Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  I slammed my nose.

  - Was it really that necessary?

  - Mechislav will never get along with Andre. This is war. And in war, all the ways are good.

  - And what are you better than fascists then? - with a dead voice, I asked.

  - Jane, Jane, don't! Please don't pour cold on me! I can't stand it!

  I was surprised to look up at a vampire. Daniel's face was surprisingly unhappy. But there was no hypnosis here or at the memorial. The grey eyes shone like they were crying.

  - What's wrong with you?

  Danielle unbuttoned his jacket and gently applied my palm to his chest.

  - Listen to me!

  His heart was beating twice as much as people's. It was as if it wanted to break through the skin and muscles and get out.

  - Jane, I... You don't know anything about vampires! And I'm a vampire fifteen times longer than you've lived in the world. You have no idea how terrible it is to be in the dark all the time, to obey orders, to wait for every sip of blood as a favor, and just drink blood! To live is taking the lives of others! And to be always alone! Always! Eternity! Many could share a bed with me, but no one would share souls with me. When I saw you, I was so hoping that you could understand, accept me as I am... - his voice trembled and snapped. - I know I'm not nice to you, but I haven't even talked to people in a while! I just don't know how to do it any other way!

  I pulled out my hand. Don Juan was found, too! What, now they only accept vampires after they've watched Brazilian soap operas? Just Jose Lucci from some señorita or Juanita! Mom's not here. She loves all that snot...

  The memory of my mother instantly cooled my anger. I'm going to leave. But that's how long I'm gonna hold out? My mother can't take it if she loses me, too. And if I live to see them come back, what do I do now? Family guerrillas? Hmm...

  - Danielle, you don't do well with these things. You should have asked Mieczysław," I said in a calmer tone. - That's who the role of lover hero will go like a second skin. When the first one is pulled off him!

  The vampire felt that I wasn't breaking out anymore and I was calming down, so he tried to look me in the eye. It didn't work. I'm sick of them with their mental stuff. You can't keep your pockets on buses, now you have to keep your brains.

  - It's not a thing, Jane.

  I sighed. Leave him? How beautiful that would be! But you didn't leave him, did you? I didn't. You shouldn't have gone into that cell at all. It's too late now. We have to go all the way.

  - Well, then what is it? Jane, I love you so much, don't leave me! You don't have to break up, I'll support you if you need me!

  - If that's all I really needed from you, I'd go to Mecislav. He's always been good at it. If you line up all his women - you can pass the apple from here to America!

  - I wouldn't recommend including me in this column!

  - He'd just subordinate your mind. He can do that. He'd be convincing on the bus by now.

  - Well, you should have sent him!

  - I didn't mean to! I must obey him, but not as much! Jane, you know we're vampires. I'm not asking you to treat me like a human being. And you don't have to forgive me. It will come in time. Just come back!

  - Have a go.

  - It's for your safety, too.

  - It's okay, I'll hang crosses. And I'll go to the partisans.

  Danielle smiled at my grim joke.

  - Jane, I'm a vampire. That's not gonna change. And when we return, I will obey Mieczysław. I'm a vampire, and you can't change that. It's not my choice, but I want to live! Don't judge me for this! And please don't leave me! I really need you!

  I raised my head. I should've broken somehow. But how? Is there pressure on your feelings or something? Oh, what a bitch I am! That's the fun part!

  - Okay. I'll be back. But if you dare to do this to me again, this will be our last meeting. Did I make myself clear? - I was looking right into Danielle's eyes. I don't know what he read in mine, but probably nothing good. Because he put his head down and nodded.

  - I'll be honest with you, Jane. If I cheat, you have the right to leave. Neither I nor anyone else will detain you. Word of honor.

  I sighed. I wonder what the vampire word of honor is worth. Three kopecks? I hope this weakness doesn't turn into my defeat. And I gave up.

  - Offer the lady a hand, Mr. Vampire! Or have you never learned good manners in three hundred years?!

  - May I, ma'am? - Danielle gave me a graceful bow.

  I put my hand on his elbow.

  - Danielle, and your friend, who is he?

  - Mecislav? Vampire!

  - Yes, vampire, but that's not what I was asking.

  Danielle looked at me with sincere surprise.

  - Then what do you want to know?

  - Almost nothing. When I looked at Andre, at one of his vampires, at you, at your friend's companions, I could well control myself. And no desire. Nothing.

  And Mechislav is different. He arouses desire as easily as he breathes and moves.

  It's natural for him. But is it true for all vampires?

  Danielle rubbed his forehead. I think I puzzled him with my question.

  - Jane, Mecislav has always been like this. And he always easily subjugated someone else's mind. And he made everyone want to. Sometimes it made him worse, sometimes it made others worse. But he was always like that. And he never talked about his abilities.

  - Oh, I see.

  Well, I would keep a secret, too. A vampire could be understood. But the curiosity stuck.

  We came back a lot faster. Mieczysław looked at us with cheerful interest.

  - Danielle, how did you find a girl so principled?

  - Jane will tell you how she found me," Danielle laughed. - I suppose it's my turn to drink?

  Vadim withdrew from the wound on the throat of one of the "breadwinners" and nodded to Daniel. He had fresh blood in the corner of his mouth. Boris licked his lips, and Mechislav smiled like a fed cat. I tried not to look at the victims. I was throwing up more...

  Danielle squeezed my hand a little, then let go and headed for the victims. I took my eyes off. Mecislav is a decent bastard, of course, but his face is better than to see Danielle killing the poor by drinking his last blood. The vampire seems to have realized that I'm not looking at him for aesthetic pleasure. Nothing reflected on his face, but the question was very relevant.

  - So how did you find Daniel? - his voice was calm.

  I plunged into the seat, stole the hat, and then I was able to answer.

  - I didn't know about your Duke three days ago. Neither did I know about vampires.

  - Dushke? - Mecislav was clearly surprised.

  - I mean, Andre. By the way, isn't he Russian?

  - The Frenchman. I think so. Why?

  - Uh, we didn't finish them at Napoleon. It's time for him to nationalize. Divorced here, you know... Sorry, I was interrupting. A friend called me two days ago...

  I briefly recounted everything that happened to me during this time, although I can not say that it was easy. By the end of the story, I began to shake a lot, and when I remembered the executioner, I clutched my lips tighter. Danielle sat next to me. His face was covered in a light blush. I see, there are two less freaks on the ground. And for some reason, I didn't feel sorry for the jeep guys at all. If we had that kind of punishment for every rape attempt, we could be walking around town at 1:00 in the morning in the same underwear.

  - Jane really sentenced the executioner, and then got me drunk with her blood. I was able to move.

  - You're lucky the torture just started. If you were seriously crippled, you wouldn't even have two people to heal your wounds.

  - The torture has been going on for eight days. And Andre's executioner was good... was.

  Only polite interest was read on the face of Mieczysław. For some reason, it made me angry.

  - Then I don't understand...

  - Jane, - Danielle took my hand. - Can I ask you a favor?

  - Yo
u can ask. And I can say no.

  - Could you let Medislav taste your blood? Just a little bit?

  Shaz-z-z-z! Found the trough. I could have recovered from last night!

  - I'm not attracted to the scars on my neck.

  - From the vein on his arm. Jane, please! Please!

  And he's not gonna get away with it. But I tried to turn my back anyway.

  - Why should I do this?

  Danielle looked at me with his silver eyes. Now they were like two pieces of polished silver on white skin. They were shiny, and I couldn't see the pupil or the squirrel. The vampire's palm was suddenly warm and almost human.

  - You don't have to. But I'm asking you very much. You're welcome. Believe me, I won't do anything to hurt you.

  - We may have different ideas about the bad and the good.

  - I'm a vampire, but I remember I owe you my life. My word of honor," Danielle just said.

  There was nowhere else to argue. Either insult in the face, or do. Manipulate me the way they want me to, Fangers! I gave him my right hand in silence. I hate to do this, but...

  Danielle wouldn't just ask. Especially now. Then you really should. And I'll be persuaded one way or another. So should we spend even more time? I don't have to show you that I'm the naughtiest link here. Danielle gently took off my jacket sleeve and rolled up his sweater to my elbow. And stretched out my hand to Mieczysław with his veins up.

  - Mecislav, otherwise you won't know what I'm talking about.

  The vampire took my hand with two fingers like a dead fish.

  - I hope you took a shower today.

  That's an eccentric line that pissed me off.

  - I bet after a week's hunger strike you'd drink blood even on a bum's bench.

  - I don't think so," said the vampire. - I'm squeamish enough for that.

  - I don't think so," I teased him. - Hunger and disgust are incompatible concepts. You're not squeamish with those two, are you?

  - Strange remark for you, the vampire's fingers were sliding on my forearm.

  - You don't know me, but you're already judging?

  Short laugh. Sizzling and light as the touch of a jellyfish.

  - Look at me, Jane. Look into my eyes and I'll know more about you.

  I closed my eyes before I knew what I was doing.

  - Do not touch the consciousness! I've had enough for a coffin of life!

  - You'll be hurt - warm lips sliding on my naked skin, and I'm covered in goosebumps.

  - I'm not afraid of pain.

  That's a lie. But the vampire believed me. Or he just wouldn't argue. His lips were stuck over my wrist for a moment, picking up a pulse without fail. And then his sharp fangs sank into my vein. I unwittingly screamed in pain. I wanted to take it, but I couldn't. I could feel my fangs coming in, and my blood streaming out of my vein. And I involuntarily opened my eyes. Mecislav sucked the scarlet warm liquid out of me, looking at my face. And his eyes were bright green. No squirrel, no pupil. Like two warm stones on golden skin. But it didn't scare me anymore. On the contrary, vampire eyes seemed so familiar and native.

  - Don't," I whispered.

  - What? - Danielle leaned towards me.

  - No vampire stuff.

  - Mecislav!

  The vampire took his eyes off my face, but he didn't remove his fangs while he kept drinking my blood. It started to hurt a little, but it was bearable. And then tension started to build up inside me. It was almost like that time with Daniel, but now I was more comfortable with it and could appreciate my feelings. I felt like a crossbow stringer. She was being stretched to the limit, kissed, and the fire of power spilled out of my blood, flooding the vampire's eyes with green flames for a moment. When Mechislav pulled out his fangs, the blood was still flowing. Danielle hurriedly took out his handkerchief and shook my hand. His fingers were covered in blood and he licked them confusedly.

  - Do you understand now?

  - Now it is. - Mechislav looked at me with new interest. - So that's why you're dragging her around? Because of her power?

  - Not only that. I'll explain later. When Jane won't hear.

  I was dizzy, dizzy, and there were circles floating before my eyes. Blood loss in front of yesterday's whistling wasn't exactly what I needed. And even today I went to church for holy water and other devices (and what was the cost of that conversation with the priest!) and the toy store for water pistols. I had a hard day and it's going to be an even harder night. But who gave them the right to discuss me - without me?!

  - Danielle, you're naked! You promised me no more than ten minutes ago that you wouldn't lie to me!

  - Jane? - Danielle seemed surprised. So did Mecislav.

  - Can you give that much energy, and you're still conscious?

  His eyes gradually became ordinary, bright green. I watched with interest how it happened. At first, the green sparks stretched to the pupils - and they burned like two small fires. Then the pupils began to turn black, the squirrels cleared of emerald veins, Mecislav closed his eyes for a second - and when he opened, they were the same as before. They were quite ordinary. Human.

  - Doesn't it look like it?! - When I was arguing with Mieczysław, I even got better. Or did I even get better? Durnot was passing by, and strange heat was pouring over my body. It was getting easier and better than ever before. Shock from blood loss? I don't know. But it felt like I could turn the mountains!

  - No, I guess not. - The vampire had already dealt with himself, and he was reaching out to me. - Feel it. You have a right to know. Although it's better not to use any other rights.

  I made up my mind.

  - I agree not to exercise my right to touch you.

  The face of the vampire was a flawlessly beautiful mask.

  - You have no such right. It's just a suggestion.

  - And still I don't want to touch you, Mecislav.

  - But otherwise you won't know the difference. By the way, while you're deciding, i.e. while you're deciding... Danielle, have you eaten from her before - like this?

  - Yes.

  - And she didn't faint?

  - She was very sick then.

  - Yeah. I also killed a vampire for the first time, didn't feel well after the fight, clashed with Duke, broke his whole witness interview... By the way, Danielle, your condition didn't make me feel well either. You looked like a picture from a textbook for a budding gesturer.

  - I hadn't thought about that.

  The vampire looked embarrassed. It was a lot of fun for me.

  - I was thinking. So, what kind of energy did you mean and how does that apply to me?

  - What is energy? - Mechislav thoughtfully asked. - In vampire terminology, it's the power of the soul. You know, every person has this or that power. Someone squeezes out two hundred kilograms, and someone can stand all night in the frost - and survive. That's what defines energy. The strength of the soul, the direction of the soul. When we drink blood, we try to drink that power as well. If we lose it completely, a person dies. If you deprive him or her of this power partially, he or she will restore it quite quickly, though he or she will not feel very well at this time. Fainting, inappropriate behavior - anything! But it is rare for a person to be able to give away his energy. It's a legendary rarity. And for a person not to give, but to manage and share like you - I do not remember such a thing at all. I drank a lot of energy from you. Not blood, but energy. Any other person would die in my arms after this session. But you gave this energy of your own free will - and you feel very well.

  - Once again, I remind you, you and I haven't had a drink on the bruder landscape!

  - I drank your blood, Jane. It's a lot closer than if we were just drinking together.

  - This is for you, not for me. Although... you can call me "you." Like any creature over eighty.

  Mieczyslaw cried out at the hint of age, but did not argue.

  - You're never going to touch me? Don't worry, I won't act on you with my power. Though it overflows me.

&
nbsp; I hesitantly touched his fingertips to his hand. His hand wasn't vampire hot. I'd already talked to Daniel enough to know vampires are always cool. Or did my hands just get cold? I got hold of daniel. No, his hands were barely noticeably warm. Not that warm at all. It wasn't the same at all.

  - You're hot.

  - It's your power. I drank the blood of one of those guys, but you're the one who got it warm.

  I felt terrible crying when I thought of the poor driver. I couldn't cry in front of outsiders and tried to focus on my condition. But after an internal revision, I found that I didn't feel so bad. The nausea was gone, the whisky wasn't pressing and the flies melted away. And there were no tears flowing. But I didn't want to discuss it all. I didn't want to talk to vampires either. Then I'll ask for an explanation. Then I'm gonna ask you to tell me more about energy and how it was realized. And then... It took me time and energy to feel not quite human, but not human talented. So far... I just didn't know what to do!

  - Try to get some sleep," Danielle suggested, drawing me in. - In the next half hour, the fighting will not begin.

  - Don't give me any consolation for nothing," I snapped. - Good for you, gentlemen vampires! I drank blood and my health is good! Have you ever thought of opening a medical center to research such useful properties?

  - Somehow I don't want to act as guinea pigs," Vadim snapped.

  - What if a good thing came out of it? It would pay back the debt of a hundredfold to the people who ate it. Again, the Nobel Prize, a full-length monument... with golden fangs.

  I rubbed my hand.

  - I wonder if there's gonna be a scar or not? If someone is hurt, I apologize in advance. My friends already know that I'm talking nasty no matter what the environment. It's easier to accept.

  - It happens," Vadim swung away. - Especially since you're not a vampire.

  - No offense to the stupid and the wretched, is that it?!

  - It's about that.

  Well, since he agreed, do I have to be offended by him?

  - So, I'll just take a nap?

  Danielle has silently drawn me closer to him. I suddenly snorted.

  - I wonder what Nadya would say if she saw your buddies!