Or should we just wait?
Yeah, Julia's not gonna show he's jealous in life. But he'll be jealous! And angry too...
It's best not to annoy her while Alfonso is here. Just to feed on someone. And that's enough.
And after a light breakfast, spend time with Jula.
The sooner she agrees to admit the inevitable, the better.
Mecislav would not confess in his life, but he was terribly irritated by Yulina's habit of building walls and borders between them. Well, that's silly! As if the head on one side of the Berlin Wall, and legs - on the other!
That's funny!
Evil!
Irritating!
And at the end of the day, how much can you resist?
Mecislav would understand if Julia played. Filling her price. She tried to sell herself at a higher price! It was in his life - and often. But that's the thing, that Julia was absolutely honest with him. And she just tried to stay away from him.
Oh, come on. Now call someone for breakfast, and then...
Vadim walked into the room. No knocking.
- Chief, hey. Got a problem.
Mecislav straightened himself out on the bed. Breakfast will wait.
- Report.
* * *
My phone rang.
- Hello? - I got the call.
- Hello, little one. How's it going?
- Grandfather, if you call me petty, I'll call you patriarch, I'm offended.
- You're gonna give me 40 grandparents for that status first," grandpa said. - Your mother and I decided to go to Seliger. You're coming with us?
I'm out of breath. It's about time! It's about time! Thank all the gods in bulk!
- No. But you go. How long will you be gone?
- For a week, two... no more. You sure you're not going?
- I should be annoying my tails, I reminded you.
- That's right. Are you coming to see us off?
- And when?
- 9:00 a.m., tomorrow.
I froze.
- Grandfather, I've been swamped here all night...
- For purely business purposes, I hope?
- Absolutely!
- Okay, then. You can fall asleep in the morning! But to call every day. Okay?
- Okay. Why did you just get blown off?
- Yeah, a buddy called and tortured me with stories. And in business, it's still quiet. The weather's good, you gotta catch the moment.
- That's right. Okay. I'll call you. Okay, I promise.
- If you forget, I'll rip you out like a cider goat.
- I won't forget. I promise," I swore with serenity a man who will not see under the pressure of his relatives and loved ones.
- Bye, then. I'll call you tomorrow, my grandfather promised. - Otherwise, you little fungus, you'll probably forget all about these vampires.
And he blacked out.
I sighed.
Thank God!
These are the moments when I realize - he is! Now I don't have to worry about my family. And that costs more than all the kingdoms on the planet.
What do I get, Alfonso? We'll spit and wipe!
And I rode to get dressed for the gala exit.
* * *
Around the same time, in one of the little rooms on the club's underground floor...
- How much longer do we have to wait? Alfonso is here! And you don't say anything!
- You don't have to wait much longer. If this is how I plan it, tomorrow night...
- Tomorrow!? Hooray!
- Don't scream! We can't be heard. Or see us together!
- Even if they see it, what's so scary about it? We may have some personal business...
- And Vadim is having a seizure of paranoia. I don't think he trusts himself either!
- He doesn't trust anybody. The faithful dog of this green-eyed scum! I hope you kill him, too?
- Absolutely. Otherwise, he will destroy us. Sooner or later, he will have his revenge.
- And Boris?
- This one's not scary. He's in Tula now, when it's wrapped up, it'll be too late to come here. He'll be there all alone. And there's bound to be some Ivanovsky farmer who'll want to be Prince of Tula.
- Are we gonna help him?
- I would love to help Rudolfo.
- So why not? I can talk to him today!
- No, it's not. I'd rather do it myself.
- You may be seen. And no one will take me seriously.
- That's right, too. Okay. Talk and tell me what to expect today.
- Absolutely.
- And get ready. Tomorrow night...
- And what's going to happen tomorrow night?
A quiet voice whipped the conspirators, scarier than any whip.
- You!?
- You!?
- – Я. Are you surprised?
- Yes," one of the conspirators confessed honestly. - I didn't expect you to find out...
- I found out. I taught you myself - it's dangerous to underestimate your opponent, isn't it? You didn't learn your lesson well...
- Enough to keep you out of here - if you decide to hurt us.
- You're telling me you value this one...
- Don't you dare insult me!
- Silence...
The word was said an order of magnitude lower, but the voice that spoke it was cold, mad, as if it had stabbed the nerves of those present in the room.
- I didn't let you talk. Mecislav had you too loose - at my hand you would only know two words "Yes, sir..." And instantly obeyed.
The conspirators didn't say anything.
- Well, there you go. Miecislav could have seen the viper under his nose. I don't suffer from such blindness. Tell me about it.
The cold voice dissolved the will and the mind. It did. He was ordering. Bent into an arch. Vampires are not free creatures without that. They are trained to obey with their lives. To their creator. The Protector. The prince of the city. Vampire council. This disease can be eradicated, but how long does it take for such a simple action...
More than one century of freedom. And who will give freedom to the slaves?
And the vampire wasn't at all surprised to hear the submissive:
- Yes, sir, spoken by two voices.
He listened long enough. And then he nodded.
- Okay. I will help you people. And one more thing. But in return, you will do this for me...
The briefing was short and clear. Then the vampire came out of the room, and the two of them were alone there. A thick, resin-like silence broke in a few minutes...
- Do we have to obey him?
- For now, yes. Especially now, our goals are the same. But only now...
- And then?
- I have one idea...
* * *
This is the conversation I wanted to avoid. I would have run away. You wouldn't.
When I sent Lenka to Mieczysław, I went to Sławkin's room. My brother found himself there. He was lying on the bed and looking gloomy at the TV. There was some stupid talk show on the screen.
On the creak of the door my brother slightly mowed his eyes - and immediately made such a face, as if I came to him to put an enema.
- What do you want?
- Chocolate. How are you feeling?
- I'll live. I'm resilient now.
It was clear from my brother's tone that if I'd fallen through the floor, he'd only be glad. But he couldn't wait.
- And I'm glad about it.
- Really? - Slava clearly did not believe me. - If that Spaniard had killed me, you'd be glad!
Honestly, I didn't come here to fight. But if that's the way it is, why should I let my brother down with frank and nasty rudeness? Or should I say ex-brother?!
I've always wondered if werewolves change their DNA code. Such a field of research is lost to the unsavoury!
- Really, there would be less trouble with you. But with him, more. I'd have to take revenge on him, and then I'd have to deal with the Vampire Council, so y
ou're not worth it," I said frankly.
- Thank you, that's comforting... s-sister.
- I didn't hire you to comfort me.
- Why are you here?
I really wanted to give my brother a lamp to grow teeth for a week. But you can't.
- I came to say thank you. You did protect me after all...
- If that asshole had killed you, we'd all be under him. So you're welcome. Your toothy is not the worst option.
- I don't thank you. I just told you what I owe you now. A little bit, but still. So just remember.
- I'll remember that. Get out of here, will you?
You shouldn't have asked me a second time. I got up and left.
Something broke down behind the door. But to come back and ask what and how, I didn't. I have a rough night ahead of me.
* * *
- Julie's family was shot!? Vadim, what the hell!?
Vadim soothingly raised his hands with his palms up.
- Chief, take it easy. Everybody's okay. Everybody's alive. Nobody even pinched a finger.
- Were they thrown in ripe apricots?
- Why? - Vadim was puzzled. And suddenly I thought that Mechislav was becoming something like his last name. He used to be angry, not sarcastic. And now there were poisonous sparks dancing in his green eyes.
- Because otherwise somebody would be hurt.
- They're lucky. And Konstantin Savelievich, who was not a werewolf for nothing, managed to dodge the shots.
Mechislav raised his eyebrows.
- I don't understand anything. Vadim, you're saying they were just fired upon and ran away?
- Anyway, yes. Anton says that one of the shooters wanted to go inside, but...
- What - but? Where were they at that time?
- At the first signs of danger, they rushed to help. Unfortunately, they could not always be near the objects, and because of the peculiarities of the dacha settlement, and they were still very lucky - located almost next to each other, through two sites. So they managed to do it in time, and still, they didn't have to make any sacrifices.
- Okay.
- No more than three minutes passed between the attack and their appearance. You shouldn't be mad at them.
- It's up to me.
Vadim bowed his head, like "obey and obey", but there was no obedience in blue eyes and no penny. But there were concerns and suspicions.
- Once the attackers got away, the werewolves called me. Julina's mother was hysterical. I had to clean up her memory a little.
- I hope you were careful enough.
Vadim nodded. Memory games don't end well. And if the hypnotist is inexperienced, he can drive his client crazy. That's why Vadim didn't wash any memories of her. It's just that Alya now thought that on the next street the boys were fooling around with crackers, and she suddenly fell and cracked part of the dishes. And the shooting stopped in a scene from a recently watched movie. That's it.
Manipulations with consciousness were part of vampire power. They were given to someone easier, to someone heavier. But Vadim Mechislav could rely on it. Despite the apparent sloppiness, Vadim was very attentive to the details. He just tried not to show it. Let him be better underestimated!
He was underestimated. Some until his death. In an accident.
Mecislava's lips were touched by a mocking smile. And if Julia could see him now, she would treat the vampire better. There was nothing sexual about him. There was a dangerous wild beast sitting on the bed. A wolf? Or a huge predatory cat? Oh, never mind. What mattered was that the predator was angry, hungry and very dangerous. But this side of his soul Mecislav allowed to see very few. Like Vadim, he preferred to be underestimated. And just like that, until his death.
- We need to give them security.
- I ordered it. But it won't take much security. They're going to be gone for a couple of weeks.
- Your idea?
- Yeah. It'll be easier for Yule if you don't have to worry about your family.
- Yeah. You did the right thing. I just don't understand what they wanted to do.
- The customer of the assassination attempt?
- Absolutely.
- There are two options. Either the death of her grandfather and mother, or a warning and threat.
- Did that sound like a threat?
Vadim was thinking. And then he shook his head.
- If Leoverensky hadn't been so fast, they'd have just been rinsed with an automatic line of sight. If our guards hadn't been around, they'd have been checked and killed. And if they knew about the guards, they'd be eliminated. I'll send a guard with them. But when they get there, we'll either have to reinforce it or... We'll think about that later, OK, Guv?
Mechislav nodded.
- Absolutely. But back to attempted murder. Again, why? Threatening? A warning? Destabilization?
- Add more revenge, jealousy, anger," continued Vadim. - And also - it could have been the IPF. So that Julia would rush to them for help. Then she will be presented with our hired killers - and voila!
- You're talking nonsense," the vampire wince. - She can read auras. And she recognizes lies, too.
- How long has she reported this to the IPF?
Mechislav punched his fist on the bedside table. The nightstand said "crunch" and sat down on his belly. What can we do? In a fight between an oak and a vampire, a vampire usually wins. If he's smarter than that.
- Sookie, b...
The vampire's short and extremely imaginative speech about the IPF was full of metaphors and hyperboles, and allowed to learn the history of their origin in the most intimate details.
But the monologue didn't last long.
- ...it's too stupid," finished Mecislav and leaned back into his chair.
- Is that so? - Vadim raised his eyebrows.
Mechislav shook his head.
- You know Julia. And I can feel her. If something had happened to her family, she'd have gotten her revenge brutally. It's a fact. Then she cried and suffered for a year sitting on the sofa. And then she'd come out of her prison and everyone else would be crying. Sometimes I want to wolf out when she remembers Daniel again.
- So is she.
- Damn it! You know, if he hadn't died, in two months this Luboff would have gone down like spring snow in the sun.
Vadim wasn't so sure, but he nodded just in case.
- Absolutely.
- But the dead are much easier to love than the living. Those are perfect. And the living are real. And they have a lot of flaws.
- Let's say Daniel was loved by many in his life.
The vampire flashed green eyes, and Vadim shut up. This is no time to fight for the truth.
- That's not the point. Let's get back to the assassination attempt.
- Alfonso could? To Charles?
Mechislav shook his head.
- It's stupid. He hopes to get it back. Why would he set up a valuable source of power against himself?
- Godwyn? Gloria?
- As revenge, we could. But we need accomplices.
- And they could have been! Clara and I have already messed up once. Thought we'd go down...
- Oh, yeah. Okay. Check them out. Rooms, search them. Cell phones, order a printout of the calls... you got it.
- Yes, guv.
- Who else?
- Anybody. Anyone who knows that... Shit! Chief, look! The Yulki family is being shot! She's in shock and snot. And she can't give you any support. The next step is to hit you!
- They weren't shot.
- But it can be attempted. And then Yulka goes to the winner. It's all so inconsolable. And he tries to wipe her snot. Is that possible?
- Yes, it is. Except who needs that power?
- Rudolfo? He never left, did he?
- Shit! Check him out! Really, why go far to Tula when you can get something here? Alfonso will give him both the Prince's throne and Yulka's, and much in return for Charles' return.
- Yeah. The further into the woods,
the bigger the storm...
- That's right.
Vampires are thinking. Not for long. Mechislav failed.
- Okay. I have to get dressed for the gala exit. You're wearing security. And Edward's not here yet?
- I promised tomorrow.
- Bastard! You'd think I'd want that stupid Tula!
- He's been a bastard for 500 years. So what? It doesn't bother him.
- It interferes - me! Call him again and remind him to hurry up. I can't hold Rudolfo for more than one day. And if Alfonso gives him his consent... we'll have to put up with the worm's neighbors!
Vadim had a leprosy smile, becoming an ordinary foolish boy from the head of security.
- Yeah. That's the way it's better for bastards!
- Do you understand the problem?
- That's right, Chief.
- So, go to your English... before they send it in Russian. And send me one of the werewolves.
- I'll be right there.
Vadim flew out of his office.
Mecislav waited until the door slammed, got up and stretched his whole body like a healthy golden cougar.
Quite a disgruntled cougar.
He wasn't horrified by that assassination attempt. He didn't like what was happening at all. And what he cared most about was his woman. Okay, for his name. Well, why not? Where else would he find a splinter like that... I mean, a source of strength?
She is unique. But with zero military training. And anyone who wants to hurt Yulia will easily achieve their goal. All you have to do is remember the last time she was abducted. If it wasn't for the IPF... Of course he'd have his revenge. And he'll have a terrible revenge. But it's gonna do a little good.
And how do you provide security for a woman who, in principle, does not want to listen to him?
The best option would be just to handcuff her to yourself and lock her in the same room during the day. I'll see you tonight. At the thought of it, Mechislav felt a fit of excitement and smiled.
How did he get to that! Like a snotty boy!
But how do you make this silly girl understand - the game is serious? And kill her seriously, too!? And not just her, but all her family and even friends!
Crap!
Okay. He'll try to talk to her today. Seriously, thoughtfully, thoughtfully, making a reasonable argument...
A vampire looked at his watch and took a shower. Heavy night was coming.
* * *
I took Charles to Mieczysław's office and personally made sure that a tray of sandwiches was brought there for him.
Ring of Madness Page 165
