Our trip in the dark ended abruptly. Mecislav, one hand kept clutching my palm, the other pushed some door. And a white electric fire slashed my eyes. I stuttered and covered my face with my hand.
- Shit, shit, shit, shit! You couldn't have warned me?!
- Sorry, Curly.
There wasn't a penny for remorse in those words.
- God will forgive!
I patted my eyelashes, spreading circles in front of my eyes. It came out unexpectedly fast. And I was able to look around. I think that was boxing number one. White walls, white ceiling, white carpet on the floor, not as luxurious as in the director's office, on the white wall - a bright picture in purple and black tones. White snow, black indifferent sky covered with stars, two people on snow. That is a man and a vampire. A vampire stands on his knees above his body, raising his face stained with blood. And purple-alay blood in the snow. Both faces are written out particularly carefully. On the victim's face is a deadly horror, interfering with an equally deadly pleasure that cannot be resisted. There's a lot more emotion on a vampire's face. Satisfaction. Satisfaction. Compassion. Loneliness. Mortal sadness. And yet the love of life. There was only one artist I knew who could draw this.
- Is this Daniel's work?
- Yes, it is.
- You brought me here on purpose to hurt me?
- No, girl. The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt you.
- And this was written from life?
- Yes, it was.
The face of the vampire was familiar to me. Danielle. And the victim? There was a hot wave I knew. Burned me, swept my mind, and dragged me into a blackness.
–
I've come to terms with being a vampire.
...I heard a quiet voice. –
I came to terms with my fate when I killed my brother the Inquisitor. But I was an artist. And I couldn't live only halfway. And I gladly accepted death. Perhaps I could be reborn? I don't know. I don't know anything. It's dark. It's so empty...
- Curly! Wake up! What's wrong?! Julia! What's wrong with you?! Strong hands grabbed my shoulders and shook me a few times, shaking like dried-up nail polish. I shaken my head when I came to my senses.
- Let me go!
Yeah, run away! Mecislav didn't even think to let me go. On the contrary, attracted even closer to himself, looking into my face.
- We will need to talk very seriously, Julia. Very seriously.
- Let me go!
The vampire put me on the floor next to him. I took a step aside and kept looking around the room. Besides the two of us, there were four other people here. I mean, not exactly human. First, there was Slava. He was a purebred man. Except for the bad inheritance on the grandfather's side. Clara was holding his hand firmly. And on both sides of his brother and his fall, there were two vampires. Vadim, still cheerful and smiling, with carelessly shattered blonde hair, just charming in simple blue leather jeans with applications and a blue mesh shirt. I immediately smiled at him like an old acquaintance.
- Hello, Curly!
- It's good to see you, Vadim! You've been gone a long time!
- It's been a long time...
- Everything's white as soot...
- It's good to see you too... Curly.
That's a voice I'd recognize from a thousand. Katya. So now it's Anna. To me, she became Anna from the moment she betrayed Daniel to death. You scoundrel. Slowly deep inside me, there, in my soul, opened the eyes of the beast from the mirror. He stretched out his claws, and bewailed.
"Shall we torture the mouse before we kill it? She deserved it. You gave a lot for her, you got into a fight, even if you lost, but you just didn't have a chance to win, and she... Mraz-s-s-s-s... Let's torture the mouse..."
And I measured it with a cold look. I have to say, Katya looked better. The vampire cut her hair short and repainted it light brown, which made her white face look dead pale. The makeup looked dirty with stains and divorces on her skin. She wasn't dressed very well either. The black leather bra tightened her full chest. The waist was shifted by black leather straps, which ended in a short leather skirt, like a wide leather belt. The blue eyes had brown contact lenses. They were dressed as sandals on a high platform. A sophisticated belt system wrapped her leg up to her knee. Katya looked at me with hateful eyes.
I did not. Now the beast was looking at me with my eyes. And it didn't care about much. And especially the feelings of a potential victim. For now... But the game has already begun. And I should have let my claws out a little bit.
- And the blonde was better for you. Definitely better. At least you looked like you were alive.
Katya smiled with poison, too.
- I see that the mistress has accepted her fate?
- She hasn't," I shrugged her shoulders. - But we have reconciled, haven't we, Prince?
- I'm glad you forgot the old one, Curly.
Mecislav was definitely having fun. You bet, two idiotic girls - what's not your fun?! Especially if one of them is eager to be in your bed (it's not about me, if anyone does not understand), and the second - as far away from it as possible, but circumstances prevent her from leaving for Australia (that's already about me).
- The one who remembers the old one is the eye out, but the one who forgets is both. Isn't that right?
- And who do you want to rip out both eyes?
- Anna, of course. Not right away, though.
Mechislav raised his eyebrows.
- Do you blame her for Daniel's death? But somebody would definitely say no. She's only to blame for her foolishness.
- And I'm not going to watch a vampire fool next to me all my life," I parried, "and sooner or later I will kill her.
- Hate can ruin your life. You understand that, don't you?
Vadim? It's weird. I didn't expect to hear it from him. But he deserved an answer. Maybe even more than Mecislav.
- I don't hate her. I'll just kill her sooner or later. That's all.
- It would have been easier for you to kill her if you hadn't announced it to the public, Curly.
I snorted at Mieczysław.
- It's my honor to warn you first, and then to hit you.
What proud words! If I also had the right thing to do! That's not why I warned her. I wanted Katka to be angry, afraid, waiting for a blow from the outside... And I think I've achieved my goal. There was something in my brown eyes that looked like fear.
- How sweet of you," Katya strained.
- Yes, I think so too," I agreed. And I turned to Mieczysław. - Did you want to see them or did you want me to see this... Anna?
I almost had a strong epithet against my ex-girlfriend, but I held back. I'm a lady. I always have whole pantyhose under my pants, and I don't sweat in front of the crowd.
- It's both, Curly. Are you mad?
- No, I'm not mad. You can only be angry with yourself. I should have seen something like that coming. Didn't you rip off butterfly wings and cockroach legs when you were a kid?
A vampire had a slow, lazy smile on his face that exposed his sharp fangs.
- I can't remember, baby. It was so long ago...
I snorted a snort as a sign of mistrust. Someone told me vampires have the perfect memory. They don't forget anything in their lives. It's both a blessing and a curse. But I didn't argue.
- Still, why do you need those two morons?
- Sit down, sweetheart.
Mecislav graciously fell into one of the chairs and showed me the next one. I obediently plunged into the designated seat.
- And now I want to hear your story from you," said the vampire to my brother. - My girl is too trusting. And I want to know the truth. And if you dare to lie, even Curly can't protect you.
The vampire's voice swooped through the room in the icy wind. I unwittingly shuddered - and I saw Slava, Clara and Anna shudder. Vadim remained outwardly calm. Well, yes, he had the most time to get used to it.
- May I sit down? - glumly asked Slava, trying to save the rest of his prid
e.
Mecislav wasn't going to let him.
- I am the master of this place. And the woman you know as Julia of Leoveren is my surname. Vadim and Anna are my servants and bodyguards. And as for you, you're worth less than the carpet under my feet. If I command you, my servants will break your throats. And Curly will forgive me. She will forgive you because she's mad at you. And because you cause her a lot of trouble. Reasons can take a very long time to list. It doesn't matter. So tell me, mortal, and don't make me angry.
Mecislav didn't even raise his voice. Judging by the intonation, you could count a sheep with that voice. There's no expression. It's cold and empty. But Slava was affected. The brother turned pale, then red - and quickly spoke, swallowing the endings of words.
The vampire listened to him carefully and nodded to Clara. Padi spoke more calmly, but her eyes were running around. And even I could tell that she was worried. For a vampire, it was nothing at all. Padi told about how she had become a werewolf, about what the leader of the pack had done to her and others on his orders, about meeting Slava and about her escape. She even talked about how I accepted them and how she decided to try her hand with me. At least she wasn't lying about it.
Mieczysław listened, leaning on the back of the chair. His face was just as calm and nonchalant. A mask of cold polite interest. His eyes were looking at some point on the wall. He seemed completely uninterested in the story of the fall. I wonder what it really was like.
It's a pity I don't feel thoughts and feelings the way vampires do. Clara was silent. Mecislav sat perfectly still. The silence of the cloud filled the room. And I had no intention of breaking it first. Vadim? Vadim was silent and intended to remain silent for a few more years. We met with eyes, and he smiled at me with his fangs. But I only smiled back. Is that why I don't feel any emotion when I see Vadim? How can I ask: Is Mechislav a standard vampire, or is his ability to entice women (only women?) something special? I don't know. Maybe Medislav should ask? And why not? I will definitely ask. He promised me a serious conversation, didn't he? Let's talk!
Anna didn't say anything either.
Clara got the rules of vampire behavior into her head well. That's why Slava was the first to break the silence, trying to rehabilitate himself to the girl he loved.
- And what did you decide?
Mieczyslaw slowly turned his gaze on him. Hmm, if he dared to look at me like that, I'd be mad! The vampire's eyes were contempt, longing and fatigue. Like: "What does this idiot want from me? Will he get off me at last?" Only by the look of that emotion was it much more vivid and powerful. Seven hundred years of training has had an effect.
- I haven't made up my mind yet, I've finally got a vampire on my lips. - I just listened to your story, but I don't know what Curly wants from me.
- Who does? - I don't get it, Slava.
- It was me who was so nicknamed," I reluctantly confessed.
My brother scratched the tip of his nose.
- Why, it suits you. Isn't your name in translation from some dead language "curly"? It's definitely about you! You and Curly, and Pretty Woman.
He sounded like he was making a frank mockery. I made up my mind. Cause I don't know if I'm pretty. I'm too far from the official canons. Wrong face, wrong hair, wrong figure. Blond blue-eyed skeletons with no brains are in fashion right now. That's not who I am. So what now? Squeeze and not live?! Yeah, snap, snap, snap! Let him succeed, who doesn't like it!
- It's up to me, mortal, - Mecislav's voice blew a cold wind through the dungeon.
Slavka slammed down and slammed his eyes in guilt.
- I'm sorry. I did not mean to...
- Watch what you say, mortal, or one of my servants will rip your throat, and I will not disturb them.
I didn't stop the vampire. Slava needs a lesson in good manners. And who can teach him better? Only Jack the Ripper.
- I'm sorry," said my brother again.
Mechislav nodded and turned to me.
- Are you really asking me to protect this... schmuck?
I took a deep breath. I exhaled.
- He's my brother.
- Is that it, Curly?
- Isn't that enough?
- For me, it is. But not for you. - The vampire put his eyelashes down. Long, black, they lay on the smooth golden skin of the cheeks with two fans.
- Unfortunately, they did.
- I can't stop wondering, baby. - The vampire was laughing at me frankly. - You can't stand him, you're hurt, you dream of revenge, but when that scumbag crawls to your doorstep for help, you can't push him away. Why not? Not out of kinship love. It's out of a sense of duty. But I've never seen such a twisted understanding of responsibility in either the living or the dead.
I'm densely blushing. Whose cow would moo!
- It was my twisted sense of responsibility that saved someone's life!
- It's unfortunate to be reminded of a service rendered, Yulenka.
- How much we've lived to see! Vampires talk about nobility! What's the next number?! The apocalypse?!
Slava looked at me with his eyes wide open. However, he was not alone. Clara and Anna had the same magnifiers. But Vadim wasn't surprised. He had studied my manner of communication in every detail.
- It's possible, honey, it's possible. Would you like to take part?
- It's better to plan.
- For you, my treasure, any whim.
We threw words like a baby ball. And I'm sick of it first. I shut up, defiantly crossed my arms on my chest and stared right at the green eyes. Mecislav smiled at me. With a very thoughtful smile. For a moment it seemed that I stood in front of him completely naked. Even my ears were pounding. A bastardly imagination. Well, I can't get rid of him that easily. Or maybe I can't get rid of him at all. Different weight classes. But who says I won't try?!
- So are you gonna help me or are you gonna break the comedy?!
A vampire came up out of his chair and gave me his hand in one fluid motion.
- Let's go talk somewhere else, Curly.
I was tempted to break his game, but I intercepted Katkin's look. I mean, Anna's look. She looked at me with such hatred! It was like I ran over her favorite cat with a car. Vadim said that Mechislav slept with her a couple of times and left her. That may not be nice of me, but it made me happy. The bitch's evil cold joy.
She was responsible for Daniel's death. That's the little shit. And if I can make her angry, I will. Why? Well, anyway... so to speak... because it's...
It's just that I was hoping I could kill her with my own hands. I was hoping very much, but I couldn't strike first. Until I couldn't. Or is it already possible? I don't know. But last-minute indecision will cost me a lot. So I should have tried to piss her off before I tried to kill her in cold blood. And it's gonna be awesome. Self-protection! The only danger is that she would kill me before I killed her. But I will try.
I slowly put my fingers in a vampire's palm. And even that innocent touch gave me the creeps. Well, let it! I may want to sleep with this particular vampire, but I won't do it! I am the mistress of my body! And only I will order myself to sit, lie down or run! I took a deep breath, then exhaled and tried to soothe the fire raging between my legs. I did it. And it was pretty good. Mecislav watched me with a light smile. Indifferent polite interest. Was he entertained by my thoughts? My attempts to cope with himself? Perhaps. And that wasn't the last time. Well, so what! Let him laugh. I think it's funny to have children two or three years old. What about him? For Mieczysław, I'm not older than a two-year-old child myself. We headed for the exit of the room. On his doorstep, Mieczysław turned around.
- Vadim, Anna, lock these two up and wait for me in the guard room.
- Yes, Chief! - a vampire barked, exaggerating his chest and rolling his eyes.
I giggled. Well, Vadim's pretty, after all. The eternal student! Even Mechislav couldn't resist smiling. He politely let me go ahead, but I shook my head.
- Sweetie?
I put my e
yes down.
- I'm not too... comfortable with you behind my back. You go first!
- Considering I saw you chew on a vampire's throat, I'm the one who should be afraid, not you," said the vampire.
- If I decide to bite you, it won't be for the purpose of murder," I parried. I'd say a lot more, but at that moment I caught the look of my beloved brother. Oh, shit, shit, shit, shit! Slava looked at me with such quiet horror that I realized that the kinship relationship is not to be relied upon here.
I wonder why he was like that. Although one thing - to kill werewolves with a silver bullet pistol: elegant, hygienic, practical. It's another thing to chew on his throat. And you can explain for a week that you're actually nice and white and fluffy. They're not gonna believe it. If Mechislav wanted to show me how far I've come from normal people, he's reached his goal. But I got angry to the last limit. Unfortunately, the vampire didn't bicker, he just walked through the damn door, pulling me along. Vadim and Anna came after us. We had already walked ten meters down the hall when I heard a loudly asked question:
- And when did our Curly manage to chew on a vampire's throat? Did you do that?
I was shivering, and I couldn't handle the shivering. Blood, fear, sex all awakened the second part of my mind. The one I hid even from myself. I worked very hard to convince myself that it was gone, that everything was okay, but I didn't believe in it for a dime. And now the past is in one continuous stream.
I only have one chance to win. Either I take it or I don't have a chance to live. I walk slowly towards the vampire, look obediently into his eyes, kneel down, crawl, feel the pain of the sharp stones that have fallen into my bare knees - and I am happy with that pain! I control myself as I always do, but no one knows it. There is no one. We are alone in the circle. And the whole world, too. However, my whole world is now a circle enclosed by aspen rods. A vampire orders me to get up off my knees and hold my whole body against it. And I'm happy to follow orders. And - I throw myself forward, like a... like a hungry vampire! I wrap my legs around his waistband, my hands clasp at the vampire's neck - and I get into his carotid artery exactly. I can feel the skin under my teeth splitting, then meat, and then I soak into the artery itself, and the vampire's blood splashes irrepressiblely down my throat. And I take a few sips before I know what's happening to me! And I damn well like the thick, brackish, slightly tart taste of blood. It's like aged wine. Nothing I've ever drank better. Then a vampire rips me off and I fly away, but its taste stays at my very tip. And there's a desire... not to kill, not just to kill! No! There's a desire to drink the vampire to the bottom like he once drank his victims...
Ring of Madness Page 82
