The nurse nodded. I listened to my symptoms, and I just wondered quietly how I survived. By all accounts, I belonged in a cemetery.
Nadia stormed the room like a vortex.
- You all right, lousy girl?! That's what I thought! Luc, get out of here! I need to talk to Capeka nose-to-nose.
I smiled.
- Nadia, it's so good to see you!
- Yeah, me too! - A girlfriend snuck out to sit down as a nurse. - Are you happy, asshole?!
- With what? - I don't get it.
Nadia unbuttoned the white robe and pulled up the blue sweater. She had quite distinct red scars on her abdomen. The claw marks were as if she had been pulled out first and then rinsed on her stomach. It just looked creepy.
- It's a long time to heal. Till the first time I turn over.
- Would you mind?
- Didn't they tell you? Now I grow fur on a full moon.
I slammed my eyes.
- Whose is it?
- Lisy.
My throat was intercepted. Memories came to the surface, hurt in an inflamed zoom, burned... Jesus. Nadia's a werewolf. Why would she do that?!
- Nadia, I'm so sorry! You have no idea! If I could've known it would end like this! I never would have come to you! I never would have!
A friend would look at me and smile.
- Jane, I'll be honest with you - I don't really care about that. I'm even glad it happened somewhere.
- Glad?!
- Well, yeah. The werewolf laws are much tougher, but they're also fair. To me, they're better than human laws. I get along with werewolves, too. You know who's in charge now?
- Who?
- Valentin.
I tried to remember. You did it.
- Valentin? The one? Kasachev?
- Yes! You know him! Well, it's a candy, isn't it?
I smiled. Nadia is incorrigible.
- Your type?
- I don't know. I haven't tasted it yet," Nadia remarked.
I laughed and immediately choked. I didn't take a nap. Nadia hurriedly brought a juice cup to my lips. I took a few sips and took the glass away.
- That's enough.
- Well, that's enough. Should I tell you the news?
- Tell! - I nodded.
- There's nothing to behave about," said harmful Nadya. - Thy sword...
- Not mine!
- Okay. The sword is a stranger now Prince of the City. So all the tigers have big and sharp fangs on you in three rows.
- That's their problem.
- Yes, but they can ruin anyone's life.
- Let's see, I took a swing at it. - I doubt that Mechislav will let me ruin my life. Especially if they owe him obedience. And where is Danielle?
Nadia darkened.
- Jane, let the vampire tell you himself, huh?
- Is he alive?!
Nadia didn't get a chance to answer me. The door to the room opened. There were three people on the doorstep.
- Vadim! Valentin! It's so good to see you!
I didn't notice the sword on purpose. It's just out of spite! Boom!
A vampire and a werewolf have shone and fallen in.
- What's up, girlfriend?
- Jane, I always knew you'd get out!
- Yeah, Nadia agreed. - Sitting here, sobbing, his head against the wall! If you stand up - I'll show you a dent! Valentin was told on that spot that your heart stopped for the second time!
- No respect for the leader of the pack! - Valentine is outraged. But you could see he wasn't angry. Maybe he's already met Nadine's manner of speaking.
- Yeah, down below the skirting board," Vadim gave in. - You learn from our chief! That's who no one would dare to look at obliquely, not something to laugh at.
- Leave us all alone.
A quiet voice swept through the room like a light breeze. Two werewolves and a vampire jumped up.
- I'll wait in the corridor," Nadyushka warned. And I tried to laugh. - If anything - scream! Help, raped, robbed, hurt! It's your choice!
And she coughed twice loudly. I snorted. And I gave the departing people a sad look. I really didn't want to be alone with this particular vampire. Especially since we had a hard and long conversation.
Mecislav slipped to the bed in one smooth motion.
- Would you like to say hello to me, Curly?
I was looking at him point-blank. And my heart unwittingly missed one beat. Higher Powers, how handsome he is! Even if he's a living dead man, even if he's a canine evil, but his beauty makes my jaws look beautiful!
The hospital gown covered his shoulders and hands and was buttoned up. The white lace of his shirt merged with the white fabric of his robe. The black pants tightened his narrow hips like a second skin. The boots reached almost to the knees and were fastened at the back with silver buckles. Black hair with well-groomed curls scattered over the shoulders. He was always incredibly handsome. And even now, half-lived and weakened, I couldn't look at all that beauty in peace. My hands just kept reaching out to touch, pet, climb under my shirt, check if these lace felt as hard as they looked... I managed to get over myself.
- Why is that? Hello, Mechislav.
- Hello, Curly.
He sat on the edge of the bed, and I tried to pull away. The vampire's hand lay softly on my hand.
- Lie still, curly. I don't want you to fall out of bed.
- I won't fall out," I promised. - Take your hand away.
- Are you that uncomfortable with my touch, Curly?
The voice of a vampire beckoned me, teased me, mesmerized me. Unpleasant? To tell the truth is to go deeper into a subject that I don't want to touch. To say I don't like it is to lie boldly. I chose the third option.
- Danielle didn't come to see me. Why not?
The vampire's face is darkened.
- Danielle's dead, curly.
- WHAT?!
- If you were stronger, I would try to show you everything that happened. But you're still too weak. Just listen to me, Curly, and then judge.
I shrugged my shoulders. What kind of court can we talk about? Danielle is dead! What else is there to say?! In my opinion, nothing. There are no such excuses.
- I wasn't going to justify myself," Mechislav guessed my thoughts. - Honey, then, after the fight, I went into a trance. When I woke up, it was already over.
- You promised to take Daniel under your protection.
- When I was in a trance, I couldn't do it purely physically. I was no different from a dead man! I didn't even know what was going on around me! The ceiling could have fallen on me - I wouldn't have understood! And technically, Danielle wasn't part of my vertical. I had no right to control his fate, my girl.
I pulled my hand out from under his palm.
- It didn't stop you from using Daniel as a spy. And then, when you were captured, you also used his services, albeit indirectly, through me!
- There's a lot you don't know, Curly. Do you think Daniel is a light angel? You're wrong.
- It's easy to fall for the dead.
Is it true that he's dead?! How painful, High Powers, how... empty! I lifted my eyes from the blanket and met the look of a vampire. Mecislav looked sad and sympathetic.
- We've been planning something like this for a long time. If things had worked out the way I wanted, curly, I wouldn't have come here until eight or ten years later. It didn't work out. Daniel was exposed and tortured. You set him free. And Danielle called me the first night after he escaped. He said he had found the great source of the Force. Said your energy was unbelievable. And he suggested I take you and then try to take over again. Somewhere else in town.
- You're lying, I whispered. - He couldn't have done it!
- He told you that he bought my help, but he didn't tell you that he bought it - by you? With your power, your body, your mind...
I was suffocating with rage and pain.
- You're lying to me! You're just lying to make me believe that Daniel is guilty!
- I do
n't see any point in lying to you, Curly. Either way, you're gonna find out the truth anyway.
- The one that Danielle could have told me? I don't think so!
- Curly!
- And stop calling me that!
- Curly, you're acting like a child of twelve!
The first notes of anger were heard in the vampire's voice. But I was even happy about it.
- First, I'm sick and I'm allowed to," I parried. - And secondly, I have every right to be mad at you!
Mecislav didn't try to touch me anymore.
- Yes, you do. Even though it's less than you think.
- Oh, really?
- When I came to your town, Curly, you may remember that Danielle immediately asked you to share the blood with me. Blood and Power.
- I remember that," I answered. - So what?
- Danielle didn't know as much about our magic as I did, Curly. I appreciated the opportunities that fate had given me and decided to take them. In fact, I was on my way to Andre that night to convince him that I had no desire to take his throne, to talk about you and about Danielle. Your unrestraint, Curly, I just didn't consider it. I'm sorry, but it didn't even occur to me that you'd be rubbing it in the Prince of the City's face. Even hamsters have an instinct for self-preservation! You didn't have it at all. You had no idea who you were messing with, and poor Vlad paid for it. There was a fight, and I made a decision. You took the first step, I took the second. I challenged Andre. And I decided to get magical support just in case. I mean, to put a stamp on you. At least one. I was hoping to get the Force out of it.
- Your hopes have been met," I sieved.
- Half. Unlike you, Curly, Danielle assessed the situation soberly. He knew about my plans, and that sudden change scared him. He decided to take care of it with your help, Curly. You were very easily seduced. You've been a convenient prey from the start. A trusting fool, and also in love. Danielle slept with you. And despite all his power, you didn't even notice when he put his seal on it.
I flashed.
- Don't you dare! Don't you dare...
The vampire's fingers found my hand again and squeezed it.
- Whatever white is called green won't change color, curly.
His hands were warm and cozy. Mine were like two ice cubes. He took my hand in the palm of his hand and brought it to his mouth, warming his breath. I did not resist. I had no strength.
- You were his insurance, Curly. In case something went wrong. He knew I'd rather die alone or risk the world than let someone put you at risk.
His voice has become dimmer and more intimate. Much more intimate than his words. With such a voice it's good to whisper confessions, somewhere in the dark, on silk sheets. He ran through my skin like fur, and I shuddered.
- Stop your stupid things!
- As you wish, curly.
I didn't want to, but it was better than nothing at all. I wasn't in a position to fight my body either. And he obviously had an opinion about the vampire. Not me, but my flesh found him incredibly attractive. Even now that I was half alive and all he did was hold my hand so close to my lips that his warm breath rolled over my skin. Even at that moment, my entire lower abdomen was driven away by desire. And I knew very well that Mecislav felt him as clearly as I did.
- You became insurance for Daniel. When I found out about it, I gave him a hard time. The Second Seal gave me the power I needed. We won two fights, but we were beaten from all sides. Your friend was hurt. She was hurt badly.
- I managed to talk to her. She seems pleased with her new position.
- I'm happy about this, curly. I'll help her as much as I can. She helped me in my hour of need, and I wouldn't want to answer her ingratitude. The Prince of the City cannot afford it if he intends to rule not on blood and fear.
- Do vampires do it differently?
Mecislav preferred not to notice the bullying.
- I'm good at everything, curly. Then I was wounded and taken prisoner. I didn't have much hope for you, but you, Curly, surpassed all my expectations. You were able to help out my vampires.
- What about Boris? - I interrupted him. - Is he dead, too?
- No, curly. Boris is alive and well and will come to you tomorrow night. Tomorrow night. I'll tell him you'll be glad to see him. Right, curly?
I nodded quietly. You can be mad at Mečislav, but Boris and Vadim became my friends. And even more. Much more than just friends. I don't know about other people, and I have a little list like that. There were only three people on it. Grandfather, mother, brother. I care about them. Very dear to me. So much so that I don't even know how I can live without them. But the list meant different. A kind of declaration of love. More like a vow of loyalty, but only in one direction. If I put a person on the list, it means a lot. Your enemies are my enemies. Your pain is my pain. Your revenge is my revenge. If you need my help, I will come through the storm and blizzard. If you need mine to save your life, I will give it to you without hesitation. Grandpa and mother got on that list for love and brother for blood. But I wasn't exaggerating in any way. That's what I really thought. And I would do whatever it takes to confirm what I said. Though I wouldn't admit it out loud. And now there are three vampires on that list, too. I mean, two. Boris and Vadim. Danielle was dead. And even with one thought of him, I was constricted under a spoon somewhere. He loved life so much! He wasn't supposed to die! He shouldn't have! He shouldn't!!!
- You'll see him tomorrow. He'll be happy to see you, too. He was so worried about you. By the way, do you know that you were the one who brought Valentine to the throne?
- I don't understand.
- Curly, when you released my vampires, you involuntarily killed werewolves. And among them was the leader of the foxes and his prima.
- Prima?
- That's what foxes call strong enough males. Prima walp. These are foxes that are so strong they can fight for the pack leader's place. They have the right to kill and lead. And every fox that's weaker must obey them.
- Oh, I see.
- And then when you ambushed the I.P.F.'s, they killed two others. And all that's left is Valentine. He's strong and he's a prima fox, but he's too soft to rule the pack. That's why they always kept him in third roles. Now he had to step out of the shadows.
- Too gentle?
- Sentimentality, sympathy and kindness are not welcome in a pack of werewolves, curly. They aren't welcomed anywhere at all.
- And so do vampires.
- That's right, curly. By the way, did you know that you somehow severed his connection with Andre?
- Is he grateful to me for that? - Well, I've made myself clear. - He swore you a blood oath! Slavery by one vampire, slavery by another vampire... That we stump by owl, that owl by stump. I don't think the bird will survive!
- A vow of blood, curly hair, many different from blind obedience. Now Valentine can serve me, but not as a slave, but as a free man. If I can order the same tiger with anything, with the foxes this number will not pass. They are free from my will. They are my allies. And for that, Valentine is very grateful to you.
I put my eyelashes down. Thank you, ha! You should talk to him! Feels my heart, I have to apologize again. For all the stupid things I've done. Speaking of werewolves!
- Are local tigers excited about you coming to town?
- They're happy, curly.
The vampire was smiling in such a way that it became clear that happiness wasn't the issue here.
- Let's hope I'm the only one who can break those links between a werewolf and a vampire.
The vampire's eyes have become serious and thoughtful.
- You have no idea how rare your gift is, Curly. I look forward to the moment when we can test our combined strength.
- Don't even dream of it," I warned you. - There's something else you haven't told me. Who stunned me?
- Vadim.
- WHAT?!
- He knew perfectly well what you could say or do the next second. And made sure that Ramirez
didn't recognize your true power.
- Well, thank you, friend," I strained through my teeth.
- No offense to the boy, Curly. He wanted the best.
- It came out as usual.
- Yes. You fainted when Ramirez ordered Daniel to be executed. Valentin felt your forehead and said you had a serious fever. I'm guessing you were already sick, and the battle, and so was I, took away the last bits of strength you needed to fight the disease. Luckily, there's a doctor in the werewolf fox. And there was a first aid kit in the club. You got some kind of injection and your fever went down a little. But it took my decision to take you to the hospital, and I was in a trance. That's when Ramirez made his decision to deal with Daniel first. If it's any consolation, Curly, he didn't suffer. He didn't suffer any longer than necessary. His head was cut off and his heart was immediately ripped out.
I imagined this picture, and a moan came out of my throat involuntarily. His head. The lips that liked to smile so much. Grey eyes that burned like two stars when we made love or when he painted. The heart that was beating for me. And now he's gone. There's nothing. And it never will be. I didn't know it could hurt so much from a single thought. But I've never lost a loved one before. I've never lost a loved one.
- Curly...
Mecislav touched my face tenderly. The vampire's fingers slid on my lips and froze on my neck, where the pulse on the carotid artery often and unevenly beat.
- Don't be shy with me if you want to cry. You need it like air.
I really wanted to cry, but I'll be damned if I cry in front of him! I twitched my head, throwing his hand down.
- So when did my heart stop?
My voice sounded like a stranger to me. My throat felt compassionate with unspilled tears, but the vampire looked up to me with respect. That's new.
- That's when, for the first time. Vadim decided to call an ambulance and take you to the hospital. And then he was afraid to lose you, curly. The werewolf doctor gave you CPR until the car arrived. The second time your heart stopped already in the ICU. It happened the second time I got out of a trance.
- Why?
My voice still sounded low and hoarse, but overall I managed. You can put yourself on a good grade. In the "Self-control" section.
- Daniel's death, Curly, somehow removed my First Seal from you. The seal of the body.
Ring of Madness Page 72
