Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  The fingernails on his hands were also removed. The fingers looked most like an anatomical manual. All the muscles, vessels and nerves were like in the palm of my hand. I felt like I was having a hard time, so I bounced back to the side. That's where it turned me out. It's so good that I didn't eat enough. I recovered a little from the shock and came back to the table. The vampire was breathing. Saying it surprised me wasn't enough. A man who had suffered such damage would have long gone to find out if there was a God in heaven. And the vampire was still alive. Shit! I can't get him out! This isn't the front line! And I have no friends behind me! Imagine me going out to a club full of people with an ikebana on my back! And then I explain to the cops that vampires are not a Hollywood fairy tale! That's not funny! I'm not a kamikaze! That's not what I'm gonna do! Well, what about then? You want me to finish it? No, it's more than I can do! I don't have the guts! I hesitatingly took a step to the door. Second. One more step, and I'd burst down the corridor to third space. Nothing would have stopped me by now. I don't know what would have happened to me anymore. I guess I would have gotten caught in Andre's paws and died nobly, spitting in his face for goodbye. But the pendulum of fate had already swung in the other direction. The vampire opened his eyes. That is what he had in place of his eyes. They seem to have been burned out.

  How did he know I wasn't his enemy?!

  - Po... mo... hy...

  I froze in place. Leave? Yes, I could have done that! But I wouldn't forgive myself later. Do you need a hand? How?! We were not trained to help vampires first. What is this? There's some kind of steel shining in the wounds. Or was it not steel? Silver? That's right! It was a cross. He didn't touch the vampire's body because he was lying on a scarlet scarf with blood. I tore it off with a force I didn't expect of myself and threw it away into a corner. I hate fascists! And everyone who does that even to a vampire is a fascist! Those who disagree - get in line, I will deal with you after Andre. Everything must have happened at his will. So, I just have to! I have to help this vampire! The enemy of my enemy is my friend! Even if he grows fangs in three rows! Okay. How can I help this vampire?

  - What can I do?

  - I need... a cro... a cro... Mno... go...

  Well. I hope the executioner isn't dead yet?

  I sat down and, suppressing my disgust, turned the executioner over on his side. Kind of alive.

  Now he has to be dragged to a vampire.

  - Hey, can you bite a man?

  The whisper was barely audible, but very determined.

  - Yes.

  Who'd have doubted that?

  I picked up some heavy carcass and put it on the torture table. When I saw a wheelchair in the corner, like a computer seat, only with a complex heating system at the bottom - instead of the seat, a metal grill, and under it a roaster, I rolled it up closer. Yeah. Now you need the carcass - the chair.

  I've only managed that since the third time. What am I, a supergirl, pulling big guys? In a hangman's ninety pounds. Well, at least it feels like it's fat, not muscle. But what do I care? There's definitely more blood in people who are full. And it's thicker and more nutritious. By the way, are vampires bad for blood cholesterol or not?

  As soon as I put the executioner in the chair, things went well. It was just a matter of a minute to roll the chair up to the torture table. To lift it up so that the vampire could reach the vein on the executioner's arm was even faster. And the bloodsucker didn't let me down.

  He got into the executioner's vein at such a speed that I was even scared. I went to the corner and picked up a cross. Just in case. If he threw himself, I'd crack him right on the forehead. If he throws himself. And if I can make it.

  With each sip, the vampire came alive more and more. More and more like himself - that is, potential biting danger. I almost saw his strength returning, but little, very little. He wasn't even trying to open his eyes yet.

  The executioner obviously lived through the last seconds, but I wish I had.

  You like to torture others? You love to be tortured, and when you are. It doesn't feel right.

  - Help me.

  Now the voice was quite clear and clear.

  - What can I do for you?

  The vampire tried to move and couldn't contain the moan.

  - For starters, try to free me. The keys to the cuffs have to be here somewhere.

  I took a look around. Of course you did! Yes, you did. Here they are, my dear. They're lying on a table with torture instruments. It took a few minutes to disassemble, and the vampire was only held back by his injuries.

  I wasn't afraid to attack. Now he was in such a state that he wouldn't hurt a mouse.

  - Okay. Now I need more blood.

  - I wonder where I'll get it for you," I sighed. - Do you want me to run down the corridors and catch someone on your doubtful charms? I'm afraid the room won't pass. How much do you want?

  - Yes.

  The question was stupid. And I knew it myself. But now what? I wanted to live. And not a vampire!

  - My eyes and part of my muscles have not recovered yet," he tried to explain the feast. - The internal injuries are gone, but I'm still too weak. I just can't get out of here...

  I rubbed my forehead. Well, what should I do? It's clear enough, though. I can either leave or give the bloodsucker what he wants. Without the slightest guarantee that I won't get killed. Shall we consider the options?

  Option one. I'm just leaving now. Plus, I'm more or less capable. Minuses? I don't know anything here. I'm going to go to Duke's bedroom again, and I'll be glad. Or I'll run into another vampire. I think there's a lot of them running around. One's enough for me. Behind my eyes. You can hope for luck, but I've never even had any luck on an exam. If I don't learn one ticket, I'll get it out. And play cards in a den full of vampires and hell of a lot more, fire me. It's gonna cost too much to lose.

  Option two. I can give this bloodsucker some blood. I've got a liter of it in me, four and a half. I can lose about a liter and a half without much stress. I'll be sick, of course. But I'll survive. And that's where the trouble starts. Who says this fang can't drink me like an executioner? Well, maybe he will. Maybe he'll snap my neck, leave me here, give me to Duška and thus deserve forgiveness... There are many options. And there are many disadvantages. And I can't trust him. If people are ungrateful creatures (I sin by this myself), then who said that vampires are better? Plus, the second option has only one.

  I'm not getting out of this house alive. I have as much chance of dying saving this vampire as I do of dying without him. Even more, because nobody's counting on me here. And to meet a man in a hug isn't either.

  And I guess there's only one thing I can do. Who doesn't like anything! Okay, let's try it.

  - Let me give you my blood. But I warn you, once I realize I can't take it anymore, you'll have to leave me. Or I'll just slit your throat. Okay?

  - Okay.

  - You promise you'll let me go on demand?

  - I swear.

  Can you believe a vampire's oath? Don't think I'm stupid. Of course you don't. But I don't have a choice either.

  As long as you take care of the insurance. I took a walk to the table with the torture instruments and thoughtfully looked at them. Yeah. Nothing familiar. It's for the best, too. I'll sleep tighter. But a collection of scalpels of different sizes and shapes is a familiar thing. It's on a separate napkin.

  I picked out a bigger scalpel. And I went back to lying vampire.

  - Keep in mind. I have a very sharp iron in my hand. And if you don't let me go on demand, I'll strip you down your throat so much without second warning that your head will fall off. And your hand won't shake. I've been kicked out of my humanism with a left-handed mother today. Did you get it?

  - I'm not lying," almost insulted the fang. - I'll let you go as soon as you tell me to.

  I pulled up the sleeve of the sweater. Hell, am I doing that?! I've always been afraid of injections! And now what? Now what? Nothing! If this guy was
tortured like that, then Andre has four rows of vampire fangs, not just a tooth. He poured something on him. Which means it's my sacred duty to kick him! And mustard, too! And bigger, bigger... I slowly and carefully cut a vein and put my hand to the vampire's lips. And with my other hand, I put a damn sharp scalpel to his throat. Straight to the carotid artery. If you cut it, he'll lose a lot of blood. And almost immediately. The bloodstained fingers closed on my wrist. Even now, when he's still exhausted from torture, I felt a terrible power in them. A vampire could have broken my bones, but he tried not to hurt me. Well, I can handle it myself perfectly.

  My lips fit right into my vein, pulling, sucking, drinking blood out of me, and with it something else. What? I didn't know. I just felt it. And I tried to give as much of it as I could with the blood. There was a hot wave somewhere in my stomach. I screamed. Everything I've endured over this night and over this day, all the rage, hatred, pain, suffering, guilt, the executioner's death and compassion for his sacrifice - it all came together in one hot death that was spinning inside me. And that whirlwind rushed upwards, to my heart. The greedy mouth tormented my wrist. It was very painful. I moaned through my teeth. Even a vampire's lips didn't hurt me as much as this mad fever. It seemed to melt all my bones, a hurricane rushing through my veins, rushing like a hot hurricane locked in me, and finding no way out. But he must, he must come out of me! I will burn! I can't do it!

  My fingers slid on my wrist - and I felt something new in that touch. Not a desire to be saturated, but support. The vampire's fingers were on my vein, and I knew what it was for. He was tapping his pulse. The vampire took care of my health so he wouldn't drink more blood than necessary. And that care was the last straw. A fiery vortex connected somewhere in my chest and slipped through my veins. The death spasm ruptured my heart so that I staggered," and rushed to the lips of the vampire.

  I shouted quietly. My fingertips were cold. There were circles floating before my eyes. What's happening to me? From the outside, I could describe it as liquid fire mixing with my blood - and now a vampire was drinking both. My fangs got into my vein. The vampire twitched so that he almost ripped my veins out of my hand, but my lips didn't rip off and kept absorbing and drawing it into me. It wasn't my blood that mattered to him anymore. It wasn't my blood. This impossible, scalding, melted power. Death left me, ripping my last vein so that I cried out. And with me, a vampire groaned. I don't know how he felt.

  - I'm going to fall down," I said softly. There were small sparkling dots all around. The sea surf was rustling in my ears. I was no longer in control, and I was afraid that my hand and the scalpel would slip.

  - Let go of me! You're hurting me! Let go of me!

  Suddenly my hand was free. I sobbed and settled on the floor. I was feeling good. My legs just didn't think so. And they were resolutely acting like jelly. Well, let it be. It wasn't that important. The vampire on the table moved and slowly got back on his feet.

  - I think I can go.

  He opened his eyes. What he saw from under the eyes looked more like an embryo, but he could see it.

  - Like this? - I proscribbled.

  - You're right...

  - Jane," I said. Then she closed her eyes and got tired of falling down on the table leg. It hurt," said Jane. And nauseous. I want to see Ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a...

  - Danielle, a vampire introduced himself. - I can't describe how pleased I am to meet you.

  His voice sounded quite clear. He was moving around the camera. The water from the tap made a noise in the corner. The vampire pointed it at himself and quietly sewn it. He must have been in pain. Very much. But blood and dirt were washed off him. And a new clean skin looked out from under them. Snow and white. It didn't last long. The vampire finished his ablutions and turned to me.

  - Now can I marry a man?

  - Now it is. If you put hair on your face, I nodded.

  - Absolutely. But first...

  Danielle took care of the executioner's body. I tried not to look. I was getting really messy. And the smell of blood was intolerable at all.

  - It's better that way," the voice sounded.

  Danielle stood right in front of me dressed as the executioner. Leather pants and the same leather jacket. They were hanging on a vampire bag, but at least his ass was covered, all right. You can walk in the hallways. True, the pants had to be wrapped up in a belt with a leather strip off the edge of the sleeveless jacket. And now a vampire was reaching out to me with disfigured fingers. And yet... They still had no nails on them, but they're not the bloody pieces of meat I remember them as. I slammed my eyes.

  - What's that?

  - Regeneration. Details later. Can you stand up?

  I grabbed his hand, leaned my other palm on the table and tried to get up. I did it, Christmas trees! I'm proud of you, Jane! And the Homeland is proud of you!

  - Very well," he praised my efforts for your feast. - Now try to walk.

  It's my night of success! I could walk without leaning against the wall. Well, unless I was a little shaky. Such little things!

  - Now stand still. Do you have anything else under these clothes?

  - Yes," I nodded.

  A vampire took a blade from my trembling fingers and cleverly cut Katya's sweater on me. Then he put it back in my hand and nodded.

  - That's better. Now I'm gonna put a tourniquet on it, and we can move.

  I wasn't interfering. And I was a little dumb watching Danielle tear a piece off my shirt, examine my hand, bandage it, and gently guide my fingers through the bandage.

  - It's a little better.

  I had the strength for a grateful smile.

  - This is much better.

  - Do you know where to go? - The vampire threw long wet hair on his face and, if you don't look hard enough, looked like a healthy person.

  - No, I shook my head. - I don't even know where I am. They put me to sleep and brought me here. And you?

  - I can try to find my way. I wasn't put to sleep. The important thing is not to get caught. And as for our whereabouts, we're under the club.

  - Oh, yeah? Who's got it in here? Are there fang moles?

  Danielle laughed quietly.

  - No way!

  - You. And Jane. It's time for the ceremonies!

  - Okay. You. It's just that there used to be the house of one... Count... Duke... Oh! Boliana!

  - Boyarina, - I corrected.

  - Right! Boyarina! He wasn't one of ours, but he liked to torture people too. This land belonged to him - and he dug up a whole underground prison under his house. It wasn't too big. And over the past centuries, it's suffered a lot. The house was burned, rebuilt, bombed... But Andre didn't start from nothing.

  In Andre's name, I grinded my teeth. Shit, shit, shit, shit. Katka!

  - Can't we try to find my friend?

  - A friend?

  - Did you think I could interest anyone myself? I'll tell you all the details later! That bastard has my friend in his paws. God knows what he can do to her!

  - At worst, he'll make her a vampire.

  - That's what I'm afraid of. That's not her choice.

  I couldn't see Daniel's face, but his voice sounded just as smooth and calm.

  - Few of us chose this voluntarily.

  - And yet, yet, yet... Help me. If we can't find my friend, I want to leave him a message. Hold me.

  I took the lipstick out of my purse. Why do you need lipstick when you go to vampires? God forbid, but I took it. And now I drove it up the wall. The lipstick was soft-purple, dear, and lay down evenly. Really, for some reason, she was lying on the wall better than on her lips. There was blood loss, I was nauseous... If a vampire hadn't supported me at the waist, I'd just fall along the wall. I was dizzy and the letters were a little crooked, but who cares?! The important thing is that he reads and understands! If he did, it would be delightful at all. But let's not wait for everything at once. I know the era of duels is a thing of the past, but can I do otherwise? I'm a fool! You fucking nobl
e fool! It's short and tasteful.

  Andre!

  You dare touch my friend, and I'll rip your mouth off, poke out your blinkers, blow out your horns! The executioner is only a down payment!

  Cheap and angry. And most importantly, it's convincing. And no one can accuse me of threatening human life or health. Isn't a vampire human? No, you're not. The criminal code doesn't provide for a vampire hit-and-run. That's right! Danielle had a mocking snort. But he wouldn't object. I think he approved of my actions.

  - We can go now. Can't you feel her from a distance? How's the way out? Are you sure?

  - Did we switch to you again?

  - I'm sorry. I hadn't noticed.

  - Jane, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if I don't know where she is, I won't know. I can't feel the distance from someone I haven't even seen. Your friend is all you've ever said to me. Not a living person. I can't find her with my mind. And it's very dangerous to walk here like this. I'm not a fighter right now. I've never been, though... And then, four hours into the dawn. And we have to hide somewhere else. I don't want to die again.

  - I have to, I agreed. Who'd argue! - Only if Katya is turned into a vampire, it'll be on my conscience.

  - You have no choice," Danielle shrugged his shoulders. Even this movement obviously hurt him because my fingers clenched on my shoulder. - If we get caught and you're turned into a vampire, you don't care what happened to your friend. And then if he doesn't make it today, tomorrow he won't care! I promise you that! All we have to do is find the computer!

  - Computer?

  Vampire programmer! That's awesome!

  - I'll explain later. Look, can we just be quiet for now? I need to listen, and I need to be careful not to hurt anyone. You know what I mean.

  I understood everything, so I shut up. I really wanted to live.

  And preferably a normal human being, not a vampire.

  Chapter 4

  Danielle was totally right when he asked me to shut up. We'd already gotten out of the cell and had a little bit of a spill in the back. Daniel explained that once there was just a dungeon and a few moves on which the inhabitants of the Boyar Treme were rescued from unwanted visitors. The only thing Dyushka did was to clear the existing passages and cellars, strengthen the roof and put a few doors and partitions to create torture chambers, dungeons and bedrooms. But the work began recently, some twenty years ago, so some of the moves are still blocked. I wasn't particularly surprised by these catacombs. Although our city is not very big, but has seven hundred years in its history, and maybe even more. It's just that there are no chronicles. But we have churches and the Kremlin... Everything is like the big ones. Even though the chronicles of Ivan the Terrible can't be hidden. We even have archaeologists digging around every summer.