Mecislav seems to have noticed my impulse. But he didn't say anything. And thank you for that.
- Don't cut Shakespeare," I burst out to say something.
- Okay. But Charles is yours. What were you thinking when you took him away!?
- I just wanted to make Alfonso hurt. It really hurt. Just like he hurt me, just like I hurt him.
- And that's why you took that half-dead werewolf?
Werewolf?
- Half-dead. Semi-dragon. Dragons are werewolves?
- Who?!
Judging by the eyes, Mieczysław was no dream, no spirit, no snout, no ear. I shook my head.
- Don't you get it yet? Charles is half a dragon. Hence his eyes. And his vitality.
- Oh, shit!
- Yes. Charles is one of the last. Half-breed. I'm sure he is. And his dragon is asleep. I saw it very well.
- When?!
- As soon as they got here.
Mecislav grabbed his head.
- Why didn't you say so before!? Why didn't you say he was a dragon!?
- I wonder when I'd say?! And is that a secret!? Honestly, I thought dragons were quite among us. Just like the rest of the paranorms. Didn't they?
I was so genuinely surprised that the vampire just rolled his eyes.
- Alfonso will never give it to you.
- I already did.
- It'll be easier for him to kill us all.
The vampire's voice sounded doomed. But I wasn't embarrassed by such little things.
- Try to kill. Tell me about the dragons?
- Later! - almost barked a vampire. - All right, then. You take Charles with you. I'm putting up security at your house, and don't even go to the bathroom without it, if it's outside.
- And my house?
- I'd like to see that kamikaze that breaks into your house... I said we'll guard it. And you and your family.
- That's what Merci is for.
- Should we warn Grandpa?
- We will. Where do we go? It's a good thing they already have security...
- Okay. It's too bad your grandfather doesn't want to be one of us.
- It's his choice," I growled.
The vampire shook his head. It was literally written on his face: "Lord, you're a fool to make sense of these idiots, for they refuse this sentence! "I answered with a decent look. "Oh, my God, you're an idiot! "That's an offer for decent people to make! "Mechislav shrugged his shoulders - and temporarily switched.
- Okay. It's a deal. I'm gonna send you home now, and I'm gonna try to think about this situation myself. Charles is coming with you. You can't leave him next to Alfonso. Now I can see why he's still not broken.
It was just not clear to me.
- Why?
- Dragons cannot be subjugated by any magic of the mind. They are the elements themselves. Okay... this is later.
- Then it's like this later. And now what?
- Now I'm gonna put you in a car and send you home. I'll order security, and I'll go rest. You've exhausted all my nerves! Okay?
It was very clear to me.
Valentin, who received instructions (and also a light stick) from Mieczysław - too.
* * *
Mechislav looked at the car that was taking Julia away - and her new purchase.
Now the vampire wanted to cling to his perfectly styled hair and wail. Loudly. Desperate. And hopeless.
If in the evening he thought it couldn't be worse than a Councilman's visit to his city, he realized the truth by morning.
Maybe.
And it's already there!
With one careless claw movement Julia has safely acquired an enemy for life. Accordingly, so did he. Alfonso da Silva will never forgive them. He won't forgive fear or humiliation or... Charles.
Charles, especially.
Mechislav rolled his eyes. He knew Charles a long time ago. For three hundred years now. But I never thought he was a dragon. More like a werewolf without a second hypostasis or a half-breed...
The dragon...
A legendary, magical race. Ancient race. Which was long considered... no, not extinct. Mecislav knew another version.
According to her, dragons were the lords of time and space, life and death. When they came into full force. And when they wanted to, they just left. So they wouldn't have to face stupid and ungrateful people.
Or paranormal...
Gods, when the Council finds out who was in the slaves of Alfonso da Silva...
What could begin?
From one point of view, Alfonso will eat his own.
On the other hand, Charles' business will begin. And it's a fact that Julia won't give it up. She likes to feel sorry for everyone...
Although the girl's pity did him a good job. If it wasn't for Daniel, he wouldn't have gotten it as a last name.
Okay, all right. That's the wrong way to go.
Mecislav shaken his head and tried to break everything down into shelves.
Yes, it is.
Humiliated and offended. In the amount of three grand. Alfonso. Charles. Julia. All three are unhappy. And they all have complaints. Two facts are undeniable. Charles is a dragon. And two. Julia will never turn anyone in for torture.
And there's no other half-dragon waiting. Not even half a dragon.
Dragon blood, it's...
Mechislav was squeezed for a moment.
Once upon a time, there was a legend that dragon blood is living water. Of course it isn't. But for a vampire...
The phone call interrupted his reflection. It was Julia who called.
Mecislav listened to everything she had to say, stuck his phone back in and rubbed whiskey. Gods, you're clearly mad! What are you punishing one poor vampire for?!
It's not his fault!!!
- Chief, Alfonso came to his senses," Vadim's voice sounded from behind. Mechislav turned around and glinted at him with his eyes.
- How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me?
- And skills training? Chief, I have to!
- You need it in your ears," said Mechislav. - What about Alfonso?
- Doesn't know if to be angry or afraid.
- Oh, yeah?
- Scared him to diarrhea! - Vadim was pleased like a burned sour cream cat. - Alfonso is angry, and he's afraid to be angry! Can you imagine, Chief, starts fighting - and cuts himself off! If he remembers her, he's shivering!
- You're exaggerating.
- Not a minute! Tell me again, you're not caught!? It was closer to Alfonso. And she talked to him so heartily, so trembling... she took it for granted...
- Ostryak samovyrok, - left Mechislav. And headed for the club's entrance. We should have talked to Alfonso as soon as possible.
* * *
Alfonso da Silva was lying on the bed and looked frankly bad. But Mecislav had no pity for him. So he just walked into the room and sat down in a chair next to the bed.
- You wanted to talk to me, sir.
- Call me Alfonso, Mecislav, the vampire's voice was barely audible. - Yes. About your last name.
- I'm listening.
- I'm the one listening to you. You didn't say she knew how to do that.
Mecislav shrugged his shoulders with an innocent view.
- She's young. Easy to learn," I almost added "all the bad things", but held on to some things. - And she should not have been provoked.
- Did you guess?
- Yes. You've never behaved like this. So you wanted to feel her. But Julia's with us too recently. There's a lot she doesn't understand or accept. And as a result, this whole nightmare.
Did it seem to Mieczysław - or did Alfonso get even paler?
Stigmata with bloody wounds stood out on marble skin. They were still bleeding.
- What was that?
- According to Julie, she doesn't know exactly what or how. But she assumes that in case of danger it may manifest itself again. Or more than one more time. I tried to get a reasonable explanation from her, but she was too tir
ed and scared of herself. Perhaps then...
Mechislav didn't even lie. What he achieved from Julia did not resemble an accurate and logical analysis of everything that had happened. No, it wasn't a lie. Okay, a slightly corrected truth in the right direction.
- Is that all her powers?
- No. There have been other cases.
- Which ones?
Mechislav exhaled. And began to tell in detail what Julia did to Vlad and Peter. What the Council already knew about. It's just more detailed. Alfonso listened carefully. And only then, when Mechislav was silent, he specified.
- But it's not exactly what she did to me...
- According to Julie, it's the same thing. Manipulations with aura. And that's it.
- That's it?
Alfonso's look was frankly distrustful. But Mechislav wasn't lying with a single word. And the vampire felt it.
- Yes.
There was silence for a few seconds. Then Alfonso put his eyelids down.
- Well. I'll have to talk to your name.
Mechislav shrugged his shoulders.
- It was unreasonable to show her Charles.
- Why?
- She hates the ones who mock people.
- Charles is not human.
- We're all not human here. So what?
- Kindness is punishable. I suggest you discuss this with her.
- Of course, - nodded Mechislav.
He'll talk about it. Tomorrow. Or some other time. The vampire perfectly represented Julie's reaction to a statement like: "Put Charles back in Alfonso's hands - and maybe he'll cost a little blood" or "Alfonso da Silva is good".
And I strongly didn't want to provoke her into another outbreak of rage. Animal rage.
I wanted to live.
Miecislav knew what the fascists had done to Julin's grandfather. He knew her attitude towards those who torture and torment people for their own pleasure. And he wasn't going to get into trouble.
Let Alfonso da Silva decide with her the return of the dragon to the "good" hands. And personally, Mecislav himself will stand aside.
In fact, the saying "no human, no problem" is just as applicable to vampires.
Alfonso looked at him with suspicion, but then he leaned back on the pillows and nodded.
- Go on. I'll talk to you tomorrow. It'll be dawn soon.
Mechislav said a short goodbye and went out.
Indeed. It'll be dawn soon.
Time for bed.
Oh, it's a good thing vampires don't sleep like humans. They just die for the day. The soul goes somewhere and they don't have any dreams.
Mieczyslaw had no doubts - if he had slept like a man, he would have woken up gray and stuttering.
Especially if he dreams of Julia, with the Beast looking down on her face.
Something has to be done with him...
Fine! It's wiser in the morning!
That's why the vampire went to his room.
* * *
We drove silently all the way to the house. I mean, it looked like this. I was silent from the decline of my strength - my tongue wasn't turning. Valentine saw my condition and also kept silent, Konstantin and Gleb decided that as long as the bosses are silent - it's better not to pry, so as not to bite. And they kept silent with the duet. Why didn't Charles say anything? I suppose that during his acquaintance with Alfonso he already understood - it's better to keep silent than to get. It was in front of my house that Valentine broke the silence of the car.
- Yul, should I go upstairs, check it out?
- What? I was tired of asking.
- This... Charles...
- What for?
Valentin's jammed.
- Well, whatever happens, you're a girl, and he...
I looked at the werewolf as if it were a sick man.
- I've been a girl for almost a year, okay, six months is a time. He's not a man, but a sick and exhausted half-wolf with the second hypostasis locked up. And he doesn't care about me. That's two. And - do you seriously think that Mechislav didn't do any educational work with him?
- When would he do that?
- Why would he do that himself? He has Vadim for that. And Vovochka.
Valentin giggled, but immediately took a serious look.
- You just don't call him Vovochka, do you? He'll be offended for life.
- For all death," I corrected, feeling not just a squeezed rag, but a mortally tired rag that saw Christ himself. - I'm going to go, okay?
- Just one more minute. I'll come to your place tomorrow, we'll go to Nasta's?
- Okay. Let's move out.
- I was gonna ask you to take a look at her and go to the vampires with her.
- To vampires?
- Godwin, Glorianne...
Damn them! What kind of a couple are they? Dark horses...
- I forgot about them. Okay. I'll move out. I'll talk to Nastia, think about it...
- Thank you. By the way, we got your collar off your purchase, do you mind?
- If you could have sponsored his pants, you wouldn't be broke.
Valentin snorted a snort.
- That's what we would do. But who knows you. Maybe you'd return Alfonso's prey.
I arrogantly curved my eyebrow. Okay. I tried to bend it.
- Me? Extracting? Alfonso? It's gonna get bumpy and bumpy, you bastard! He won't even get manure from the compost heap! All right, let's see you tomorrow, huh?
- See you tomorrow, Fluffy.
Valentine politely helped me out, then took Charles out of the car, who looked like a poor relative, wearing a long cape a la Sherlock Holmes, from under which summer sandals stick out on his barefoot.
- If you hurt her, I'm gonna rip her balls off, the werewolf made a strong threat. Charles answered him with the gaze of a horse that was long gone. Yes. I suppose after Alfonso's company, he can only be frightened by action. Active. But certainly not with words. Which means there's nothing to waste on stupidity. I made a werewolf face and he nodded and went to get a taxi. Or he'll walk, one hell of a walk. For a cocky werewolf, half the city's off the hook. Gleb and Konstantin used to drive away to their place of observation. In six hours Paul and Andrei will replace them.
In the meantime...
I wanted to take Charles by the hand, but then I changed my mind. And I just nodded at the entrance.
- Shall we go?
He didn't even nod. Silently, like a machine gun, he followed me. Almost a trace in the trail. I jumped on my floor, as usual, jumping over a step, and then it came to me. I turned around and looked at the dragon. Oh, shit, you moron!
Charles was as pale as death, his chest was shoved so that even from under his cloak could be seen, and on his face read obedience to fate. It was like, "when will I die..."
I opened the apartment door and nodded at him.
- Come on in.
And I went inside, remembering if I had scattered pantyhose, underpants and gaskets all over the apartment? I don't think so. No, you didn't. Anyway, the best way to make a slovenly gentleman is to give him your territory and bring people there from time to time. My mom's not gonna clean my apartment. I don't want to live as a pig when you can get visitors at any time. I had to be careful.
She slammed the door and looked at Charles.
- Okay, here's the deal. Bathroom's down the hall. You find it?
- I'll find it.
Oh, my God, what's a man got to do to make him even talk like a record player? Absolutely no intonation!
- You go to the bathroom, take your clothes off, wash up, everything is yours. I'll dig up the robe now.
I jumped into the living room. A robe... a robe... is easier said than done! I don't even wear them at home - why? Jeans and a shirt are much more comfortable. In summer, shorts. And you're always packed and tucked in. And the robe makes a woman relaxed.
But I did have one robe. It was white. It's for practice.
That's what I dug up. Then I thought, and I buried it back. The shape-shif
ter was ten to twenty centimeters taller than me and twice as wide in the shoulders. Well, one and a half. Still, it was stupid.
And this t-shirt of fun colors in strawberry will do. It's the same size. It was bought purely by accident. I liked the color, but the size - at the same time with me bought the same aunt - three me in one. And I bought it. I'm a size 46, she's a size 56. Which one of the two of us got the shirts mixed up is still a mystery of history. Either she scratched the first thing that came up. Or I'm in eternal distraction. But I got her shirt, and she got mine.
An exchange? What are you laughing at? What kind of exchange in the market? There's never a check out there. I decided to keep my shirt until I was pregnant, so I stuck it on the shelf. But... who's going to give birth when there's only vampires around!?
In a word, the T-shirt will do. And under it?
There was nothing under it. I scolded - and called Mieczysław.
- I'm listening to you, my treasure, a vampire answered immediately.
- My new acquisition has, ugh! - I don't even have any underwear for a shift.
- You're offering me to lend him yours?
- Yours will not fit.
- Do you know his size yet? And which one of us is bigger?
- I'm gonna come over here and rip off the comparison material, and I'm gonna rattle it out. I didn't have enough of everything else! And that bastard's gonna get nervous, too!? Urou!!!
Mechislav understood that I was angry seriously - and reduced the tone.
- I'll give the orders. You'll have your things delivered within 24 hours.
- And the dimensions?
- Okay. Measure it, and call Tatiana. And don't bother me about anything. It's not my place to measure him!
- And why me?!
- And because it's your toy now," the vampire reminded me. And he hung up.
- Asshole," I said to the space. I took my shirt and went to the bathtub.
No one responded to my polite knock. I had to push the bathroom door.
Charles was sitting up to his ears in foam. I blushed.
- I'm sorry to barge in.
Charles started to get up out of the foam, and I immediately squeezed.
- I didn't mean to. I brought you a shirt. But there's a problem with your underwear. But Mieczysław promised to sort it out the next day. And also... do you know your size? Because the guys won't know what to bring. Or they're gonna bring the wrong guy.
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