- The mark of Chaos," she sputtered like a scalded cat. Then she thought about it and took my palm again. The colorless eyes were staring into mine, and I suddenly realized that despite the smooth face and thin, flexible body, this siren was very old. Did her eyes reflect the centuries-old waters of the lake, or the millennia-old waters? Her lips curved, forming a surprised and slightly mocking smile.
- The Lord of Darkness will answer you," she said slowly and singing more. - if you want to ask a question. For the last time.
- Yes," the Arch'arrion responded slowly, "I do.
I turned to him a little frightened, but he turned away and stepped to the edge of the water without looking at me. I moved excitedly as Mayra held me with her cold palm.
- Where did he go? - I asked him, what was going on?
- Are you afraid for him? - transparent eyes looked surprised - how silly... and strange.
- Answer me! - I dumped gloomyly.
The mermaid looked at me with her transparent eyes. Nothing reflected on her face. Now it surprisingly reminded me of the face of the drowned Golden Blossom. The same detached face. Lifeless...
- The demon is looking for an answer, they'll give it to them... whatever it is.
- Who's Im?
- They are not who... They are the essence. Our essence.
The Arch'arrion had already entered the lake through his chest, the water around him slowly darkened as if it was tentaped by a terrible underwater monster. Tailed shadows fled, hiding, lurking in the depths.
- They... is it a lake? - I guessed it. Serena nodded.
- What's it gonna do to him? - I asked alarmingly. The arch'arrion is already completely underwater, the tentacles have closed. One minute, two, ten... the water surface was tightened with an impenetrable film. I pushed away the mermaid holding me and rushed to the lake. From the run I pushed off the shore and caught a fish in the water, spraying it with a myriad of crystal splashes.
And it was only when the dark surface closed above my head indifferently that I remembered that I could not swim. The blue dress instantly soaked in water, enveloped the body, became heavy and pulled to the bottom. There was a whirlpool underneath me. Black and so deep that the sun's rays were ligature in this dead abyss, dissolving in it without trace. I opened my eyes fidgeting in the dense, viscous water. Somewhere at the top still pale was the daylight, faintly seeping through the thick, but so far away! I was even surprised at how fast the whirlpool pulled me down... I could push or catch something, but there was no bottom, my bare feet hanging in the cold emptiness, and in the thin algae that stretched from the bottom, my fingers just tangled without meeting the support.
The air was running out. Light bubbles burst out of my mouth, the last drops of my life. My chest squeezed. The light above my head tightened with darkness, I was surrounded on all sides by an endless black column of water, and I could not even understand where the top and bottom were.
My breath was over...
A dark shadow thickened, came close, and yanked me out of my flesh sharply. The strong body of the Arch'arrion, moving confidently and quickly, broke through the abyss, pulling me out behind him. He just threw me ashore and flipped me over, forcing me to tear the streams of water out of me.
I was lying exhausted in the sand, coughing silently and grabbing the lifesaving air with my mouth. I was surrounded by a dozen mermaids, looking at me with cold bewilderment. Coughing tearfully, I gazed at a very young face, which had not yet had time to get a mermaid imperturbable lifelessness. A young siren, looking at me with inquisitive pity.
- ...Why did she disturb the peace of Him?
- ...She was frightened. She was afraid that the demon would drown, Mayira replied dissatisfied.
- ...but doesn't she know that the Lord of Darkness can't drown? - ...the girl was surprised.
I stopped coughing and rolled over hard, pulling my knees to my chest. A wet dress enveloped me, a scythe split and fell out in the sand. I stretched out and sat down without looking at anyone. The Arch'arrion looked at me in silence. I pushed the hem down ostentatiously.
The sirens were joking as they looked at me. That's right, what they saw was very amusing.
- ...but why did she do it? - ...a loud whisper was baffling the girl. The older mermaids shouted at her, but one of them answered:
- ...wanted to save him...
- Save? She? A demon?
This kind of stupidity didn't seem to fit in a young mermaid's head.
Mayira looked at the man in a mocking way.
- You have your answer, Lord of Darkness. There's a price to pay for everything. Sooner or later.
The Arch'arrion did not answer, silently approaching me, helping me up. The mermaids parted before us, skipping. I was wobbling across the sand, tripping and coughing, and if it weren't for the firm hand holding me, I'd probably have fallen.
The sirens were silently watching us.
The lake was left behind, lingering again with the illusion of peaceful willows along the banks. The Arch'arrion was walking silently through the woods, and I was not eager to discuss what had happened either. A rare foolishness, of course, to bite a demon in the water. You could have guessed that nothing would happen to him there...
After the black whirlpool, I wheezed, my throat went down, I was shaking. All I was dirty, in the sand, a dress with a wet rag put on a figure. The rag hiding the ring drowned, but Argard still wrapped tightly around his finger, faintly shimmering on his dirty hand. The demon stopped, turned to me, grimly looking at all this beauty.
I turned away, in a rush.
- Can I go back to Riverstein?
The Arch'arrion shook his head.
- A little later.
I was surprised to look at him. The demon squeezed my palm and opened the passage.
* * *
We were standing in the middle of a luxurious room. Dirty water from my dress and hair streamed down onto the fluffy white carpet that covered the floor. The Arch'arrion, too, was wet, but at least a clean one pulled my hand.
- Let's go.
- Ow! Where are we.
He stopped, mockingly guided by his hand.
- Welcome to Chaos! - and he dragged me to the door. I finally woke up and realized what I had said.
- Don't drag... those of me! Are we in Chaos? What for?
- I told you to roast you with apples and eat you for dinner!
I slammed my eyes in astonishment. The Arch'arrion has wince.
- Don't shake... help me, darkness... you just need to warm up and change. And I... have some things to do. It's an emergency.
The Arch'arrion pulled my hand, looked at the ring on my finger:
- Except Arghard is not to be seen by others...
And led with my palm, the spiral on my finger became invisible, although I still felt it.
- A spell of concealment? - I guessed it. He smiled.
- Yeah, only harder than with your books. Let's go.
He swung his foot open the sash of the two-arched arched doors and threw me out into the hallway. The people who left there (though more like the non-humans) bowed in a courteous bow:
- O lord...
The Arch'arrion put me in the hands of a tall, red-eyed girl in a bright, purple tunic intercepted by a golden belt.
- Albee, take Mistress to the Thermalis and clean up her outfit," he added quietly, "with your head responsible for her.
- Yes, my lord," she bowed Albie's head humbly and sat down in front of me, "please, my lady.
I turned to the Arch'arrion in a confused way, but he was already walking down the corridor, giving orders to a huge demon who had flown to him in combat hypostasis. I weaved for the Red-Eyed, trying to sneeze quietly. I sneaked a peek at the wall panels decorated with jewels, black granite arches and three-arch stained-glass windows in which I wanted to look at least one eye. But it was not possible.
I was led to a semicircular room, which descended step by step into a font with warm blueish
water, above which there was light transparent steam.
- What scent does the mistress prefer for her ablutions? - A red-eyed elf lily, a mountain rose, a starry orchid? Maybe a yarrow from the shores of Lake Oblivion?
Really, what flavor do I prefer? Here's a question... I laughed.
- The white woods," I meant what I said.
The red-eyed one was worried and thought, her face was confused. The little thin flowers, shyly looking out from under the snow in the spring and delighting at the borderline end of the cold, seemed to be unknown in Chaos.
- Anyone, Albee," I waved before the girl began to apologize. The red-eyed sigh was relieved.
- Then... it was snowy. I think that smell will suit you, mistress. It's the same... unusual... - she splashed into the water from the faceted vial, a thin, slightly bitter scent swam across the room. I was delighted to breathe in and smile. Albie gladly answered, showing my gaze the long vampire fangs. I had the guts not to yell. I'm getting used to it, I guess.
The girl reached for my clothes, but I moved away.
- Thank you, I got it.
Red-eyed was surprised, but she didn't say anything, just looking at me with curiosity. It seems that such a human quality as curiosity is also characteristic of other races. Having got rid of my wet dress and unbuttoned my spit, which was already rather broken, I set foot in hot, fragrant water with a sigh of pleasure. Albie looked at me in every eye, but when she saw my look, she was frightened, then embarrassed and turned away. But then she got into a rush, going through the crystal bubbles.
- Mistress...
I blissfully leaned my back against the warm marble skirting and closed my eyes.
- Vetryana," I mumbled, "my name is Vetryana, and I am not mistress...
- Mistress... Vetriana, may I wash your hair? And while Itera takes care of your outfit...
A vague shadow slipped, picking up my dress and shirt from the floor. But it was as lazy as to answer, and I only nodded. In fact, no one had ever washed my head in my life, and I could do it myself, but I wasn't strong enough. There was a blissful weakness in the warm water.
I thought that even if the Red-Eyed decided to get her fangs into my neck now, I wouldn't lift a finger to stop her.
But Albie only gently rubbed my hair, soaping it and rinsing it, then smearing it with something heavy and watering it again. It's not like I even opened my eye. The girl's hands turned out to be very nice and gentle.
- Done, mistress," Albie said quietly, pulling me out of my blissful nap. I winked my eyes sleepily as the girl wiped my hair and stabbed it up so it wouldn't fall into the water. I yawned, opened my eyes, and reached for the shaped pieces of soap folded into a carved transparent vase. Right, if they were put on the table, I'd take them for sweets. I washed up quickly, taking Albie out of the water. Red-eyed quickly wrapped me in a huge, fluffy canvas, and when it was wiped, gave me a bundle. I was surprised to discover my outfit, perfectly clean and dry. As mysterious Itera had done it in such a short time, I did not ask, and silently dressed. The hair that had been freed from the hairpin quickly dried out in warm air.
Albie was looking at me quietly. Her eyes rushed across my body as I dressed and tied my dress belt, face, and hair. She flashed when I looked at her, tired of looking.
- Forgive me, mistress! - A red-eyed, frightened in despair, bowed down before me.
- You did not hurt me," I almost smiled.
Albee gladly showed her fangs to me, and I tried to shudder without seeing it.
- Forgive my... curiosity. It's just... There are no people in Chaos and the mistress is human. And she's so beautiful...
I just wince. However, with rough flattery, the girl overdid it. I'm not mad at her anyway. And to tell the truth, I was only held back by the tight fatigue and shyness by a similar look with the red eye. But also the notion that it was indecent, whipped in me by the prioresses.
The door opened as if someone on the other side had kicked it out, and a dark-haired and eeriely evil beauty burst into the room in a raging tornado. I recognized her: a sharpened figure, a surprisingly beautiful face, which did not spoil even fangs, black hair, styled heavy, intricate wave. Today she was wearing a silver tunic, apparently by local custom. There, in the Wasteland, the Arch'arrion called her Alliana. The vampire was staring at me with an overt hatred.
- Who are you, the darkness take you? - She barked. Her fangs glistened menacingly, her scarlet eyes burst into flames. Albie wedged herself between us lightning fast, sat down before the dark hair in a respectful roar.
- Greetings, Mistress Alliana," she sang politely, while closing herself to me.
- Get out! - Alliana threw herself through her teeth, keeping her eyes on me. I ate chilly and stepped back a little.
- How dare you be here? Are you... human?
I shrugged my shoulders. You know, human... so what? I'm not yelling at the whole place that she's a vampire! Albie bowed her head, but she didn't move. It totally pissed off the beauty, she swung her hand, trying to hit the rebellious maid.
The Arch'arrion, unlike the vampire, appeared silently and calmly to hold her swing.
- Thank you, Albee," he said, "you're free to go.
The red-eyed nodded and disappeared. Alliana turned sharply.
- Why is this... here? Who is she?
The Arch'arrion raised his eyebrow slightly, looking at the beauty.
- You're forgetting yourself. Do I have to answer to you? - I was surprised at him.
The vampire was a little worried, but immediately got herself together and arrogantly threw her head up.
- I won't let anyone treat me like this, not even you! - She exhaled herself, - And I demand... to explain who this... girl is!
Her eyebrow rose a little higher.
- You must honor the contract! - A slightly audible note of despair slipped in Alliana's voice. I turned my back. It got ugly. Argard's mark was burning at his elbow, giving away pain all over his arm.
The Arch'arrion sighed a little tired.
- The agreement hasn't been signed, Alliana," he said quietly, "nothing has been decided yet.
- Who is she?
- She's my guest.
I moved decisively towards the door and went out. My bare feet were slightly cold with the pink marble of the floor. My hand was aching. I was walking down the hall, not paying attention to the surprised looks of demons. Where to? I don't know...
I was caught up by Albie, anxiously held by my impetuous almost running.
- Madam... Madam Vetriana! Wait, please!
I stopped abruptly, so the red-eyed almost stuck in my back. But apparently vampires don't react better than humans, so the girl held her balance and froze, confused.
- Albee," I measuredly asked, "your master... Arch'arrion, who is he?
The red-eyed man rounded her eyes in astonishment.
- I mean, how... who? Arch'arrion taa Sel Kra, Ruler of Chaos, one of the nine rulers of the united Underworld!
- I see," I said quietly, and pushed the door from which we had come out as we moved. Just now I noticed it was a bedroom. It was still dark on the white carpet, the stain that had come off my dress. Albie stayed outside without daring to come in.
The Arch'arrion opened the door and approached me silently. I peskyly ran my hand through my hair, which had become surprisingly silky. Good potions in Chaos, delicious. It's a pity I lost the ribbon I used to braid with.
- The Mermaid Lake... gave them... the answer, how do we get Argard back? - Without looking at him, I asked. Then I sighed and looked into the dark abyss. In his eyes.
- No. They were given an answer to my question. But it will help to free you from Argard," the demon said, without taking his eyes off me. There was not a single emotion on your impassive face.
The hand was burning more and more, the heat flowing through the body.
- Okay," I said with my lips dry. I was not interested in the details. Then he'd take the ring off. At least he'll take it off
with his hand. Or with life.
The Arch'arrion's palm was a little tentative, and I don't know what he wanted to do, but I recoiled.
- Arghard is tied to Riverstein, and we must return," he said quietly. I shrugged my shoulders indifferently and placed my palm in his hand. He looked at my fingers in his hand, lifted his eyes as if he wanted to say something. But he didn't say anything. He just opened the crossing.
* * *
Even though I thought I'd spent eternity in the Underworld, it was actually only about three hours. They didn't even rush to look for me, and nobody cared much about my absence. Only Xenia, who was worried about flying into the room. But I swung away from her questions, mumbled that everything was all right, put on my shoes, hurriedly wove my braid and jumped out into the corridor like a tartar, rushing past the surprised novices. Apparently, today is my day, all the perplexed glances are escorting me.
The Arch'arrion did not say goodbye, as always. Neither have I, though. I came out of the passage in my room, and I didn't even look back.
And now I'm walking down Riverstein without taking apart the roads. I only woke up when I realized that it had become strangely quiet, not the rumble of voices, not the cod of fireplaces, not the rustle of student notebooks... I glanced back bewildered.
I was standing in a covered gallery connecting the second floors of the west and east wings. It had been a long time since anyone had used the gallery, novices were afraid to come here because of rotten boards. It was easy to fall down and fall into a stone well under the gallery. Besides, the western wing has long been abandoned, where old furniture and unnecessary rubbish are stored and there is nothing to do. Well, except that Xenia and I sometimes hid there, but even then preferred to use the corridor, not the gallery, not wanting to break their necks. And we didn't go any further than the little den at the end of the corridor.
I moved gently forward, looking carefully at my feet. In the fuse, I swept through almost the entire length of the narrow slab and was now standing at the end, closer to the west wing. I turned my head - my tracks were clearly dark in the dust, evenly covering the rotten planks. I'm not sure I can repeat my feat and go back as easily. Still, there are advantages to thoughtless thinking. Like fearlessness.
The Wind of the North Page 19