’m dead, aren’t I?”
Nyx’s smile didn’t waver. “You are, my wonderful, loving, untaintable child.”
Jack hesitated, then said, “It doesn’t seem so bad, this being dead thing.”
“You’ll find it isn’t.”
“I’ll miss Damien.”

→When the clock began chiming, Jack knew what was going to happen. He knew he couldn’t stop it—knew his fate couldn’t be changed. Instead of pointless struggle, last-minute regrets, useless tears, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then—joyously—joined Rachel and Kurt in the chorus:

→“There is your sacrifice. He is one I have been unable to taint. Take him, and my debt to your Master has been fulfilled, but wait until the clock chimes twelve. Hold him until then.” Without another look at Jack, Neferet slithered out of his sight and into the building.
It seemed a long time before midnight came, before the school clock began chiming, even though Jack closed his mind to the cold, invisible chains that bound him. He was glad he’d put “Defying Gravity” on a loop. It comforted him to hear Kurt and Rachel singing about overcoming fear.

→For an instant he thought she really was leaving—thought he was safe. But when she reached the sidewalk she looked back at him, and she shook her head, laughing softly. “You’ve made this almost too easy for me, boy, with your honorable refusal of my offer.” She made a throwing motion at the sword. Wide-eyed, Jack was sure he saw something black wrap around the hilt. The sword turned, turned, turned, until the upraised point was aimed directly at him.

→Jack had no idea who Neferet was talking to, but her words made his skin crawl. Helplessly, he watched her leave the shadows of the tree. She appeared to glide away from him and toward the sidewalk that would take her to the main House of Night building. With an oddly detached observation he realized her movements were more reptile than human.

→“That is where you’re wrong, you incorruptible innocent. You’ve just proven that you’re going to help me very, very much.” Neferet lifted her hands, making a sifting movement in the air around her. “As I promised, here he is.”