- If you can, the vampire mockingly responded. - Would you like to try it?
I wanted to. And I slowly tried to get back on my feet. Higher Powers! I did it! I stood on my feet quite calmly and confidently. Even the pain had subsided a little. The pain? Wait a minute!
- Turn around," I asked Daniel to take the cross out of my pocket. The cross burst into white flames. I don't know if it's glowing or normal, but if the cross is in my hand and there's a vampire nearby, wait for the illumination. The cross was so small and harmless. Little things. I remembered the pain I had recently experienced. Little things? My enemies of such trifles, more, more... Would I risk it? But what else can I do? I exhaled abruptly and put a cross to the bite on my left arm.
I was waiting for pain, waiting for fire and flash. Nothing happened. Emptiness and silence. Only a cross shone quietly, lying on a vampire bite. I wasn't infected. All the better.
- What if you'd been infected? - guessed my thoughts, Danielle. - Does it give you the pleasure to torture yourself?
I wasn't happy about it, and the question was idiotic.
- And what do I threaten to be infected with besides obeying you?
Danielle took his eyes to the side.
- Answer me! - I raised my voice. It's hard to play when your partners have all the aces, and the cards are spotted. If I'm still in the game, it's only because I don't know the rules. I wouldn't be eaten by those fangers. Or had a drink. What's worse, I don't know.
- You could have been a vampire after you died.
- That's what I thought. And you're also surprised that I prefer to tolerate pain?
Something flashed in my gray eyes. Sadness? Pain? I don't know. I'm not an expert.
- You don't want to be a vampire, do you, Curly?
I shrugged my shoulders. I guess we should answer honestly. So you don't lose him.
- It's tempting. Kind of like throwing yourself off the Eiffel Tower or Mont Blanc. But I'm not sure I'll get what I want. Being a living idiot is sad enough. But to realize that even death can't fix you...
Danielle threw his head away and laughed from his heart.
- Jane, you are inimitable. Okay, go watch Vadim and go outside.
- I feel much better," Vadim's voice sounded. - Jane, did I not dream of you?
- I'm alive, honestly - I tried to get off my backbone and take a few steps. Well done for such a fun day! And I stood up to Vadim. Now the improvements were much more noticeable. The chains were also absorbed in the skin, but now they had something to get into. The burn marks didn't disappear, but you could see that they weren't on the meat, they were on the germ of the skin. With a thin film like that.
- My poor boy," I said from the bottom of my heart.
Vadim smiled. His fangs sparkled.
- It's been a long time since anyone called me that.
- Nobody's ever called me curly in the first place. Lie down for now. And we'll bring you a man.
- Better a couple," Vadim ordered and licked.
Strangely, it wasn't a sight to disgust me.
- Okay. Couple of them. I'm sorry, but until we leave you tied up. I don't want you to attack us. I don't want you to attack us.
- That's right," the vampire agreed. - I don't know myself too well. Go on.
I nodded, and we walked out the door.
I only decided to talk on the street.
- Danielle, what is happening to me?
- What do you mean? - A vampire was looking around the street. - If no one shows up soon, you'll have to step away from home and catch them somewhere else...
- After throwing out the energy for the first time, I felt extremely lousy. The second time it was better. Quite tolerable. Now I feel like the energy release is healing me. Is there any way you can explain that?
- I can," Danielle said. - Only you won't like it.
- I'll get over it. Well...?
The vampire was still looking around the street. He either looked for passers-by or he didn't want to look me in the eye.
- Jane, you're easily gaining power. And you can do it from anywhere. From a book you've read, from a movie you've seen, from a beautiful flower, from the tears of a child - everything that makes you feel any emotions. That's your strength and your weakness. You easily gain the Power, but this Power can be negative. You drank blood this afternoon. It's a purely vampire way. But for you, is that energy positive or negative?
- Fuck knows her.
- It's a shame you don't know yourself. Torture is a kind of Force, too, but this Force was received with a negative sign. And then, when you looked at the torture of our friends in the form of a ghost, it also gave you strength. But it was negative.
- I don't understand. I thought energy wasn't good or bad. You know, like electricity. It's not good or bad!
- Yeah, but maybe an electric light bulb, maybe an electric chair.
- But it's not getting, it's applying energy.
- Jane, - grey eyes sparkled at me with irritation, - magic has very little to do with physics! And I am a bad theorist. You should talk about it with Mieczysław. He knows better. In the meantime, try to remember that your laughter gives you one energy, and someone else's pain and anger gives you another. And the less you accept the second energy, the better you'll be. Oh! Here come our objects!
Two men were walking slowly down the street. Average age, average height, average income judging by the clothes. That's all I could say. Probably because I tried not to look at them as people. Otherwise, it's gonna be hard later. The objects are all here. I wonder if I'll suffer from remorse later. Well, no. It's not interesting. And I know I will. And for that, and for the people who were killed before, and the tortured werewolf, and those who were eaten alive by rats, everything. It's scary. But right now, I could survive. And then I'd be thinking.
While I was trying to discover my conscience and take advantage of it, Danielle took a step towards men.
- Come with me, he said quietly.
His voice slipped on my skin like a whip. I twitched and almost took a step forward.
What the hell is wrong with me?! Do I get hypnotized, too? Or do I just feel the same as these poor people, but can I stay calm? Danielle retreated slowly backwards, awfully reminiscent of Niels luring the rats. His eyes weren't detached from the faces of men - both at once.
- Jane, help me," he asked quietly.
- What can I do? - My voice was just as quiet and insecure.
- Take my hand and lead me so I don't fall down. I can't get distracted.
I obediently squeezed his hand. It was a strange sight to see from the outside. A vampire staining like a cancer, me leading his hand, two men as if enchanted to his voice. Why, though, like? They were enchanted. It was ten meters, five meters, two meters to the house, then we went inside, and I hurriedly slammed the door behind the men. Danielle rushed forward like lightning. I couldn't even see what he was doing or how he was doing it. Two strikes was enough. The men sat on the floor with their shoes. A vampire took each one of them with one hand and a wolf behind him without any extra ceremony. I clapped my eyes.
- You don't have to go down if you don't want to," he threw over your shoulder.
I shrugged my shoulders. That's not what I wanted. I'd rather sit here than sniff it again, let alone see it. But they wouldn't let me sit here for long. They drummed me in the door.
- Open up now!
I looked out the window. It's not a big deal. And nothing dangerous. An elderly fat woman wearing a dirty striped bathrobe and home flip-flops. The robe diverges on almost every button, the lady probably already needs the size seventy, the type - bitchy bent, age - about sixty years, gray hair brightly colored henna, on the face makeup, like a clown. This can only be dangerous in one case - if you live near her. That's when the whole town will know what you ate for lunch and what your underwear is like. And also who climbs through your window at night. And if no one does, she'll come up with something. And in every other way, she doesn't giv
e a damn about rubbing it in. Life is too good to pay attention to every gossip girl. And then, I'm not a vampire, I don't have a couple hundred years to do it. Oh! Speaking of vampires!
I opened the door wide.
- Hello!
- Good afternoon, the woman immediately squeezed past me. I could barely move, or I would have been smashed on the wall. What a carcass! Where's Danielle! Take her under hypnosis, and into the cellar. Otherwise, my vampires won't have enough of those two. I'm sure they will. But there's seven liters of blood in this one, no less!
- What do you want here? - I asked you nicely.
- No, what are you doing here?! - Madame is outraged. - Who are you and what are you doing here?!
I thought about it and decided to tell the truth. Half the truth.
- Vampires are being resuscitated.
- Are you fucking kidding me?!
- Trouble, honey?
- Finally!
From the door behind my back, Vadim appeared - and I barely contained myself so as not to throw myself at his neck. I didn't throw myself. I only rush to naked men in the bedroom. And then - exclusively to Daniel. And Vadim didn't even think to get dressed. My aunt shut up and stood there, clapping her eyes out. I took the opportunity to look at the vampire from head to toe. I was so glad to see him - alive and almost healthy. Almost - because there were stripes and circles of scars all over his body, from his neck down, not excluding even the most intimate places. He intercepted my gaze and smiled.
- It takes time for everything. The scars will heal, though not soon. And who's that?
- And the left one knows her. She came, scandals here, - I gladly pawned my aunt.
- What, you came by yourself?!
- Aha!
- Well, that's great! - Vadim was happy. - Danielle's trying to feed Boris there, so we'll take this one as well. Less and less to catch on the streets!
- Let's take it," I agreed. - Can you take it yourself?
- I can," smiled Vadim. Sharp marble and white fangs appeared from under his lips. - Many of my abilities have not yet recovered, but I am already stronger than any man.
- Didn't you guess what to wear, strongman? - I was grimly twisted.
- I'll be able to do it again," Vadim answered. - The skin is new, you know how it itchy it is!
He took two steps towards his aunt and cleverly intercepted her across the body. She couldn't even breathe when a vampire's fist fell on the back of her head.
- Hey, did you not kill her? - I checked.
- Don't worry about it. Living blood is healthier. I wouldn't deprive Boris of such a power source.
- Live canned food?
- It's about that. Jane, why don't you sit here and see if anybody else can come in. On the light.
- If you say so. But actually, it's better to talk to ladies in pants.
I wasn't very clear, but Vadim understood me and winked.
- That's the way it is with the ladies.
- And who am I to you?! - I'm the one who resented you. - The middle generation?!
- And you, a vampire turned around with one foot in the hatch, a fighting friend. So be patient.
- I don't mind," I stretched it out, but it was too late. The vampire had already fled to the cellar. He was moving much faster than a human. Even with this load.
I sat there and tried not to listen to the sounds coming from the basement. And so nasty. Is it just that I hate what's happening downstairs or that I'm okay with everything? I took for granted that vampires need blood, that we need to help cure Boris and Vadim, and that we need to kill innocent people. That's sad. Wouldn't it be nice if you came to the prison with a warrant and told me I had three vampires today, because I'm hungry. Where are the maniacs? You can have killers, too. No, thieves aren't offered. They don't deserve it yet. I'll bet the crime rate will drop markedly after this practice.
Why, vampires are human, too. Well, they're not human, but I think they are. I have a passport, therefore, a citizen. Healthy practicality - criminals sit around the state's neck for nothing. You don't have to feed them, and vampires wouldn't hunt humans. Beauty! Though somebody would yell about human abuse and other nonsense. I've always wondered what idiotic laws we have. I bought myself a gas can once. A lawyer I knew at my grandfather's firm saw - and explained that if I was attacked, and I used it, then the bandit could sue me. Like, for almost killing him. I thought I was being played first. The bandit's not gonna be coming at me for talking about the divine! No! The lawyer wasn't kidding!
Grandfather listened to our dialogue, and two weeks later he went to Moscow. I went with him, as always.
I went shopping, and in the evening, when we were about to leave, my grandfather gave me a shocker and asked me to go to the disco only with him. And to use it, if anything. Then let the robber prove that I was the one who shocked him. Oh, I got distracted.
Vadim came up from behind completely inaudible.
- How are you feeling, girlfriend?
- I have a name, for some reason I was offended.
- Okay, Jane. I'm sorry if something's wrong.
- Come on, it's okay. Are you okay?
- Much better than two hours ago. Jane, what happened while we were lying here?
I told briefly about the escape, about the capture of Mieczysław, about the night at the country house and the werewolf. I did not tell only about my dreams. My dreams with Mieczysław. It's too personal. Vadim listened, opening his mouth. Then he shook his head.
- Jane, I didn't even think you were like this!
- I'm even cooler," I said sadly.
- Why so sad? - a vampire fell to his knees in front of me and tried to look me in the eye. He'd already taken his clothes off one of the... objects and now he was wearing old blue jeans and a green sweater under his throat with a large white pattern. This outfit wouldn't fit anybody else, but Vadim with his white skin, blond hair and bright blue eyes was just made for these colors. - Don't be sad, girlfriend. You saved our lives.
- Whether we can save our lives is the question," I sighed. - Vadim, tonight Daniel and I will go to Andre's. And what happens there...
- No.
I slammed my eyelashes.
- What do you mean, no? I'm definitely going! Even if the ground cracks in half!
- No, it means the three of us are going," said the vampire calmly.
- Are you crazy?! You're as weak as a kitten! - I'm sorry.
- I'm coming with you.
The voice of the vampire was so calm and determined that I understood that it would be very, very difficult to convince him.
- You're hard on your feet.
- It won't stop me from fighting.
- And die if anything.
- Do you think Mechislav wouldn't rip my head off when he found out I let you go alone to the enemy's lair?
The argument was strong, but not that strong. On the other hand, I didn't want to argue. Without arguing, I was sick.
- Okay, tonight I'll ask Mieczysław, and it will be as he decides.
Vadim slammed his eyes.
- How's that?
- I'm his last name. I'm wearing his two seals. It allows us to communicate freely if I manage to fall into a trance.
The vampire shakes his head.
- Wait, I'm not catching up! Is it just me, or did Danielle say you were connected to him by the Seal down there?
- I didn't think so. They're connected.
I looked at the vampire with interest, waiting for it to come to me. It came quickly. Vadim picked up his jaw halfway to the parquet (vampires are so fast) and looked me in the eyes.
- So what's going on? Seals from two vampires, right?
- So it turns out that way.
- Interesting movie, - Vadim scraped in the back of the head.
- And I am even more interested in your reaction," I said. - For some reason, you're not yelling that it's impossible, and you're not asking me to shake the noodles off your ears.
Vadik shr
ugged his shoulders.
- Do you want to discuss this here and now?
I didn't mean to. So I made a logical decision.
- Help me get downstairs.
- Are you sure you can do this?
- If I was sure, I wouldn't have asked for your help.
- That's right, too, the vampire came up and gave me his hands. Thin alabaster-white skin was full of bright scarring stripes.
- Won't it hurt if I lean on you?
- Not anymore. Thank you for the Force. Is that what you shared with Chief, Boris and Daniel?
- It's about that.
- Oh, I see. Okay, we'll have more time to talk.
- Just like tonight," I answered, clinging to his hands. A vampire lifted me up without the slightest effort and grabbed me at the waist.
- Is that okay?
- Quite, - I'm happy to have a look at Vadim. - Will you come with me to the same place?
- Where to?
- Sell your soul to the devil. It's urgent.
Vadim wasn't even surprised.
- Why, will there be discounts on the soul later?
I had to snort.
- Something like that.
- Jane, what if it really is? Where are you going?
- I'll tell you later. But this is my business.
Danielle was waiting for us downstairs in the torture chamber. Three bodies - two male and one female - were lying in crumpled piles, and I didn't look at them. You don't have to. And that's how nightmares are going to be. I'm sure they will.
I approached the torture table. Danielle had already untied Boris. I have to say, the vampire looked a lot better now. He still looked like a piece of raw meat, but in some places his skin broke through and the meat was fully represented. I rubbed my forehead. My head was starting to hurt.
- Danielle, how soon can Boris get back on his feet?
- A day in three. Not before. And that's with full nutrition and treatment.
- That sucks.
- What did you want? You were sharing power with Vadim. That's why he got back on his feet so quickly.
- I don't get it?
- What's not to understand? Vadim got the blood and the Force to use that blood. Boris only got the blood. Now his body isn't strong enough to use that blood for its intended purpose.
- Can we move it?
Ring of Madness Page 61
