Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

It didn't work out at first.

  And then...

  Another cobweb fell off Boris, hangs on my aura - and threw up.

  I only bet that Ivan Tulsky now will not look at the auras. On the contrary, he has to depict the attention to what is happening in the room. And it's a quiet witchcraft. What does Da Silva say? It doesn't matter, though. Not before him...

  To me, to me, to me...

  My aura was covered by a carpet of nasty moving spider webs. I took out a flask of holy water and poured it into my palm a little. Rasterla - and she drew the contours of the aura. Where she could reach without attracting attention.

  - Death! - ...was coming off the screen.

  - Hold it right there! - Ivan Tulsky barked.

  And the cobwebs have activated.

  It didn't hurt.

  It was like local anesthesia, just the whole body. It was like you were all frozen up. Nauseous, nasty and cold. And don't move your arm or leg.

  - Get him! - Mechislav barked.

  Ivan Tulsky was attacked by four vampires at once, and the green-eyed one rushed to me.

  - Julia, what's wrong with you?

  Shit! You could've answered me! But my lips didn't even move. So I had to point out with my eyes to a flask of holy water.

  The vampire gently took it with two fingers.

  - Holy water?

  I was actively freezing.

  The vampire gently sprayed a couple of drops on my hands, so he wouldn't hit it. It got a little lighter. I just saw greenish leeches squirm, charred, dissolved in liquid droplets. Like paper that's been sprayed with concentrated acid.

  It took a few minutes before I could move my hands. And I took the flask on my own.

  In the corner, vampires twisted Ivan Tulsky, who had lost all his arrogance, and put chains on him? Why am I surprised, though? He's a vampire, not a hamster. You can barely hold him by chains.

  I wiped my face with holy water, walked on my body... But I could only talk when the leeches dissolved. - Mecislav, what about your name? - Called Oleg.

  - That's okay. Ivan wanted to cast a spell of immobility on everybody, but for some reason he got on Yulia.

  - Yeah, I'm always an extreme, - I quietly drummed under my nose.

  - Why her? - The questioning continued from the screen.

  - In my life...

  This time Mechislav heard my comments and quietly pinched his hand, saying, "Think what you're talking about and with whom.

  - I don't know," he confessed to the TV bridge screen. A web bridge?

  - And what can Julia tell us?

  I sighed and got up from the sofa. The body listened badly yet, but at least it listened! I don't feel like Ramses' mummy.

  - Please forgive my insolence. The fact is, my abilities have been little studied so far. And we can't predict how this or that spell will work next to me. One power or the other. So far, all I can see is that I'm somehow tied to Machislav.

  - Through the Seals?

  Alfonso looked at me with obvious interest. Oh, damn you... swamp chasm!

  - Not only that. There's some kind of unconscious interaction going on. With this particular vampire.

  - And with the others?

  Where the hell did you get on my head, the Gestapo in miniature! The Inquisition of the Naturalist is an odious man! I wonder if he wasn't part-time at Torquemada's?

  - Only when he was aggressive. If I'm attacked, I have to defend myself.

  Liar, like a blue gelding.

  - Some kind of mirror?

  - You could say that.

  - Your abilities must be studied and developed.

  - We will do our best," I assured you.

  - And I will visit you in the autumn. You'll tell me what you've achieved. Mecislav, give me information about your name.

  The vampire bowed a little.

  - As you command. But I'd like to clarify what we should do with Ivan Tulsky.

  Alfonso had his lips slightly crooked.

  - By the decision of two Council members, for the attempt on the land, the life and surname of another Prince of the city is death. Oleg, do you agree?

  - I agree. Oh, and one more thing. Mecislav, pick one of his entourage and send him to Tula. And separate your men. Have them pick a new Prince of Tula and submit him to the Council for approval. Can you do that?

  The vampire has bowed again.

  - You do me the honor, Signor da Silva, Oleg Vladimirovich...

  His answer was two arrogant smiles.

  - And this idea with a webcam is not bad, - said Oleg thoughtfully. - Well, this is where we say goodbye.

  - Good night, kids, - I could not resist when the screen went out.

  Mechislav turned off all the equipment and turned to Ivan Tulsky.

  - This one to the cellars. Yulia...

  - I'm not leaving," I snapped at you right away.

  The vampire raised his eyebrows.

  - Have you woken up bloodthirsty? Do you want to watch the interrogation and spit on the enemy body in person? I'm warning you, this is gonna be an appetizing spectacle.

  I snorted.

  - I've missed it. It's just... when are you going to deal with Clara?

  - I guess we don't need her anymore. Closer in the morning. When and with this.

  - I promised her I'd let go of her soul.

  - How's that?

  I sighed a sigh of premonitioning a beating. Mecislav drilled me with his attentive green eyes. Where did the seducer go?

  - Everyone came out. This one's in the cell. Boris, you know what to ask. Start without me. I'll ask for Curly and come.

  The door slammed behind the last of the vampires. Mechislav sat down in his chair and gave the order:

  - Tell me about it.

  You could have argued and fought, but I didn't. Not that I put up with my position and tricks of Mecislav, just terribly tired. Hard day, hard night... The hamster is rolled up with cool minks.

  I honestly told you how I fell into a trance, how I saw Clara's madness there, how I cleaned it up, and then I tried to call Diego. And he came over. And then I promised Clara I'd walk her soul. And I intend to keep that promise.

  Mechislav listened in silence. And then he nodded.

  - Stay here for now. I'll put a couple of werewolves outside the door. If you need anything, call me. When the time comes, I'll call you myself. Now that you promised.

  I nodded.

  - Is that it?

  - Unfortunately, no. Yulia, we have to stick together now.

  - What for?

  - Involuntarily, by saving me, you showed your strength to the North.

  - To... Oleg Batkovich?

  - Yes. And the Council will be interested in you.

  - Ramirez was not enough for us... How will their interest be shown?

  - I don't know yet. But I know what must be done for our safety. Fluffy, you may resent, fight, argue, but we have to work together. See each other at least once every two days, share your strength, study your abilities.

  - And that's all you want?

  It's a little sluggish. I've lived. There's nothing left to fight about!

  - I want, - Mechislav sprayed in a charming boy's smile. - And what can you offer me?

  - Two kicks and a trip to the cemetery," I rattled.

  - We'll discuss it later. But personally, I wouldn't say no. Imagine: night, moon...

  - Ozone, the homeless...

  - You and I," Mieczysław said, "did not allow ourselves to be confused, "take a walk in the arms under the moon, flooding the cemetery with silver light...

  - I'm wondering what the light's on because I've already twisted my leg, broke my heel and got into shit...

  - Curly! What unaesthetic words! Anyway, put on some rubber boots for a walk.

  I imagined this painting, and I laughed. Mechislav came out of the table, came up to me, and before I knew it, punched his nose - and then disappeared behind the door.

  I stayed hysterically chuckling.
>
  And at the same time, I was washing up, tidying up and getting rid of my jewelry. They rubbed everything they could on me. Who says it's nice to wear a lot of gold? It would be nice to ritualize it like a walking currency stock of Russia! I would have understood in a moment what it was like when my ears were pulled almost to my shoulders, my fingers swollen under the rings, and bracelets rubbed my wrists brutally.

  At least it was good without chains. And no tiara. Although it's not a fact that I'm still going to be so lucky.

  Well, what can I do for now?

  Eat? I'm not hungry. Drink? I'm already drunk with tap water. Then what would you do? To hang on the Internet? On a vampire bill?

  I was lazy.

  So I made the best choice: I lay on the couch and passed out.

  * * *

  I slept all night, almost until dawn. And I had beautiful dreams. I haven't had nightmares now. I walked in a meadow overgrown with blooming dandelions. And I was just like the one in Daniel's drawing. Absolutely me, but strong. A lot stronger. And I had animal yellow eyes shining on my face. Only it wasn't scary. It was the right thing to do. It was the right thing to do. I'm growing up and becoming different. Something changes, that Julia who was before, gradually leaves, and I come to her place. But there's nothing wrong with that. And next to my foot there was a beast with human eyes sliding. Still predatory fierce, dangerous - and obedient. Part of me. The scary part. And at the same time, no, not tamed, but rather trained to tear in time. And only the enemies. A wild beast, not a tame one. But part of me. I understood: now he is so obedient precisely because I become strong. And that's why it doesn't scare me like a strong spirit doesn't scare a storm or a volcano eruption. Now I could see not only the rage and anger of the beast, not only his desire to win at any cost, even his life - let him be exhausted, but only by closing his fangs at the throat of the enemy - but also beauty. The ferocious beauty of the free, wild predator, which mesmerized by its unrestraint and indomitability. Fires and tornadoes are so fascinating.

  And next to me, there was a man walking on the grass. Or a vampire, I don't know. Maybe it was just my dream of the perfect man.

  Daniel's shadow was moving on and on. I knew it would happen. And he knew. He knew when he gave me his gift. Sooner or later, I'd be strong, like in his drawing, and then I'd find the strength to forgive and let him go. Now it's forever. So he can be born again. Like all of us in the great spiral of life. And in the meantime, the man I couldn't face was walking beside me. He was just walking. Without saying anything, without doing anything. Just sometimes tearing off dandelions and giving them to me to weave. And his hands - thin, graceful, with long sensual fingers, with golden skin - were suspiciously similar to those of Mieczysław. But the vampire himself was not there. It was my dream. It wasn't a guided dream. It wasn't a trance failure. Just the formation of something important inside me. And I was calm. For the first time in six months.

  I wanted my dream to last forever.

  But they woke me up.

  - Fluffy... wake up, girl...

  The voice, soft and enveloping, seemed like a continuation of my dream, and the dream was a continuation of my voice...

  I could hardly open my eyes - and it turned out to be nose to nose with Mieczysław.

  Apparently, I wasn't thinking straight, because I'd done the wrong thing at all.

  I slowly raised my hand and touched the vampire's eyebrow with my finger, slightly invited her, touched her cheek, circled her lip with the tip of her finger... the vampire froze from such a method as salt pole.

  - I dreamt about you. And now I'm sleeping?

  - Yes, - mechislav whispered. He leaned over and kissed me. Lightly, slightly touching my lips, as if he was afraid to make a sharp move. I purrred and answered the kiss. And it was only five minutes later that I realized what was happening. Mechislav, unlike me, did not lose time for nothing. He sat next to me - so that I'd put my back on him - kissing my neck, and his hands gently caressed my chest. They stroked, squeezed a little, as if trying on weight, slid down the dress, drawing intricate patterns ...

  - No!

  I flew off the couch like it was blown up. The vampire didn't even think to hold me.

  - What is it, Fluffy?

  And again, there was something wrong with his voice. He was still as pleasant, mesmerizing, very... exciting. And at the same time, there was something wrong in his intonation. It felt like a vampire wasn't going to seduce me now, just wondering what he'd done wrong, what was wrong at all.

  I shaken my head.

  - I shouldn't have done that. But I was so relaxed...

  - I didn't shout that I was being raped," Mechislav joked, leaning on the back of the sofa. - So I'm at your disposal at any time. Just not today, okay?

  And that's when I knew what was going on.

  Miecislav's just tired. Like a dog. It's not like he hasn't had sex right now, he wouldn't fall off the couch. And flirting with me, his reaction to my prank right now, it's a habit.

  There's too much going on.

  There's a lot I don't understand, I don't understand, I don't know. It's hard for me to imagine what scare the vampires into their advice. But when you look at Alfonso and Olezhik, you start to understand the Inquisitors. And Mechislav knew everything from the very beginning. And he was scared. And he was in a wild state of tension. So he snapped at me, too. Well, when he thought that I slept with Sergei.

  It's a pity about the boy. Who was hurt for a broken penny - just a couple of visits to the girl he liked. But who could have known that it would be like this? That the poor guy would be used to get me out of the house and then killed?!

  Я.

  I should have known. Or at least think with your head, not... anger at a vampire. I also found a counterweight! In a word, if it wasn't for me, then Seryozha would still be alive.

  It would be a good lesson for me in the future. If you contact someone (yeah, that's what Machislav gave me. And then he caught up with me and added!), we need that someone knows everything about me. I mean, it's either vampires or werewolves. Or the IPF - if I'm so interrupted that I want to go to the monastery.

  And I also need that someone to take care of me. He wasn't a sheep in the slaughterhouse.

  And I'm almost the same sheep now. Only I'm more profitable at cutting wool than cutting it. And Mecislav understood that much better.

  He knew: whoever wins, I'll be a valuable property. But even with a Ming vase, you can treat it differently. You can put it under glass and show it to your guests once a year. Or you can use it as a spittoon.

  What can I do to avoid being treated like that?

  Just one thing: to work closely with Mieczysław and learn to use your power. To twist the tail of anyone who looks at me impolitely. That's it!

  Speaking of power...

  - What about Clara?

  - We decided to let her live until tomorrow night. And at night, that's it. Can you get here tomorrow, by 12:00?

  - At night?

  - Nights.

  - I can.

  - That's good. And also, do me a favor, take care of Slava. And only now I realized that I never even once remembered my brother.

  Selfish pig, what else can you say? Although... as an excuse... he hasn't remembered me for nine years, not even more.

  - Is he alive?

  - Yeah. Tried to keep his friend when she left to kill you. That's what he paid for with his broken neck.

  - Paralyzed for the rest of his life? Okay, I'll pay him for the hospice, I decided. - Grandfather will pay for it.

  - Yulia, - rolled up the incredibly green eyes of Mecislav, - he's a werewolf! Any physical injuries can heal within three days.

  - Okay. And what do you want from me then?

  - Vadim managed to tell him what he did. Your brother is now in remorse and asks you to come in.

  - Why don't we just give him the harakiri kit?

  - You'll give it to him in person," Mechislav cut off. - Shall I deliv
er it to you, Kusungobu?

  - What?

  - The ritual dagger is straight and thin, with a blade about 30 centimeters long. It's aka yoroidoshi and matezashi.

  - Repeat the penultimate word, plizz-z. I didn't know the Japanese could do that.

  this is .

  It's a nice swearing.

  - Julia!

  Mechislav sighed so that even my conscience awoke for a moment.

  - Go to your brother. Leonidas is waiting there, will you ask him to take you home, huh?

  - I'll see you tomorrow?

  - I'll see you tomorrow. And I'm going to bed.

  * * *

  I'm going, too. To box number five.

  Slavka was there. He was lying on the bed with the most tragic view. I must have looked the same after Daniel died. Lonka was sitting next to me and he was pushing something.

  - Slavik, hi! - I said hello. - How's your neck?

  - Leonid said I could get up tomorrow. Julia, you and I need to have a serious talk.

  - Who would argue. Lyeon, are you very tired?

  - I'm very tired. But I'll give you a ride home," smiled a werewolf. - Me, Kostik and Gleb. Aren't you going to get away from the guards?

  - I won't," I sighed. - or someone else will get killed, and I'll be the last one.

  - But behave like a decent surname, and not like anyone else," said sarcastically Leonidas. - I'll wait for you outside. There's something else we need to discuss.

  - Okay.

  I waited until Lyonka came out and sat down in the chair.

  - What do you think?

  Slava was silent for a few minutes, gathering his strength. Then I made up my mind.

  - Julia, is it true - about Klara?

  - What is it?

  - That she never loved me, lying under me at the orders of her lover to get close to you...

  - She also leaked information to the enemy and tried to kill me. And she almost killed you anyway.

  - You're sorry that "almost" happened?

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  - Nothing's going to change for me anyway. Grandpa won't forgive you anyway, you won't be a part of my life, so I don't care if you live or die.

  Slava raised his eyebrows.

  - Are you so sure about Grandpa?

  - Yes, I am.

  - I wonder why. I was right then. Do you remember your father?

  - Vaguely.