Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  - Girl, until you tell me exactly what happened to you, I can't give you medical help! - "Medic" is frenziedly straightened out.

  I flashed like a match, too.

  - Girl," I was no longer teasing, "and the threatening growling of the beast with human eyes was rising in my throat. - It's your job to heal. These are not stab wounds or gunshot wounds. The rest is none of your dog's business. Come on, flush my hands quickly, bandage me up, and you can go to hell with dogs.

  - What the hell do you think you're doing?!

  - No, what do you think you're doing?! A sick man came to you, paid a rabid sum... by the way, dear, cancel the payment. Let's go to a normal hospital. Otherwise, this sheep will puke for another year, and you can't wait for it. You can see that she's got a diploma. And they're keeping her here either for nothing or for sexual favors for anybody who wants it. Conoval like that...

  I couldn't go on. The door swung open and a tall dark-haired man in a green surgical suit flew into the office.

  - Viktor Arkadyevich! - A doctor rushed to him. - This rascal...

  Viktor Arkadyevich bypassed it like a tree and headed straight for us.

  - Mechislav Nikolaevich! Yulia Yevgenyevna! I can't say that I'm glad to see you, it would be better not to come to us at all! What's wrong?

  - These hammers... - kept stuttering "medic". I wonder if she knows any other words? But she shouldn't have reminded herself of that.

  - Shut up! - The doctor yelled at her. - So, what happened?

  - Yulia Yevgenyevna needs medical help," said Mechislav quietly. - She had a little problem with her hands. Julia, show your uncle's hands to the doctor.

  I obediently stretched out the hands forward. M-yes, it looked just awful. Blood didn't ooze out anymore. It just got baked with an unappetizing crust in the wounds. And the hands themselves, swollen and red, looked scary.

  - Yulia Yevgenyevna, is that frostbite? And, presumably, the wounds? - The doctor immediately guessed.

  Hmm. Well, at least someone smart.

  - I'm not sure. But I guess so.

  - Okay. Mechislav Nikolaevich, let the girl go. Yulia Yevgenyevna...

  - You can just Julia.

  - Okay. Victor, then.

  - It's a pleasure.

  - Nice to meet you, too. Let's go to the treatment room. You don't have to take off your clothes, I'm gonna put a bathrobe on you and get your hands on it. Can you come here for a bandage at least once a day?

  - Yes, - Mecislav said. He let me go, and now ironically watched the bustle of the doctor and the purple face of the medic. For some reason, to call her a doctor or a nurse, my tongue did not turn. Okay, medicare... Medicare's splash.

  - Viktor Arkadyevich! - At last, a medic has come up. - You what?! They were hamiliers! They were arguing! And this otter...

  And her trembling finger with a long acrylic fingernail stretched out in my direction.

  - This otter, - a bow on the strings rang the voice of a vampire, - favorite girl and even the bride of one of the shareholders of the clinic. Viktor Arkadyevich, what does Sidorchuk do for you? It's obviously not personnel issues...

  The girl would open and close her mouth. Her eyes became like cancer - just as convex and moving right and left, right and left.

  - Violetta Petrovna, what made you so angry with Mieczyslaw Nikolaevich? - the doctor was surprised. And already Metsislav, a bit played: - Excuse me, she has recently worked for us, only this year she graduated from the institute.

  - She doesn't work for you anymore, - Mieczysław wasn't going to forgive and love. - My clinic won't have such employees. Most of my people are registered here, I transfer large sums of money to my account, and I don't want that because of Madam's whims...

  - The goat.

  - Goat?

  I snorted. Violetta Petrovna Kozlova, will you? At least they'd call her Masha...

  - Kozlovoy," Mechislav pressed with his voice, stopping my giggling, "they were left without qualified medical care. Take care of Julia Evgenievna, and I'll walk to the management.

  He got up from the couch and slipped out the door in one flowing motion. That one didn't even move.

  Medichka stood for a few seconds as if she had been dug in, then she woke up something inaudible and rushed after the vampire. Victor Arkadyevich cleverly threw a robe over my shoulders.

  - Come on, Julia.

  I nodded and followed the doctor out of the office.

  - I'm afraid that the girl is no longer working for you," I sighed.

  Viktor Arkadyevich shrugged his shoulders.

  - Do you feel sorry for him?

  - I'm not.

  I'm not a bitch, she just started it.

  - I'm not either. This motherfucker's got everybody sick of it. That's because she has an aunt who works as headmistress here.

  - I'm guessing she's not working here from now on. It's okay, Mechislav will find a new one, - I waved.

  The doctor politely opened the door to the treatment room in front of me. I thanked him with a nod, walked by and sat down on the couch.

  - All the better. I was already sick of this trembling violet, - Viktor Arkadievich was ruthless, like a real doctor. - Good girl, what else can you say? A walking headache. She'll mix up the patients, the doctors, the card, she'll lose it, she'll cheat on somebody... And how she gave the injections! Did you see her fingernails?

  I shrugged her shoulders.

  - It's a nice manicure.

  The girl preferred the nail design of bloody fingers - long, three centimeters, fire red claws. Naturally, with paintings and rhinestones. It's creepy.

  - She shaved off five people with this manicure when she wiped the place with alcohol. We had to put her up for reception so she wouldn't ruin her job...

  - Now you can relax," I waved. - Mieczysław is no beast, it won't kill to kill, but this lady won't be taken to medicine anymore. Unless the floors are washed part-time.

  - It's a good idea," the doctor laughed. - But you'd better get her out of here.

  - Let's get her out of here. With my aunt," I promised.

  In the few minutes we discussed the nails, Viktor Arkadyevich managed to gently wash my hands with something yellow.

  - It feels like you've had needles stuck in your hands," he shared his impressions. - Or you were digging through the snow...

  - In the summer?

  - Yulia, it's none of my business. I have a patient in front of me. I'm a doctor. And I'm going to perform my duties. And with interrogations, to your friend.

  The man smiled sly and cheerfully. And this is the first time I've looked at his aura. It's a good one. Yellow, blue, green, white.

  And with a silver pattern.

  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

  - You're a werewolf, too, huh?

  Victor Arkadyevich neither embarrassed nor pretended.

  - And me, and some of the clinic management, and my wife. And I hope my children are werewolves, too. If you can really extend the pregnancy of our women.

  - Oh, so you're the one who was just sucking up to me, I'm the one who saw it.

  - Nope. I was making personal contact with my immediate superiors," the werewolf parried.

  I snorted a sniffle and immediately snapped because the werewolf spit some cool ointment on my hands.

  - What for?!

  - I have to. Come on, anoint it yourself, like a cream.

  - I obey and obey," I drummed as I began to smear the fatty filth.

  - I wonder, Curly, do I ever expect such pleasant words from you?

  There was Mechislav standing in the doorway.

  - Why, aren't you enough women? - I snapped at you.

  - There are many women. You're alone. You're the one and only.

  - I am the one, I proudly agreed. - What about the blonde doll?

  - I had to fire her. By the way, I'll have to send my accountant here tomorrow. Have him look at the paperwork, and we'll pick up a new one.

  - And the old one?

>   - He's fired. Family isn't good for the case.

  - So, what did I say?

  - Mechislav Nikolaevich, you're just saving our lives, - the werewolf shone, finishing bandaging my hands.

  - Oh! By the way! And why is he Nikolayevich?

  - Yulia, I can't live among people without a passport! That's what I had to do.

  - Yes, huh? - For the first time I thought about the simplest thing. - Mechislav, what's your last name?

  The first time I saw a vampire get embarrassed! He took his eyes aside and slammed his lashes with long - even a bow of knitting - lashes.

  - Lubomirski.

  - Lubomirsky Mechislav Nikolaevich? - I tasted it. - And who are you by nationality?

  For some reason I for the first time thought that in our century it is impossible to do without documents and Mechislav should be somewhere registered, somehow marked and all in this kind.

  - I am a Russian emigrant from Ukraine.

  The vampire-host was too strong a test for me. I rolled up with an almost hysterical laugh. And I laughed until Mechislav loaded me into the car.

  Chapter 8.

  How to properly catch an elephant potame

  - Mecislav, aren't your fangs in the lard sticky?

  - Yulka, don't bother the chief. - Vadim tried to calm me down, but - alas. After all the experiences of tonight's evening qualitatively it was possible to achieve only a horse dose of sleeping pills. Or a blow to the head. It was a choice.

  - Is it even said about vampires that "quiet Ukrainian night, but we must hide the bread and lard"?

  - Yulka, why are you so attached? Big deal, Ukraine. You should have assigned the chief somewhere. And Kiev is no worse than other cities in the world.

  - Even better, - I was still filled with stupid laughter. - Mechislav, how do you feel among Katsapov? Isn't that what the Russians are called now?

  - What foolishness are you talking about?! - finally got angry with His irresistibility. - Khokhly, katsapas... there's no one to whip you! A generation of idiots! They hang noodles in your ears, and you burst! Do you know that the first state from which everything went - Russia and all the others - was founded back in the ninth century and was called Kievan Rus? And Kiev remained the capital until the middle of the thirteenth century! And no one had ever thought of dividing by nationality. No, of course, there were glades, Drevlyans, Ulitsa, Radimichi, Northerners... many different peoples, but all together they were Rusichians. But this whole akhineya - khokholy, katsapy - it all came up later to make it easier to control fools. It's one thing when a brother separates from his brother, that's how Slava left you. Meanness? Meanness! And if we say that it is not the older brother, but an evil khokhol - or, for example, a nasty katsapa - so not betrayal at all! On the contrary, it's a commendable act! The scoundrels in the time of perestroika broke everybody up, came up with this stupidity in their justification, and now snotty girls like you repeat this abomination, and even consider it ridiculous! So, when all this is over, Vadim, you sit down and deal with Julia's story. And so I don't hear any racist nonsense from her. Ever.

  After that, even I shut up. It's the first time I've seen Machislav so angry. Something caught on...

  I mean, he used to be angry when he thought I had something with Seryozha, but then - for business, and now? For a word? Well...

  We drove to the club in a coffin silence.

  In the Three Sixes, Mieczysław dragged me through the back door right into his office, sat down on the sofa and moved the table closer.

  - Do you want anything, Curly? I'll order.

  I wasn't hungry. But a drink...

  - Orange juice. A liter, - I ordered.

  - Okay. Vadim, take your orders. At the same time, find me the others, and come all here. Let's...

  - I was thinking," I picked up. Vadim flew away. And that's right. I had to talk to Mieczysław alone for a while.

  It seems that the vampire had something to say to me too. Anyway, we started almost simultaneously:

  - Mieczyslaw...

  - Fluffy...

  The vampire was silent and with a graceful gesture suggested I continue. I shook my head.

  - After you.

  Somehow it's easy to say "you" to a vampire. It's too easy...

  - Okay. I want you to move in with me. At least until we get this whole situation sorted out.

  - What's that?

  - With our friends in Tula.

  - And how long is that gonna take?

  - I don't know.

  - I don't know.

  The vampire wasn't even really surprised. And he didn't try to get up from the table. I wasn't flattering myself about him, though. Vadim should be back soon, and with the company, so Mecislav doesn't touch me. He'll still have time to catch up after the meeting.

  - Yulia, I insist.

  - I'm against it anyway.

  - I don't think it's possible to provide you with the right level of security in your house.

  - Here, too. Have you forgotten about the spy yet?

  The thin face suddenly became cold and cruel. As if he was wearing a gold mask, perfect and dead. Oh, I don't envy a spy. He won't just be beaten and destroyed. Such kindness does not suffer Mecislav.

  - I haven't forgotten.

  - Here. You're asleep during the day, but what about me? Do you want me to squeeze? If your spy is a werewolf, he'll just quietly strangle me in the corner and save me for an accident. Slipped, fell, woke up - coffin. I mean, he's not awake anymore.

  - You can stay in my room this afternoon.

  –

  What?!

  I literally woke up.

  - Yeah. It's got everything you need. In particular, a large bolt on the inside and an armored door.

  - And the plumbing and the sewers?

  Mechislav slammed his eyelashes. And then he smiled. Yes, if I were a piece of butter, after such a smile I'd only have a puddle on the sofa.

  - Yulia, vampires don't need a sewer. Because of their physiology. But I can arrange for a night pot. Do you agree?

  - No way!

  - Why not? During the day, I'll be quiet and real. And I won't be able to hit on you.

  - What, you want me to sit in the same room with a dead body all day?!

  - The dead don't bite, as one cute old pirate used to say, - Mecislav smiled and winked merrily at me.

  - In the case of vampires, this is not valid," I parried. - I wonder what my first development will be - claustrophobia or necrophobia?

  - Or necrophilia, Curly? - Mecislav could also have been a very eccentric creature. - Imagine, my helpless body is at your disposal for the whole day. In yours.

  full

  at your disposal.

  A soft and some... obscene voice slipped through my strained nerves. One minute, I imagined the whole picture...

  Dungeon... A tightly closed room, a huge bed with black underwear, several lights snatch the cool gold of his body from the dusk... The pieces of darkness glide shamelessly over his figure and immediately retreat, not wanting to hide the perfection of clean lines...

  I bend over and trace their path with my lips... I can do whatever I want... I can just look, admiring and excited by the same species, I can caress its perfect body with my fingers, I can taste every part of it...

  I've so vividly imagined how I'm going to slide my lips down his chest until... my God...

  The nostrils were hit by the scent of honey and exotic flowers. My lips were touched by the warm lips of a vampire. My fangs were slightly rounded, as if ordering me not to resist. And I involuntarily, still in my fantasies, answered the kiss.

  Mecislav was confident in himself, his lips did not insist on a kiss. He glided, stroked, studied, gently touched, took my lips - and immediately released them ... until I myself clung to his shoulders, either trying to push away, or asking for a continuation. But even then, the vampire wouldn't rush into anything.

  His tongue slipped softly along my lower lip, he tried to taste me
and wasn't going to rush. I tried to say something, but instead of words in my throat, there was only a quiet groaning.

  The kiss became stronger and more persistent...

  With the edge of my ear, I caught the squeaking door.

  - Is this a bad time? Good evening, Julia.

  Ramirez was standing in the office door. Mecislav broke away from me and turned to a visitor.

  - I'm sorry. We were a little busy.

  - Yes, I can see that.

  - Good evening, I prostrated.

  The painting was spectacular. I, on the low sofa, all flushed and shredded. Mecislav, standing next to me on his knees. My hands are on his shoulders, the hands of a vampire... one on my thigh, the other confidently tangled in my hair, turning a once neat horse's tail into a witch's shirt. It's clear to everyone that five more minutes, and the modesty of the couch could have been seriously compromised.

  - What happened to your hands, Julia?

  There was still a fog in my head, but even so I realized: to answer the truth about the IPF and all - it's better to manage yourself at once.

  - Occupational injury. I tried to fry some eggs.

  Mm-hmm. Borrowing eggs from the EPI and trying not to break them. But technically, there was no lie in what I said.

  - And the oil spilled out on your hands?

  - I guess cooking isn't Julie's path. Is there anything I can do for you?

  Mecislav was calm and elegant. That he kissed, that he listened to the radio.

  - Yes. I'd like to speak to Stanislav Evgenievich Leoverensky and Clara Karlovna Karelova.

  Mieczyslaw raised his eyebrows surprisingly.

  - I'm sorry, but that's impossible. Today is the last of the days in which all weak werewolves are bound to change their appearance. They're in the woods with a pack and won't be back until morning. However, I will speak to the leader of the pack and ask him to send his men to you. If they make it in time.

  - Wonderful," Ramirez sieved. - I would also like to speak to Julia. Is that possible?

  - Yes, of course it's possible," I said. - I'll just talk to the guys, and I'll come to you right away, you won't mind, right? We never got a chance to talk because of this terrible shooting, it's a nightmare! Mecislav, kitty, you wouldn't mind if I talked to Ramirez, would you? Honestly, we'll be in public somewhere at the table, so don't be jealous of me... I'll be very, very brought up!