- Will you drop me off at home?
- Of course I will. There's a horse waiting by the porch.
- Vadik, I adore you.
It was only in the car that the vampire made a careful decision:
- Julia, did you and the chief have a fight?
- It wasn't much.
Vadim touched his lips with his fingertip.
- I hope that's the most significant damage?
- Yes. Although for the sake of justice... it was my own fault. I got it, and I got it.
- The chief was very angry when he found out about you and that boy.
- It'll rattle and stop. We already figured that out. Who's taking me to a meeting tomorrow?
- Leonidas, I guess.
- Who?
- You don't know him yet. We've had him for two hundred years now. The chief pulled him out of this shit...
- Mother Teresa, with her fangs, I was cruelly twisted. Vadim was not offended.
- Almost, almost...
The rest of the way, we drove silently. Vadim walked me to my apartment and even broke into bed, but I sent him home. It wasn't that bad for me. I'll survive.
I even had enough strength to make a phone call.
- Hello, Konstantin Sergeyevich?
- There's an answering machine talking to you...
Pip.
- Konstantin Sergeyevich, this is Yulia. Come today, as agreed, from twelve to two, only one big request: take what you have on aura, please. Or at least the titles of books worth reading on this subject. I'll see you around.
And then I collapsed on the bed and fell asleep.
* * *
It's so good in my bedroom when the grayish morning light spills down the street and tries to get through the thick curtains. Okay, warm and cozy. Too bad I can't sleep on this bed in Daniel's arms. He would have loved this room, too.
Oddly enough, I slept peacefully today. I didn't have nightmares. And then I opened my eyes in the middle of a huge field of scarlet poppies. I've never seen anything like it. The field is the dream of a drug lord. And I was wearing a white lace shirt, very beautiful, but absolutely transparent. A stripper's dream. You don't even have to get naked so you can see everything. And I think I knew whose jokes it was.
- Mecislav?
No one answered.
- If you're the one who did this, show yourself immediately. Or I'll try to imagine a big beautiful lawn mower!
I turned out to be right. The voice sounded as if out of nowhere, the wind slipped down the scarlet poppies and died down, touching my hair. I unwittingly ate.
- You don't have to. Julia, you're not romantic at all.
- Are you still going to talk to me invisibly? What the hell, anyway? What else haven't we figured out?
- You'll be able to see me if you go thirty steps ahead. And we'll talk calmly.
Have I told you I hate arguing with vampires? I wonder if I'll live long enough to argue with one of the fangers? It feels like they're being injected with fang and allergy to the sun at the same time as they're being injected with a scathing virus! I can see it! It's the eighth wonder of the world, all the delights of the planet! But it took me thirty steps forward. And I came across a big couch. Red, of course, and it was very difficult to see it among poppies. And so was the vampire lying on it. Unless, of course, you're five feet tall.
In the dream, the vampire was on impact. Compensating for his ordinary appearance in reality? That is, Mecislav was wearing black pants that fit him like a second skin, leaving no more than one millimeter to his imagination, and a scarlet shirt to the color of poppies. The shirt - with cuffs, collar and even cufflinks - consisted of one solid red net. And everyone could enjoy the contemplation of the perfect breast and hands of a vampire. Yeah, a figure like that would go to Hollywood. In a year's time, there wouldn't be anybody left to play the lead roles. And that's what the audience would demand, um... "hero." I got some very familiar goosebumps running through my skin. Hey-hey, if I'm so constantly reacting to Mieczysław, it will be easier for me to give the goosebumps names and communicate with them as old acquaintances. Why, even now that I understand that he has no power over me, I'm barely holding back from throwing myself at his neck?
- What are we talking about? What haven't we agreed on yet when we meet?
- You were feeling too bad. How are you doing now?
- I'm doing better. What haven't we talked about yet?
- There's a lot. But I'm glad I could get into your dream.
- Couldn't you have done it before?
- Curly, it's only possible if you've got the strength and you want to see me.
I smirked crookedly.
- I was just dreaming. In a coffin and in white slippers.
- One word from you, Curly. This is my dream, and it's all within my control.
Something white slowly started to show up on a vampire's feet.
- And that word is "no."
The white mirage has dissolved into thin air.
- That's too bad. Are you sure you won't change your mind?
- I'm not gonna change my mind, even if you put hemp in here instead of poppies.
- That's a good idea. We should try it.
I really wanted to eat my spell weakened, now I need anesthesia, or the victims are resisting, but I didn't say anything. And I sat down on the edge of the couch.
- Lie down next to me, baby.
- Lot of honor.
- Oh, really? Who do you think is worthy of that honor now?
But if Mecislav was hoping to stab me with my bad behavior, he was trying for nothing. I shrugged my shoulders.
- We've discussed this before. What else do you want to hear? - Your amazingly musical and gentle voice. I've been listening to it my whole life.
- All the death, I've fuckin' corrected it. - You can't call vampires alive, can you?
- According to your IPF handbooks, we have to be destroyed at all. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I lost my temper, and I didn't have a lot to say.
- I'm listening carefully.
- Be more careful with Rokin tomorrow.
Thank you! I was going to throw myself at the IPF's neck and repent! There's something I have to tell you, though.
- I was going to, actually. Do you know him?
- No. It's just that I know about him.
- What exactly and how?
- Oh, honey, this is my town now! Of course, I need to know about all the IPF people who live here.
- Of course you do. But Rokin doesn't look like a fanatic. Why is he in the I.F.I.?
- Because he wants revenge.
- For what?
- You're too curious, Curly. And I don't see the point in telling you this story. You've also missed feeling sorry for the FPI.
- In Russian, "what will you give me for this secret"?
There was a slight smile on the beautiful lips. Naturally, without exposing the fangs. Centuries-old vampires don't do that. Showing fangs is a moweton. Though I liked it very much when Danielle smiled sincerely, from the bottom of his heart, showing not only fangs, but also part of other teeth. And even if vampire teeth didn't look very pretty in the movies, I was never afraid of Daniel. In order to inspire fear, he was too human.
- You're thinking about something again, Curly.
I've rattled myself out. A girl doesn't have to think too much, or is hanging her noodles harder?
- So what? Have you decided what I owe the Rokin file yet?
- Yes, I have.
- Not a kiss, I hope?
- What are you, I wouldn't dare...
I snorted. He wouldn't dare! A disgraceful seven hundred year old vampire! Keep me seven, or I'll die laughing! Especially after we've hit each other in real life. My lips will look like tractor tracks in the morning, and he'll be...
- Well, what then?
- Lie down next to me, we'll talk about it.
I was shaking my head. No, just give a vampire a finger and you won't no
tice how the jaws get their hand on your shoulder.
- That's the kind of file I don't want.
- Okay, - suddenly it's easy for Mečislav to agree. It's strange, he usually doesn't give up trying to seduce so easily. - Now about the case.
I almost relaxed, but I was in no hurry to completely calm down.
- And what about the case?
- I just want to remind you one more time, don't relax. Ramirez is not the type to give up easily. And each of his plans has a double or triple bottom.
- I'm guessing. But we don't have a choice.
- I'm sorry.
- And who will meet the gentlemen from Tula? Lisa, who else?
- From us?
- From vampires.
- Constantine will be from us.
- Who's that?
Mecislav sloppyly led by his shoulder.
- I think you saw him once. Such a tall brunette with chestnut hair. I have him in charge of public relations.
- That's all?
- He also sleeps with Lisa.
- What about you?
I couldn't help but regret my sincerity.
- Are you jealous, Curly?
- No. I'm just curious.
- I've slept with a lot of people. Does that change anything?
- It doesn't.
- I know it does. You're too smart to afford to pay attention to such little things.
- You're not paying attention to disposable wipes. I know the nature of your power, Danielle explained it to me. You need sex, like me, to wash up in the morning and evening. Can we get back to our business?
I tried my best to make my voice sound calm. It was bad, but at least somehow. You know, talking to Mieczysław about sex is like taking a pony causative agent. During our conversation, he only changed his posture a couple of times and reached out once, and my throat was already dry and I had to pinch my leg to control it somehow. It didn't help. Mechislav was silent, but I didn't think he left my attempts unattended.
The honey smell still made my head go crazy. What's wrong with me?! Just a couple of hours ago, I raked my ears and I'm ready to throw myself on his neck again? Maybe I'm a masochist. Your lathyme!
- Before returning to the unpleasant theme of our guests, - Mechislav put all his sexuality into his voice, - I want to note that you, Kudryashka, will always react strongly to me, to my presence and to my smell, which is so unfavorable to you. I'm your master, and you're my surname. Have you forgotten?
You couldn't have come up with worse words. I stuttered a cat.
- I have no masters!
- Call it what you want, it won't change the whole point.
- Bitch!
- So what?
- Bastard, you bastard!
- Very simple and unpretentious.
I stuttered and gave out the whole dictionary of Russian mat, who only remembered. And completely in vain.
Mechislav just smiled.
- You didn't shake me. I've heard better in my life, Curly.
- For my death," I snapped.
- Let it be. The guys will finish dressing you, take a picture and send me an e-mail. Do you have the Internet working?
I'm whispering.
- Except there were not enough pictures of me on the Internet!
Of course I had the Internet working. I mean, it's a universal distraction. I had enough to worry about, what nightmares were worth. Someone else, if I were me, would go to computer games. I got into useful things: languages, libraries, programming...
I learned the blind printing method three months ago. And lately I've been interested in website design. So far I have not been able to do anything, but I studied hard all the literature about HTML. One day I will be able to throw everything I created, all my drawings on the Internet. Create my own art gallery. Become famous!
Yeah. In your dreams.
You'd think vampires would let me do it!
Danielle, why did you walk away from me?!
- And as your master, I must see you beforehand, in all your glory. I cannot let you choose your own clothes for such an important meeting.
It's too much.
- When we were negotiating with André, it didn't stop you! In fact, my taste is as good as yours.
- But your wardrobe is much worse than what I can offer.
Yeah. Clothes first, then something else. Auntie, let me have a drink, because I'm so hungry that there's nowhere to sleep. My self-control began to crack at the seams.
- I promise not to go to a meeting with Ramirez in a strip bikini and a horse's tail on top. I agree to makeup artists, but not hairdressers and fashion designers. Is that enough?
- No, Curly. It's not enough.
- What?! I totally freaked out. - What the hell?! What the hell do you think you're doing?! What am I, a toy?!
- No. You're my last name. And Ramirez should see my surname - an attractive woman who emphasizes my power and my position among vampires, not a schoolgirl dressed in third-rate store clothes and children's beads.
Not the eyebrow, the eye. Really, my outfits are from a sales store. But who cares?! If the dress suits me and looks great, then what does it matter if it costs a hundred rubles or five thousand? I'm still pretty, aren't I? How dare he?! He got into my life, attacked me, ruined everything he could, and even the things he couldn't seem to ruin, and now the conditions dictate?!
The vampire had a condescending smile, and that was the last straw.
I threw myself like a cat, trying to get my fingernails in his eyes.
- You bastard!
Fighting was all I had left. Because Mecislav turned his whole body out like a living wave, and intercepted my wrists. One more, almost subtle movement, and I was tightly pressed to the bed. The vampire wasn't pouring his whole body over me, he just stretched his arms over my head and put his legs on my knee so that I could only wriggle like a worm. I couldn't even bite. My teeth wouldn't come out.
So much for fighting. But my vocabulary wasn't too impressive.
- Sweetheart, you're acting like a spoiled child.
- You bastard! You bastard! You toothed bitch! I hate it!
Something more was just hard for me to say. The smell of honey and flowers and the seemingly ripe apples went crazy, the vampire's body hovered dangerously close to mine, and his breath slightly moved the strands of hair on my temple. His lips were so close, too close...
- That's not true. You don't know how you feel yet. But you don't hate me in your heart. And you never did...
One hand continued to hold my wrists as easily as if I were a two-year-old child, and the other slipped down to the neckline of my shirt.
- Take a health risk," I sputtered. - I swear to God, no power will kick me out of the house if you do.
- What's "it," Curly? Will I make love to you? Yes, you will hate me terribly. About three minutes. And then the passion will take over and you won't think or fight anymore.
I looked into deep green eyes and I knew he was right. Just a little longer, and I won't even be able to control myself. Thin and surprisingly strong golden fingers slowly circled the neckline of the shirt until they touched the skin. Literally a millimeter higher - and I would know what it's like when I... and Mecislav... when he touches my naked skin...
No way!
I shaken my head trying to disperse the wrong thoughts. I shouldn't have done it because our faces were too close. Mecislav just turned his head slightly - and our lips met.
My God, I'm gone.
The very moment we first touched each other... I knew it before, and now... now I don't have a single coherent thought left. Mecislav... oh Gods...
His hands were everywhere: ironing, sliding, gently squeezing... my hands... I don't think anybody was holding me anymore and I used it to hug my vampire by the neck. He was in no hurry, slowly sliding his fingers over my body, and it was painful. I wanted more.
- More!
- Say you want me! Say it! I must know it!
- I want you!
I want you! Love me!
Whose voice did you ask? Who's answering?! Everything was lost in the golden mist. For me now, there was only him. Only the green eyes burning above me. Only a strong, flexible body pressing me to the bed. Not so much. So that I could feel him with every inch of my skin. I could get out at any moment, but do I have to do it? Why would you do that?
- Mecislav... Love me...
Is that really my voice? Is there something I should remember? Something not to do? Or should I do something? Doesn't matter! It doesn't matter!
The green eyes looked at me so closely - and with unexpected sadness. But why isn't he kissing me?! I don't want to wait!
I climbed up on my elbows and reached for his lips. So red and so gentle...
- Please...
- No, my love. It's a momentary impulse. Then you'll really hate me. And you too... We'll still have time. And another world, not a dream world for our meetings. It's my fault, I know. But I didn't want to stay in your memory for a long time, cruel, evil, out of control. It was unforgivable. And I'll make it up to you in the real world. In the meantime, come home, my joy. And don't resist the inevitable. I'd love to see you tonight, Curly. And now, wake up!
And I flew out of my sleep to wake up on my bed - wet, shredded, angry as thirty-two traits and hardly breathing.
And it could have happened...
Yeah, that would really be a case. A mating!
Fucking hell!
I just got sick from too much emotion. I got dizzy, and my ears were ringing or rustling. It's dark in my eyes. Am I going to faint again?! What the fuck with the brush!
You can't wait! And Mecislav can't wait! Will we have more time?! Thank you! Whoever is warned is armed! I'd rather have a worm in my face than sleep with you, you fanger parasite!
Ah yes! Damn it! We switched to "you". Both in dreams and in waking. And now it's gonna be even harder to keep your distance. If I poop, it will remind me of these circumstances.
Well, let him. Let's try to switch to "you." Anyway, Mecislav will do it as soon as Ramirez is in town. I'm not just a surname, I'm also a close person, according to the script.
And who would believe that it is possible to be close to Mieczysław and not be his mistress? And then, if Ramirez asks about our relationship, I can mumble, shy and blush quite convincingly. And I won't need any more.
Ring of Madness Page 98
