Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  "I wonder what she's been doing there so long? " - the vampire took another sip of blood from the glass and stared at the stage again. You can't say anything. That's good, slut.

  There's a reason he paid so much for her concerts. If Alfonso blew off steam on this gilded doll, it'll pay for itself a hundred times. And what happens to the singer after that...

  What difference does it make? After the panel and show business, Alfonso may seem like a perfectly normal person to her.

  Julia didn't come down soon.

  First Vadim came down, met and slightly bruised. He ran there, then from there, and disappeared. Then Vladimir ran the same way.

  Mechislav suspected something wrong. But he decided not to interfere.

  Julia's definitely okay. No pain or fear was transmitted by the thread that bound them. What else do you need? From a vampire's point of view, I'd like to know what happened, but leaving Alfonso da Silva was impossible.

  And then Julia went downstairs.

  Just as charming, all white. Just as calm.

  She sat down next to me, asked for orange juice, drank it and smiled.

  - I'm going home, do you mind?

  * * *

  - Objection," said Alfonso immediately. - We still have some unfinished business to attend to.

  - Is that so? - I was genuinely surprised. I didn't want to do any business. I was too lazy to even act like an idiot.

  Alfonso made up his mind.

  - I admit that you won yesterday. And I'm ready to get my property back for ransom. Name your price.

  - I'm not giving Charles to you," I brushed off my eyes, squinting. The games are over.

  Alfonso sparkled at me with rabid eyes.

  - Yulia, you don't understand. I'm not asking you to. I'm ordering you to. Name a price and get it over with.

  I smiled.

  - No question about it. Your life is in his place.

  - What!?

  - Heard what! If you want it, you can come to me as a slave yourself!

  The thin thread broke completely, and I smiled mockingly, looking into the black eyes.

  - I value life and freedom. And I demand a high fee. For your life, I have taken his freedom. For his life, I'll take yours. I don't agree on anything less.

  Alfonso threw the table aside.

  - You're overestimating yourself, girl. Yesterday, I didn't mean to kill you...

  - And today, you can't! - I was knee-deep in the sea. Or my ankle. And the beast with human eyes growled triumphantly in the depths of my soul. Today he already tasted blood. But it wasn't enough. And he wanted to... Still!!!

  - Yulia! - Mechislav tried to intervene. I didn't even turn my head.

  - Stay out of the way! You'll get in the way!

  And suddenly you felt like... tetanus?

  Alfonso! Shit!

  I completely forgot that vampires have magic. And now Alfonso just did to me what Ivan Tulsky once tried. Only much faster and easier.

  And you took a step toward me.

  - And now your life is in my hands, girl. Are you still gonna haggle?

  He's five steps away from me. Not enough? A lot?

  That's enough.

  More than enough for the Beast who lives in my heart. He rushed forward, closer to my face, licked himself - and just pulled the Alfonso spell. Like a rope. Any spell is a rope. At one end is you. On the other side is your opponent. Catch, pull, use his own strength, his own weakness against your enemy...

  Your enemy is your best friend.

  And food for the Beast.

  It took me a second to confidently intercept the spell. Alfonso took another step, approaching deliberately slowly, trying to scare me... for nothing.

  You should have hit me right away, not give me time.

  Mieczysław fell asleep - it seems that he wanted to rush to my aid, but the spell also affected him.

  Well, Alfonso didn't do that for nothing. There'd be someone to stop me. And now I can do what I want. And I can do it!

  I smiled. And I pulled the power out of the spell. Alfonso gave it a little boost, and for a second he opened his aura to strike. I saw with the same vision that I had seen the aura, the channel that fueled the spell, and the claws of my beast and the eyes of the man fell into it.

  - Uh, no... - a woman in a scarlet cape whispered. The animal eyes on her face shone brightly. - You have to be careful, you'll lose a lot of power, just like that, which is not good... Let me...

  And I suddenly felt... different!

  Light, smart, strong, graceful...

  I waved as I absorbed the rest of the spell while intercepting control of the recharge channel. And I pulled Alfonso's strength.

  Easy. It's almost customary. Just like it used to be with Ramirez.

  And the power has obediently come to my call. It reacted. It wrapped a cocoon of heat around me.

  But this time I didn't want to dissolve into this cocoon. So I discovered our connection with Mieczyslaw.

  And Alfonso's power spilled into my personal vampire. And from him to all his employees.

  I was laughing.

  Alfonso noticed, falling into panic. He already knew there was nothing he could do for me. And I'm going to drink it. Here, now and with great pleasure.

  Or is it not?

  Okay.

  For now, let's have mercy.

  I watched in cold blood as Alfonso lost his strength, as his face changed by the minute - his hair was graying, his skin was covered with wrinkles, his eyes dimmed, his cheeks fell off and fell down...

  And it was only when his fingers were seriously shaking with weakness that our contact was severed.

  Oh, shit!

  It was unexpectedly difficult. It's like... I tore it up against my will...

  I shuddered.

  But why is that?

  Okay. I'll think about it later. In the meantime...

  I looked at Alfonso da Silva.

  - You're a member of the Council. But beware of putting pressure on me. You've made the rules, the will to play by them. Otherwise, you're gonna lose your life. Do you understand?

  Alfonso nodded silently. There was hatred in his black eyes. He'll never forgive me for that.

  But you'll be afraid!

  I slowly ran my hand over his pretty tethered aura.

  - I'm not giving you Charles. If you want him, you know my price. And don't start talking about it again.

  - Julia!

  Mechislav put his hands on my shoulders. Well, yeah. By throwing force over our bond, I unwittingly freed him.

  - I've been Julia for a long time. And I will never give anybody to the executioners," I cut off. - Vladimir!

  Vladimir appeared very quickly. Eavesdropping?

  I don't even care if I peeped. I pointed to Alfonso da Silva.

  - Take it and take it to bed. He'll need extra power. But only of good will. Okay?

  Vladimir nodded. It was clear to him. He picked up Alfonso - that is more like an Alphonse skeleton under his arm and almost a wolf from the hall, something sentenced on the way.

  Mechislav conducted them in silence, and then grabbed my hand and dragged me in the direction of his office.

  - You'll rip off your wrist! - I tried to shake my license. But where is it?

  We swirled down the corridor, flew into the office, Mechislav kicked me on the sofa, slammed the door with his foot - and turned to me.

  I saw his face. And I freaked out about myself. I got him.

  * * *

  Mecislav was, to put it mildly, furious. If he had been a kettle - a whistling would have been enough for three locomotives. For a few seconds he still controlled himself, and then the roof fell off - and went to the distant edges.

  - Do you... do you... do you know what you're doing!? - he screamed.

  Before he swears. But it better be. I knew what to do with an angry vampire, a battered vampire, a joking, seductive, mocking vampire, but I've never seen him so angry.

  What do they do
to a vampire who has red eyes and shines with rabies? They're not even green anymore. Reds are like prohibition traffic lights. At least put up a sign that says "I'll trample and I won't notice." The rhinoceros on the warpath is a nice and harmless creature near Mieczysław. At least you can get away from it. What about a vampire? You can't run away, you can't defend yourself...

  And if you don't hurt him with your claws, it'll still affect me. It's still going to affect me. So no manipulation of the aura. If I do, I'll hang myself later.

  Uh, I'd like a baseball bat in here.

  - Why don't you say something!? - barked Mecislav, staying nose to nose with me.

  There were no ideas. What's more, I was completely exhausted. Like a rag. First with the twins and then with Alfonso, it wasn't for free. And I wasn't going to throw up "Calm down, darling..." either. It's not gonna help. Grab his hand and play the repentant Magdalene? It was with Christ. And with a vampire? He'd rip his head off and forgive him posthumously. There was only one way left. I didn't like him. To put it mildly. But--what else can I do? Jump out the window? So the glass is shattering!

  - Do you have any idea what a puddle you've put us in!?

  Instead of answering, I took a vampire's face in the palm of my hand and penetrated into his eyes.

  - I get it.

  And before Mieczysław had time to bark at least one more word - she hangs around his neck, clinging to his whole body, sticking like a bath leaf and passionately (corrected for deadly fatigue) kissing him right in the shining fangs.

  The vampire's eyes took the form of right red circles. My hands took off, and they fell down on my waist. What did he want? To rip me off and throw me away? Hug me even harder?

  I don't think the vampire knew that either. But I didn't have a choice. Either I'm trying to outlive a rabid vampire, or I'm putting his rage in a different direction.

  Why sex?

  Well... if he was gluing aircraft models or collecting stamps, I'd have a choice. Well, anyway, that's why it flew in.

  I turned around and threw my left foot on the vampire's thigh, provocatively rubbing my whole body against it. I broke away from his lips for a moment, and threw my head back, putting my neck either on kisses or bites. I was shaking all over the place. From fear? From anticipation? My heart was beating so that it took my breath away. The vein on my neck was pulsating madly. And Mechislav couldn't take it. The vampire with a moan pressed me to himself so that almost cracked ribs - and got his lips into my lips.

  I'm dizzy. Crimson veil was blurring before my eyes. There wasn't enough air, but it didn't matter. Only Mechislav was important in the shaken world. His eyes were so close. Unbelievably close. The vampire's hands were sliding across my body. Clenched, stroked, touched as if studying - and breath was intercepted with delight. Why did I resist for so long? Why didn't I give myself the will? Why...

  Thoughts were incoherent and foolish.

  Clothes? What kind of clothes?

  I didn't even notice when, where my dress disappeared. Lingerie? What kind of underwear? Was Miecislav dressed first, I think? Or wasn't he? I didn't think of anything anymore. I finally touched him. With my lips, my tongue, my hands... just as I imagined in my craziest erotic dreams. I rubbed my whole body against him like a big cat, tasted him - and froze with admiration - to attack him with renewed force.

  But Mieczyslaw also behaved in the same way. There was nothing learned in his movements. Nothing familiar or ordinary. Now he was driven only by rabies - spilled over into passion. He grabbed me, clutching me as if he wanted to blind one of us, stroked me like a cat, clung to me like a cat drowning in a lifeline - and caressed me like the most precious thing in the world.

  I think I was moaning. Screaming? I guess you did. When his fingers slid inside me and I bent out so that the vampire could barely hold me.

  And then he found himself inside me, and I was quiet. One second for five. To rush towards him, over and over again. To finally merge together. And not break up. There's no way we're breaking up.

  After all, two halves of the same whole cannot be separated.

  The orgasm struck like a dagger at the framed defenseless throat. The first? One of many. I couldn't remember how many there were. Only the stars in the eyes blinded by passion. The stars - and each star had the face of Mieczysław, who moaned and growled with passion next to me.

  It is vaguely remembered that Mecislav changed his pose, spun me like a doll, made me ask him - and I begged, forgetting about pride, forgetting everything in the world. I needed him as if he were air. Like life itself. He was my life at these moments.

  I remember the fangs that stuck in my neck. And the rabid explosion of rapture that followed. A slight pain only heightened all the sensations. I remember Mecislav drinking my blood, still inside. And how I gladly let him have that and everything he wanted.

  Is there anything wrong between two parts of the same whole?

  The madness didn't end soon. And I spread out on the floor, exhausted.

  Moving?

  That's a strange word. What does it mean?

  Can I do that?

  There's a worn-out Mecislav next door. I couldn't think about anything anymore. I just rubbed my face on his shoulder - and the consciousness passed out like a blown light bulb.

  I didn't think of it anymore. I didn't feel it. I didn't understand. I wasn't there. I was dissolving and sailing on the waves of foolish pleasure.

  A familiar power touched my mind - and I exhaled in the wake of a sweet madness:

  - Danielle?

  And only then I realized what I was and where - when I opened my eyes and stumbled upon the indignant look of Mieczysław.

  Did I call Daniel out loud?

  - Yeah," the vampire cut me off, pulling away.

  And this out loud, too?

  - Yes.

  I certainly didn't say that!

  - You've got everything written all over your face. And I would like an explanation!

  I turned my shoulders. My head was cloudy and I didn't want to think. But I had to. I was slow to realize what was happening. And what just happened between us. And then I rolled over with my moan and covered my face with my hands.

  A vampire's hand slipped on my shoulder. Slowed down... and started stroking my hair.

  Oh, shit!

  What did I do!?

  Bring that time back!!!

  * * *

  The woman's first word rinsed like a knife.

  - Danielle...

  Even now! Even here! Won't she ever forget him!?

  The vampire involuntarily couldn't contain his irritation. Yeah, then he'll regret the careless words. But it will be in a few hours or days...

  Mecislav watched Julia open her eyes. For a few seconds she clearly couldn't figure out what, where and when. And then...

  The vampire did not expect to be so scratched in the heart by the disgust that settled in the clear eyes.

  Disgust. It's horrible. Panic.

  It feels as if half the world has collapsed, and all that has happened is what should have happened. It's been a long time.

  Well, that's fine. It's okay. He's around, and he won't let her do anything stupid. Fear, fear - it's all understandable.

  But disgust?

  Mechislav terribly did not want to confess even to himself, but he would have given up half the kingdom, as long as Julia did not look at him with such... such squeamishness.

  The girl kept covering her face with her hands. And the vampire couldn't take it.

  - Fluffy...

  * * *

  The nauseous awareness of what was happening was slowly retreating. I turned from the suffering tangle. And I saw Mecislav's face above me. Seriously. I was worried. Anticipating.

  What?

  Memory didn't take long. I woke up and curled back up.

  Now I'm in the middle of something.

  * * *

  Mechislav stroked the hair of a woman lying next to him.

  His women.
It's all his now. Except... does she admit it?

  The thought was so unpleasant that the vampire's hand froze in the air for a few seconds. It's true. Yulia is very independent. It's too much.

  Hey, Mieczysław would have let you shave your head so that it would be easier to communicate with her. At least for a little bit! To the very tip of the little finger!

  Where's that?

  Less than a year he knows this woman. And he still can't fully understand what she wants? From him? From life? At all?

  Money? Powers? The authorities? Love?

  Finally confused in the axes, Mieczyslaw decided to come from another direction.

  And what does he want from her himself?

  The authorities?

  He's the one who's got it. Yulia can fight with him from the fence to lunch, but at the first signs of danger, she, like a tame wolf, feels at his foot - and ready to tear up anyone who has attempted on Her flock. To tear without mercy and without pity, paying no attention to the wounds or the price to be paid for winning. Even if that price is her life. Though... her life she will sacrifice easily and willingly, as opposed to the lives of her family and friends.

  And at the same time...

  Mechislav waved his head, not even knowing how to formulate it better. Julia knew very well when and what could be saved. And she concentrated only on that. Everything else - later. Everything else doesn't matter.

  You can't save, you have to take revenge. That's what André burned on in his time... Oh, he's gone somewhere wrong. So what does he want from Julie? Legitimate?

  Mecislav imagined a girl lying on his chest, obediently running to carry out any of his orders, looking with dog's eyes, smiling with a bluntly loving smile, throwing herself at his neck every three minutes with a scream "Love me! »…

  The vampire was just sick of the painting that opened.

  Yulu he could only imagine as she was. Funny, scrappy, naughty, laughing... No shame in joking at him. And constantly thinking of ways to get him off balance. Like that creepy pink shirt of hers! I mean, you can dress up decent! Yes, you can! And why wear that horror?

  And her eternal jokes about fangs and bloodshed?

  And the totally shameless undermining of his authority in the eyes of his subordinates?

  The decent Prince of the City must have vampires:

  A) Hold it;