- Vlad ripped all my clothes off. Well, at least my pants are intact.
Mecislav suddenly smiled at me. The smile turned out soft and very warm. As if the sun ray had run through my exhausted body.
- Jane, your arm's turned up. We've got to put it back up now.
And when did Vlad get there? When he took off and threw it all over the circle?
- Can you do that?
- It's gonna hurt.
I squeaked my teeth. What can you do about it now? You just have to put up with it!
- He will. Bring it in!
Avos won't bite while I'm unconscious.
What if Mechislav gets in my brain again?
He's got a bump of butter!
It was the last thought connected.
The dazzling pain ripped my mind apart. I screamed, and fell into the blessed blackness of fainting.
Book 2 - Don't make yourself a vampire.
Chapter 1
Mecislav looked at the girl who was lying cozily in his arms. For the first time in his long life, a vampire's head went round. And it was from something. Now Jane was fainting, and he had been trying to get through to her consciousness for about fifteen minutes.
It's no use.
It was closed tightly. And there was even a feeling that the more he tried, the stronger the walls around her mind became.
- It's not working?
Danielle. Now the two of them were sitting in the back seat of the car. Mecislav held Jane in his arms and tried to dock her consciousness, Danielle just looked at his attempts with some strange expression.
- No.
- It's no wonder.
- Why the hell would that be?
- You've seen the power she called for today. We can't go in there, we'll burn like Christmas candles.
- And it's completely unclear how she managed to do it. And why she didn't burn herself out. There's a fight, she fights, she puts all the aggression, that is, she's already evil by his standards. And when she asks for help, instead of destroying it, she is given the power, which I am afraid to think about. That cross again...
Danielle had a nervous twitch in his shoulders. The cross was wrapped in several more layers of fabric and lay in the trunk. And even now the vampires could feel his cold and ruthless power. This cross was made to let go of this world. Forever.
- You're wrong. She didn't ask for help. And also... Jane's been a born atheist and not even baptized.
- But in her hands, our magic also works - do you remember "slug on the road" - it should be called that, and as it turns out, light?
- You're a magic theorist, so deal with it.
- What's there to deal with? The church and I are just antagonists. And we're too closed in our extremes. The priests won't use our magic, we won't be able to say a few words of prayer. Jane isn't either one of them. She is not connected to us or them. And she's quietly using both sources.
- Just like that?
- Alas, not all of them. By the way, don't you think that Jane will lose her ability for light magic in the future by communicating with us?
- Not necessarily. If she wants to keep them, it'll be fine. Judging by the ring of light, she's got a lot on her plate. Sin will not be used.
- Will she let you? And will she use her abilities for your purposes?
- So far, none of the women have refused.
- Jane is not affected by your charm or Dushkin's hypnosis. So boldly divide your confidence by ten.
- And yet she wants me. Like a woman to a man. I can't be wrong about that.
- You're not wrong. But she wants you exactly what she wants. She doesn't love you, she's not tied up, she's not even interested. She needs you because danger threatens her and her family. That's all. And as for "wants", she told me in passing that "every woman has her own patience." And she gave me an example. There's this old Soviet movie, "Frosty." Didn't you get it?
- I don't have much time, but I looked at Row. It's an amazing director's work.
- Here you go. And at the end there's a completely incredible shot of Marfusha. When she's shown up close, it's a distorted face and she comes off: "I want wealth! "I want the groom! I want it! I want it! I WANT IT!!! ». So Jane's trying to be different from Marfusheny. Let her want you. She won't let herself be anyway.
- We'll see about that. By the way, she's much warmer about you.
- Don't flatter me. In her case, it's parenting again. She saved my life, you might say, and now she's "responsible for those she tamed." If she'd gone out with a puppy she picked up on the road, she'd have treated him the same.
- It's an interesting approach. I think she's passionate about you.
- You're wrong again. You know, sometimes I feel like women love you too much. You don't understand them anymore. Why, if anyone's gonna throw themselves at your neck anyway? It'll let you down someday.
- The fact," Vadim confirmed from the front seat.
- And don't you dare open your mouth when your bosses are angry," said Mieczysław.
- Chief, I wouldn't say anything, but Danielle is right on all sides.
- And she's not really interested in Daniel, but in his talent. In your case, women bite on his appearance, in his - on the pencil - Boris joined the discussion.
- At least someone understood," rolled Danielle's eyes.
- It's hard not to understand. Jane respected you for your genius, plus the responsibility for you, so it turned out to be a nuclear bomb. You like it, don't you?
- She's great. I'm sorry she's not staying with me.
- Oh, our creator has fallen in love again. Only that's not how you put it. You should have said, "I wish I was staying with her." You've got all the love until the next muse.
- Jane is no muse. And she's more likely not to stay with me. No matter how she fights with Mieczysław, but sooner or later, one way or another... You, Mieczysław, are strong enough for her, and I am not. That's the whole story.
- Probably. But...?
- But she needs to be with me first. Otherwise she'll hate you for life. For something that might not have happened. She's not gonna forgive you for that. Broken dreams...
- What kind of dreams there might be...
- She's not a child. And the more pressure you put on her, the more she'll resist. I bet you forcefully broke into her mind. And you didn't.
- What do you suggest?
- Try to pass as a friend. Softly and unobtrusively - if they don't let you in, you won't be offended.
- Well, maybe you're right.
Mechislav closed his eyes and relaxed.
There was silence in the interior of the car for a few minutes.
Then the silence was gone.
For the next five minutes, a vampire expressed his opinion of the girl. And the weakest impression was "ster-r-r-r-va"!
Only one painting could be seen in Julia's mind.
A fist wrapped up in a fig, from which the yellowish yellowish streams of castor oil flowed down.
***
- Baby, are you awake?
Who's asking me this brilliant question? By the way, me or not? Who I am, where I am and what happened to me? And why do I feel as if three tractors ran over me at the same time?!
The edge of the cup pressed against my lips, and I took a few greedy sips. Cold water! What could be better? And some water, and some... I got drunk and tried to remember it all again. So, my name is Jane. And my last name is Leoveren. Did you say that? And now again and completely. I am Julia Yevgenyevna Leoverenskaya! And this is just great! So there's no concussion. Could it have been? What am I, a dump truck with my head braking? No! I was fighting a vampire! That's right! And the vampire went off somewhere on the golden bridge! And before that, he turned my hand out of my joint. But the arm's still there, or she wouldn't be whining like that. What about the rest of it? It's kind of intact, too. It's okay. Now let's try to open our eyes. That worked out pretty well. I was lying in some big room, but I couldn't get a good look at it. The bed barely had a nig
ht light. I drove my eyes to the sides. Who else is here but me? I couldn't see in the dark, but my eyesight wasn't the only one of my six senses. There was a familiar smell in my nostrils and my body reacted involuntarily. My skin was goosebumps, my nipples were tense and hardened, and my body hairs stood up as if someone had swung a finger at them. Even now, in a semi-faint state, that smell excited me. If it were up to me, I wouldn't allow this cologne to spread like a powerful aphrodisiac! Or did he buy it in a sex shop? By who? Of course he bought it! Who else could I expect?! Mecislav!
- It's bad to see you. Where's Danielle?
- It's his turn to guard. Do you remember what happened, Curly?
The exodus came back faster than self-control. "I wasn't going to let Curly down on him.
- What happened? Don't tell me I have to marry you now, as an honest man!
Mieczyslaw laughed - and it seemed to me that my skin was covered with a silk flap.
- I'm glad your sense of humor survived what happened. How did you come up with the idea of chewing a vampire's throat?! And where did you get that cross trick from?!
- Ask me what's easy," I suggested.
- And who should know the answers? I didn't do anything like that!
- If I still knew what I had done, I would have taken a deep breath and immediately wrinkled with pain in my ribs. What the hell is that?! Mecislav was watching my face. I probably cried out with pain because he immediately put his fingertips on my cheek. I shuddered even from that fleeting touch. Whether a vampire wanted it or not, even his most innocent acts were like a powerful pathogen to me. Even now that I've been grinded like a mill, Don Quixote.
- Nothing's broken. But the bruises will last a long time. Vlad didn't treat you very nicely, curly.
- Who? - I don't get it.
- Curly. Beautiful. Beautiful.
- It's not about me," I cut it off right away.
But it was a pleasure.
- The name Jane doesn't suit you at all, Curly. And you really are a curly one. When you smile. Too bad it's not often.
- But you're gonna rock for three. Not fangs, but the dream of the dentist," I snapped tired. I'm so sick of them all!
- Don't be jealous, curly. Now try to tell me everything you did and how you felt. From the beginning.
I tried to explain everything I thought and felt during the fight as coherently as possible. But only to the bite. I didn't say a word about the bridge.
- Your Duke's a bastard. Vlad's been out of his mind all this time. He lost his family. A long time ago. And he thought about them all the time. And then when our blood mixed up, it was like something burst. He tried to subdue me. And instead, he opened his soul. - I already said that on purpose. Let that fang bastard get scared and stay out of my dreams. - He loved them all this time. His wife and children. And they couldn't leave the whole time. They were waiting for him. And I was able to open the road.
- How?! The vampire asked sharply.
I shrugged my shoulders.
- They loved him. And he loved them. All I had to do was throw it all on the scale. All he was doing was pain and madness.
- Vlad was a perfectly adequate vampire. I talked to him, he wasn't crazy.
- Nope. He never recovered from losing his family. He walked, said, could even smile, but inside he was worse than dead. He needed warmth, and there were only bastards like Duke around. As soon as I touched his soul, the road opened. All I had to do was walk him. I guess my opponent's in heaven now.
Mieczysław's eyes slowly but surely widened and took the form of a correct circle.
- How? - He exhaled in shock. - I mean, we're cursed. Forever.
- Nuh-uh! - Did it jam me up on that word or what? - God is Love. And everything else is from merchants and bastards. His sins meant nothing compared to the pain he felt thinking about his family. And he thought all the time. We can say that he was already in hell on earth. Do you remember Hayyam?
- What do you mean?
- Hell and paradise in heaven is a sweet lie.
Heaven and hell, believe me, and you'll find it closer...
He's not in the realms of heaven and hell circles,
Paradise and hell in our souls and our hearts.
And his whole soul was one solid lump of pain. If he'd done anything, he'd already redeemed it with his whole vampire life. He didn't even need purgatory, he was in more pain every time he thought about his family than he was in pain from calendar iron. Everything he'd done, he'd redeemed it with his life after death. So he did.
Mecislav was attentive and focused like a pooping dog.
- How did you feel about that?
- Fatigue. Tension. Like dragging a bucket of water up a mountain. But it didn't hurt me. Not a bit. It didn't hurt until it was over. And before that, I didn't feel anything. By the way, where's my created cross?!
- Here. Next to the bed. I can only touch it with your hand. It burns me. If you just put your hand next to it and don't even take it, it flashes. How did you manage to create it? I wish I knew!
- If you find out, share the secret.
- Absolutely, curly.
And then I noticed one little detail.
- Do you have more respect for me now or what? What happened?
The vampire was seriously looking at me.
- Maybe I owe you an apology, girl.
I didn't even ask, why? Smart? I don't think so. I'm tired.
- I used to think you were just a stupid girl who was given a huge power by fate. Now I know you're capable of being responsible for what you say. And I'm willing to risk my life for a friend who you don't really care about. But you promised her help and protection. And you really did everything you could for her. That deserves respect.
I nodded. But I didn't rest on my laurels. It's embarrassing. If anybody doesn't know, the laurel hurts a lot. In fact, it's only good in soup.
- I was really being a fool. It's my fault. My stupidity could have hurt us all.
- I'm glad you admitted it, pretty girl.
- Don't you dare call me beautiful, you Zanzibarian bloodsucker! - I got pissed off right away.
That was the only word I wouldn't tolerate. I hate that movie and Julia "Sharks" Roberts' stupid grin. How can you watch it. A romantic love story about a millionaire and a hooker? What do these Hollywood creatures know?! And I was in the hospital. There's an HIV ward there. My mom took me there in her day and showed me girls dying of HIV. Showed me the drug addicts and the maimed girls. And the same millionaires did it to them! That's life, that's what it is, not Cinderella's story. And it's cruel to show a movie like that to stupid girls. I mean, they believe...
For that matter, has anyone seen "Make-Free Stars"? Or was it called something else, I don't remember. It was about three years ago. My mom watched it, then recorded it and showed it to me. It showed "stars" after the make-up artist's work and before the make-up artist's work. After makeup, it's a masterpiece. Before - we have such "heroes" of homeless people in a dumpster will scare off. And this is an example?
I'm sorry to slip up, but we're just having a breakthrough at the institute. And they're really annoying. I mean, they don't want to study or work - Nothing. They just want to get crusts. And because of these "Bug" guys, normal guys can't get an education. It's too big a contest. And the blade and the connections...
Who knows how much it pisses me off sometimes!
- Jane!
Mieczysław, desperate to get my attention, pinched my nose tip hard. I stared at him with evil.
- You call me that again and you won't see me again. You got it?
- I'm sorry. But why don't you like it so much? You're really pretty.
I whispered, but I repeated my thoughts out loud, for the most gifted. A vampire shrugged his shoulders.
- We'll have to see that movie. I'll order Snegirev. If it's really that horrible, I won't call you that again. It's a hundred years until the fashion goes away. But let's go back to our rams.
- To An
dre and Co?
- That's right. Did you draw conclusions from everything that happened?
I put my eyes down. I thought for a moment. And then I formulated it.
- I shouldn't have done that. I almost set everyone up. And I should have trusted you more. But my apologies don't mean I'll behave better in the future.
Green eyes sparkled with a hidden laugh.
- Or do you want to trust me?
I snorted.
- I don't trust you at all. You are a rare self-loving scoundrel, and everyone in this house is interesting for you only in terms of personal gain. I don't like it!
The vampire threw his head back and laughed. A thick, warm laughter filled the room like a stream of liquid chocolate. I unwittingly ate.
- What are you doing to your voice that gives me the creeps? And why isn't Danielle doing that?
- Every vampire has his abilities, curly.
- Is your voice your quality as a vampire? - I was vaguely precise.
- My voice has always been like this, - Mechislav shrugged his shoulders as if remembering himself - a man. - Yes, that's how it is. Although the ability to bewitch and enchant with words, I got along with fangs. But I don't want to talk about it.
I politely decided to change the subject.
- Tell me, then, what happened after I fainted?
- I can tell you, or I can show you.
- Shall I show you? What do you mean?
Mecislav was happy to explain to me. Why should I be so generous? After what I did, he should have ripped my head off! And instead he sits here with me and gives lectures on vampire magic, or what is it properly called?
- It's kind of a test, curly. For susceptibility to magic.
- Sensitivity to magic?
- Yes. If you possess the Force, you can accept my thought forms. Would you like to give it a try?
- Of course I do! Isn't it too hard? I can't take a lot of stress right now.
- I wouldn't offer anything dangerous to you, baby.
His words were the most common, and his voice low and velvety. As if he wanted to promise something else. Such a voice whispers confessions in the twilight, in a room where there is a big bed with silk sheets. I drove those thoughts away and stared at the vampire again.
Ring of Madness Page 28