Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  - Yes, I think so.

  It's short and clear. Translation: "Either play by my rules or go to hell." And that's also an understatement. If I'm just offered to roll, that's good. And they can make me play by much tougher rules. That's what happens when you mess with vampires. You can't ask for something without giving something in return. But there's something I can do to keep me safe.

  - You promise you won't have sex between us?

  - Sharing power, Curly, it's always sexy whether we want it or not. Especially with you.

  - Yeah, you yelled every time you got raped, I snapped at you.

  The vampire smiled. This time, not with his usual demon-lover smile from an erotic dream, but with his usual broad and carefree smile. The fangs showed up.

  - You know, Julia, your behavior is like a breath of fresh air. I've been a vampire and a Prince for too long to remember what it's like to be joked, laughed at, sharpened. No one dares to say nasty things to me.

  - Don't you get tired of the general reptile?

  - Yes, I do. So, my cruel surname, you agree to share...

  force

  ?

  - Otherwise, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

  The vampire's stuttering.

  - Honestly, I won't. It's very uncomfortable to do with fangs.

  - If only you had teeth in three rows like a shark...

  I had a big smile for this painting.

  - Then you'd be afraid to kiss me...

  And where did my laugh go?

  - I agree to exchange

  force

  unless you make a firm promise that we won't have sex.

  - I promise that nothing will happen between us that you don't want.

  Hmm. Very comforting. What if I wanted to? Well, that's quite possible. It's just that I'll be very, very sorry later. And there won't be a vampire. He doesn't even know the word remorse. So I shook my head.

  - There's either no sex or nothing between us. Promise!

  - Do you have to poop me out like that, Curly? The truth is annoying.

  Trying to translate the subject? It's not gonna work. And we've discussed it before. But why don't you say one more disgusting thing?

  - I address the person on "you" in three cases: if the person is older than me, if I do not want to get close to him, that is, he is somehow disgusting to me, and if I respect this person. The same rules apply to vampires. For you specifically, the first and second. You promise you won't have sex between us?

  - Do I really dislike you that much, Julia?

  - Do you really need to know, or are you just gonna get away with talking and promising? You won't. You shouldn't be trying.

  The vampire had a short laugh. Dry, sharp laugh, like a sack of peas in a room.

  - Okay, baby. It's not time yet. There's no sex between us tonight. I promise you that. Are you okay with that?

  I got a little relaxed in the chair.

  - The word of the Prince of the city?

  - The word of the Duke of the city.

  I soaked and smiled. Whatever the bastard that vampire is, he keeps his word. At least he's kept it before. He's tried.

  - What do you suggest?

  Mecislav slipped to my chair and gave me a thin, hollow hand. The long fingers of a musician or an artist did not shake. The hand was as still as a golden statue. A man can't do that no matter how hard he tries.

  - I suggest you finally share with me...

  force

  . Come here, Curly. I've waited a long time for this, I can see the sky.

  I looked at his palm, then at his face, then at his arm again. He's too tempting.

  - No sex?

  - I promised, Fluffy.

  Mieczysław's face was calm and nonchalant. Only in his eyes was a bright green light. I wonder what his promise is worth. Two kopecks? Three? Is it broken? I took a deep breath trying to gain courage, and put my hand in his palm. Iron fingers rested on my wrist, gently pulled out of the chair, and I obeyed. I have already agreed to everything offered, and to resist someone who is so much stronger than you, occupation ungrateful. Mecislav could have crushed my bones into bloody dust and not even noticed.

  I got up from my chair to meet him. We stood so close that I couldn't breathe full chest without touching him. My nipples tightened and hardened under my light shirt. Mieczysław lowered his gaze, and there was an understanding smile on his face. I blushed. The vampire's smile became even wider. Now she invited, offered, called... Agree - and fall into the bottomless green whirlpool of his eye. I didn't agree. But I couldn't even argue.

  The vampire let go of my hand, but only to slide his palms over my shoulders and throw a light summer jacket on the floor. Clever fingers confidently loosened the hairpin in my hair, and dark strands flowed down my neck. Swordsman burrowed his face into my hair, rubbing his cheek on it, drinking, absorbing my scent; his black curl tickled my lips. One of the vampire's hands slipped down my waist, gently attracting me even closer, the other delayed on the bare skin of my back, and I shuddered. I should have worn a diving suit. The warm soft lips of the vampire slipped from my temple down my cheek. His hand moved from his back to the back of my head, and I obediently threw my head down. Let it be that way now. Because I want it to be that way... no! I twitched abruptly, almost tore my hug off.

  - No bites to the neck! I've had enough of my wrists!

  The vampire's eyes were bright green - no pupil, no squirrel. It was as if he had a sea wave in his eye sockets that the sun shines through. But through the vampire's eyes only a wild, crazy hunger could see through. Hunger and the thirst for my blood. But he held himself back. While he was holding back.

  - As you wish, my lovely.

  His voice enveloped me from all sides like a warm, thick fog. Mecislav took my hand and brought it to my lips. He slipped from my wrist to my elbow, gently moved the bracelet.

  - Such serious scars, Julenka? May I?

  I nodded silently. The words were stuck in my throat. A vampire pulled the bracelet from his hand, exposing the wounded skin.

  - I'm sorry, girl.

  He walked through the scars with the tip of his tongue. I shuddered and leaned over his arm, barely holding back the moaning. The desire fogged his head, covering his eyes with iridescent veil. My fangs sank sharply. I cried out and felt the same feeling as before. A warm wave rushed through my veins. That feeling couldn't be described in words, they hadn't come up with a name for it yet, but it was burning inside me with an invisible flame. It was as if sparks ran through my veins invisible to my eye. It wasn't blood that drove my heart through my veins, but electric current, slowly collecting energy in one ball. And the presence of a vampire at my hand was felt separately - like something cold and dark. I wanted to fill this darkness, warm it with my fire, and now I could do it. The ball of fire inside me became unbearably large, and I threw it down my veins to my hand. I almost physically felt the vampire pull that fire into me, and I could hardly contain the cry of ecstasy coming out of my chest.

  For a few seconds, we were completely immobile. I almost hung on a vampire. My legs weren't holding me. Pleasant heat was pouring down my body. The world around me became sharp and bright. The paints were dazzling. Smells wrapped around me from all sides, and I could almost taste them. The scent of my perfume blended with vampire cologne, creating a bitter mixture. My fangs slowly slipped out of my wrist. The blood was still flowing, and the vampire licked it gently, trying not to hurt my wounds. Why? Vampire saliva, whether it's bipods or just bats, contains an anticoagulant. And it's very strong. The wounds will heal longer, you'll get that saliva in them.

  Mecislav fell into his chair and pulled me to his knees. I did not resist. I couldn't control my body yet, and I would fall down with one step. My head was pressed against his chest. My shirt swung open and I felt the smoothness and softness of Mecislav's skin. I couldn't help but feel the pressure on it, rub my cheek harder, and then turn around and lick it, taste it. The vampire's heart was beatin
g like crazy, the body was very warm, almost hot.

  - Are you all right, Curly?

  His voice was a little shaky, and it felt good. It was me, I was the one who was able to bring him to this state. And no one but me is gonna give him that. Not ever.

  - Y-yes.

  I hardly said it, too. I felt like I'd been pushed to the bottom like a tube of toothpaste. And it still felt good. I'm really made to take and store energy from the world around me, and then share - now mine -

  force

  with others. Well, so be it. It's stupid to hide from yourself. It's impossible.

  Well, we'll see more of Mieczysław. But to share.

  force

  I'll only be on my own terms. I firmly pushed my hand off his shoulder.

  - Let me go!

  The vampire held me down with no effort. But it seemed to me that the rings of a giant boa were closing around me. It was so nice to sit on his lap, squeeze down, breathe in the fragrance of his skin, maybe even lick his chest very quietly with the tip of his tongue - and make sure that...

  Julia! Wake up!

  - You're still weak, honey. Just sit for a few minutes. I won't do anything to you, I promised.

  It wasn't particularly comforting. It's not the fact that

  я

  I won't do anything. It was very dragging.

  - Let go, goddamn it!

  My hands are loose. I was free. But what could I do with that freedom? First, get back on your feet and go back to the other side of the room. If I stay a few more seconds near Mieczysław, I'm not responsible for myself. I wonder if he understands how much I want not to get off his knees, but to turn my head to him and find his lips? I'm staring at the painting with determination. Not to think! Don't look at it! Don't touch it! It's dangerous for free will!

  If I could forbid myself to breathe, too! The smell of Mieczysław's skin, his hair, his perfume... Even that was enough to make my body goosebumps, and the bottom of my stomach cramped. I hardly slipped off his knees and, on some bending legs, moved to the middle of the carpet. There I collapsed on my knees and leaned on the floor with one hand. My hand went into the fluffy lint so that the scars on my wrist disappeared. Yeah, sitting on the floor is not good. But here I could have come to my senses. A few deep breaths, close my eyes, open my eyes. And a smile, completely in control of myself. I was still weak, but now I could control myself.

  The vampire watched me with interest, sitting in a chair. I got up and docked to the chair across the street. And I smiled.

  - You happy?

  - Almost, Curly.

  The voice of a vampire, so thick, soft, incredibly sensual, wrapped my body in a stream of thick honey.

  - Almost?

  - I really got a lot from you.

  strengths

  . Very much so.

  strength,

  Curly. That's all I've ever gotten without spilling it.

  last

  of blood.

  I raised my hand with a new bite on my wrist.

  - It's the little things, baby. Vadim told me how you took from a man

  last

  blood, along with his life force. To get the same amount

  strengths

  how much you've given me now, I should have killed at least three people.

  I'm stuck.

  - I hope I don't have to do this. Or do you intend, as before, to run away to your apartment and lock yourself away from me?

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  - Well, that depends on the deal.

  - Are you capable of reasoning sensibly, Curly?

  - As much as possible for me in your presence, I answered. - What do you want from me, anyway? If it's global?

  - Of course, I want to bet you the three Seals I have left on you.

  - That's not possible," I said immediately.

  - Then what do you want to offer me, girl? For me to solve your brother's problems without affecting the rest of your family? That's what you're paying for, isn't it? For your mother and grandfather not to suffer?

  He was absolutely right. That's what I needed, and that's all I paid for. It took me a few seconds to make the right demands.

  - I'll come to you when you ask, and I'll volunteer to share...

  force

  and blood, but you'll get no body, no mind, no soul. Is that okay?

  - Temporarily, Curly, only temporarily.

  - You won't get anything else, I warned you.

  Mieczysław's face remained the same beautiful gold mask. I did not even try to read his true thoughts and feelings - it was useless.

  - As long as I agree to this handout as well," said the vampire. I sparkled at him with evil eyes.

  - And then will you try to bend me into an arc?!

  - That's not necessary, my joy. I believe that sooner or later you will come to me yourself. You will come of your own free will. And I will gladly accept your gift.

  - Don't even dream about it!

  - Even a cat is allowed to dream of a king," a vampire twisted an old saying. - I have known many women. Maybe more than you've ever seen men in your lifetime. And they all came to me themselves. Sooner or later, anyway... What's the use of talking about it now? Let's talk about business as usual. What do you want me to do with your brother? There are different ways to solve the problem. You didn't just tell me about your... relationship, did you? What will you choose? Harder or softer? I promise you, the fee won't change. Either way.

  - Very noble.

  - I don't suffer from nobility, but now I'd rather have at least a piece. If I insist, you'll just run away and hide in your sink again. So for now. And then you'll see. But I'm not to be blamed for being noble. So what will you choose?

  - My brother's a fool," I sighed. - And there's an aggravating factor.

  And I retold briefly what Clara told me. About the chase and the murder.

  The vampire listened without interrupting, frozen in strange immobility, like a perfect golden statue. All that was alive in it were eyes - two solid dark green spots on the copper skin. I even wanted to walk up and shake his shoulder to make sure he wasn't sleeping. But such desires don't end well. It's better to stay away from that vampire.

  I finally shut up. Mecislav put his eyelashes down, then he threw his head up and looked at me carefully.

  - Are you asking me to get into a fight with the Prince of Tula? Because of your brother and his fall?

  - That's right, I agreed. - Though it is not necessary to fight. If there is any way to settle this in peace, I would gladly use it. Even if he's a little tough on his brother.

  - I don't know," Mieczysław looked through me, and I could see his face in a lull. It's the nature of such supermen! Although it's the wrong definition. Supermen - they are purely positive heroes, and only evil can be sexual. Supermen are good to look at, they are good to walk under the handle on the street, catching the jealous looks of other women, but I was never attracted to positive boys. And that kind of sexual evil makes me even more jealous.

  In this life, I was only attracted to Daniel. And then to Mieczysław.

  - He's a bastard, but he's my brother. I can't give him to some werewolves to tear him apart.

  - I know your point, Curly. But to make a decision, I need to talk to your... wards. You know, it's not easy to make a decision.

  Mecislav got up out of the chair easily, came to the table and pressed some button on the phone.

  - Vadim, take Stanislav Evgenievich Leoverensky and his accompanying paddy from the hall and take them to the first box. No harm done, no explanation given, let them get nervous.

  I didn't hear the answer anymore. The vampire hung up and turned to me.

  - Let's go, Julia.

  I could hardly get myself out of the chair. Mecislav reached out his hand, but I shook my head.

  - I can handle myself.

  - My little independent witch.

  There was a note of laughter in the vampire's voice.

  - No
t yours, not the little witch," I parried.

  - Maybe not on your own, Curly?

  He was laughing at me. Well, I'm not used to it. And then what's better, a light injection of vampire humour or total submission to the same vampire? Personally, I choose the first one.

  - On my own enough not to throw myself at your neck.

  A gentlemanly vampire opened a door in front of me. Not the one I walked in through, by the way. That door was completely hidden behind the curtains, and I would never have guessed it existed. So that's what the black and white drapery was for. It wasn't just a good designer's decision - they also concealed the door to the other staircase. I would never have thought to look for it there myself. The vampire was standing so close that when I came out, I hit him with my hand. And I immediately remembered that the bracelet and jacket were left in the room. And my hair was shattered, too. But as soon as I rushed back, Mecislav carelessly guided his hand, as if marking my doubts.

  - No one will see you, Fluffy. I know how to keep my secrets. By the way, you look delightful. Even when you're so slightly disheveled. Very sexy.

  I didn't believe it. But it was still nice. And then, who do I have to hide my scars to? Vampires? I'm sure they've seen worse. My only regret was that I wasn't wearing something more closed. But who waited... I should have waited for anything. They're vampires, not the Order of Carmelites, after all.

  Mecislav went ahead, showing the way. The black pants tightly fitted his thighs, and I could see the muscles moving under the velvety cloth. And unwittingly there was a question: Does he have anything under his pants, except a naked body? I'd really like to know. Ask him, or what? No. You don't have to. I'll never match a seven hundred year old vampire in a relaxed way. In the third minute of a conversation like this, my ears are gonna burn and splatter on the floor. So I just kept looking at his ass. And I couldn't help but lick myself. The standard reaction of a young, healthy woman to a handsome man next to her.

  Only one thing was unhealthy. The man was a vampire. And I don't sleep with vampires. Not sleeping, I said! Shut up, you lousy hormone!

  The stairs ended quickly, and we went down a narrow corridor. More precisely, Mecislav wrapped my hand and led me without listening to any objections. And I didn't particularly oppose it. Because there was absolutely no light in the corridor. The door from the stairs closed tightly, not a single ray penetrated behind it. Vampires didn't need it, they could see perfectly in the dark. And I'd just blend my forehead into the wall. That's why I wasn't nagging. I've had enough of the upheaval for today. Let's not add a concussion, either.