Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  I did. Ready. Now you can answer just a few questions.

  - Fuck knows him! I don't give a damn about throwing hammers at me!

  - With hammers?

  - Yes! I looked at your psychic, and I see a hammer flying into my head! I tried to imagine it flew back, that's all!

  - That's it! - Sniffed a white-headed snort. - – …!..!!..!!! Do you have any idea what you did?!

  In this game, the blonde could not win.

  - Do you know what I did, you fucking psychic?!

  - You were able to reverse my spell!

  - What was it threatening me with?

  - If you couldn't repel it, you'd obey me unconditionally.

  It's like a bomb exploded in my brain. The beast from the mirror went mad, stripping everything around with its claws. Now I'm ruled by blind rage. HOW DARE THEY?!

  - WHAT?! You contrasse isn't good enough! Suprastin expired! You pig-headed asshole!

  I rushed to the dismantling without bazaars and sent an impudent psychic to the knockout without warning, so that the teeth in the corners of all the IPF collected, but I was grabbed by Kolya. And he held me tight while I was pulling out, spitting and twisting.

  - Jane! Stop it!

  - Let go of me...! Let me go now! I'm using this... ...condom... tuning!

  - Gapeka! Calm the fuck down! Or should I punch you in the face? I'll be right there!

  I inhaled, exhaled, hung in strong hands and looked at the Kostika angrily.

  - And after that, you wonder if I don't like religion? You're all assholes! Damn you, both horns on the way, you bastards! That's it!

  - I'm sorry, Jane, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Jane. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. - We didn't expect that...

  - You didn't expect me to knock your son of a bitch out without any faith?!

  Kolya finally loosened his hands - and I immediately took advantage of it - grabbed the kettle and threw it at the blond scum. I have no luck with blonde hair, if only Andre remembers! YES! I couldn't scald the extrasex anymore, because the brew has cooled down, but the suit is ruined irretrievably!

  - Stop it right now! - Kolya barked at me.

  I smiled like a burned boa.

  - One more such attempt, and I'll run you over with a tractor. Did I make myself clear?

  - Yes, Jane. You made yourself quite clear. But it causes other problems, - said Konstantin Sergeyevich. - Can you speak calmly now? Or should we come another day?

  I closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and exhaled. And I did it seven times. And I smiled.

  - I can listen to anything you have to say to me. But if you do it again...

  - Jane! - Well, so much righteous indignation in the voice! Does he hope that someone will believe him?

  I thought it best not to develop the subject. There's no telling what I can threaten them with, anyway...

  - I'm listening to you carefully.

  - The fact that you were able to put the shield up creates some problems for us.

  - Which ones? And with whom?

  - You didn't lie about vampires. Snowgirew doesn't have them.

  Inside, I took a breath. And immediately I was back in a lump.

  - I didn't lie to you. And you know that very well.

  - Yes, but your abilities...

  - What's wrong with them?

  The bone was looking at me closely. It was as if he had a rainbow eggplant growing in his garden. That's not a very nice feeling. Either eat or dissect or just throw it away!

  - Did you learn anything?

  - No. It's just that my family was into Kashpirovsky and Chumak. Everybody would sit in front of the TV, and they'd sit me down. And I got a headache after them. So I imagined that I was sitting in a castle or somewhere else, behind a high wall - in short, defended as I could. And soon I stopped hearing and seeing everything they poured out of the screen.

  By the way, that was pure truth, too. When I couldn't get out of the session, I did exactly that. You sit down, close your eyes and imagine yourself somewhere on a desert island. Or with Tolkien's heroes. Or Jack London, Boussenard, Haggard, Efremov, Strugatsky... may I list them until next summer! What can't you imagine, so that your head doesn't hurt!

  - And now you did the same thing?

  - Practically.

  - It's the simplest shield," said the psychic soaked. - But what power!

  - That's what I snapped at. - Dry up, green mold, before I put anything else in you!

  - Don't be mad at him," the lieutenant colonel asked. - He was just following orders.

  - In the coffin and white slipper I saw your orders," I scolded without much inspiration, but shut up.

  - It brings us to a simple question. We're trying to collect talents like yours in our order. With us, you can develop and refine your art. You'll have the best teachers and the best textbooks at your service. We have accumulated great experience and are ready to share it with those who serve for the good of the peoples of the earth.

  - The peoples have changed the peoples, the face has changed the earthly..." I stretch out. And I changed the tone of my voice dramatically. - Do I look that stupid?

  - Excuse me?

  The bone slammed his eyes.

  - I won't forgive you, and don't get your hopes up. - I looked him right in the eye. I knew the black water of the Arctic Ocean was splashing in my eyes now. - I know perfectly well what it all looks like in reality. There's a ruble for the entrance and a diamond the size of a fist for the exit. You can pour sugar syrup from morning to night, but you can't convince me! I only have one life - and I want to live it in peace and freedom. And I don't want to report to the evil Inquisition!

  - You're so determined because you don't know anything about us. Do you want to...

  - I don't want to," I interrupted decisively. - Better on the panel than you. Mind you, this is the choice I'll make if he gets up. In fact, try not to get caught. I know the principle: the claw is tied, the whole bird is abyss. If anything - I'll move, change my name and surname, I'll live among the homeless - but not next to schizophrenic fanatics!

  - You're not being fair to us, Jane.

  - You're right! I'm more than partial! I'm too good at judging your employees by looking at you. Although one of them is a fanatic without a single unembossed gyrus, and the other is a cheap, vile son of a bitch. I wouldn't be surprised if I found out that he's using his powers for personal gain, stealing and raping. Something like that was in his brain. I mean, he opened up, too, trying to subdue me. I don't know if it's just memories, intentions or plans for the future.

  Here's to the hammer and the nasty feeling. Now prove to your colleagues that you are not a camel. A bone with a subordinate didn't look good for a psychic.

  - I would ask," said the wizard, "who is not finished.

  - Ask your mother not to give birth to you," I cut it off. - Kolya, if that goat looks at me one more time, you'll throw him out the door. Shit! All brains are like booby traps!

  - I'm not relieved," said the psychic. - I hate amateurs.

  - You'd better thank me! - I've made up my mind. - You're lucky I don't know or know anything! If I were on your level, I'd tie your brains with a bow and fry you!

  - What happened to your hand? - Suddenly I asked Coste.

  - I cut myself," I snapped. Indeed, I wrapped my hand in bandages, but now the red stains have gone through them. The wounds must have opened when I broke and barked. Oh, my sweater's gone. If there's even blood on it. Or isn't it missing? I'm gonna try pouring some cold water on it now.

  - Is it that serious? Are you sure it's the cut and not the bite?

  I sighed and I gave him my left hand.

  - Unwind and make sure Thomas is an unbeliever!

  I wasn't scared at all. On my left arm, I really did have an incision in my vein. I made it for Daniel. And Mecislav bit my right hand so he wouldn't disturb the cut. And it wasn't bleeding. Two tiny holes are almost healed. I didn't wrap them up, and the sweater sleeves are long. Konstan
tin Sergeyevich unwound the bandage carefully, but with a lot of skill. I wonder, how often he unwinds them like that? And on whom? On himself? In public?

  - Yeah, it looks like a knife. Clearly not fangs. What's wrong with you?

  - You said yourself that with a knife. Wrap it up like it was! It hurts, you know!

  - I'm sorry. How did this happen?

  - Well, there you go. I rinsed with a knife. You were a fool!

  - I don't get it?

  - You don't have to. I hate to admit my stupidity.

  And again, I wasn't lying. What I did for Daniel then was deliberately stupid. If a vampire was a little bit more bastardly, he'd just drink all my blood.

  Konstantin Sergeyevich shook my hand.

  - Change the bandages.

  - Absolutely. Can I be free?

  - Absolutely! But I'll leave you my card. Call me if you think of anything.

  - Okay. Leave it. But don't wait for the call.

  - Don't swear, Jane.

  - No! Don't swear on the moon, Romeo! Goodbye, Konstantin Sergeyevich. Let me personally walk you to the gate so that you and Kolya don't do anything.

  - Jane, who do you think we are?!

  - To religious fanatics maniacs!

  That's where we ended the conversation. Kolya and I walked them to the gate, waved goodbye and went to the house. I urgently needed a hot shower, hot coffee with cream, a new bandage - and to consult with a vampire. The best thing was with Mieczysław. Although he's a rare bastard, but a professional. Even I admit it.

  Chapter 2

  And then we have to go back to battle, and the enemy is preparing a knife...

  The first three wishes were easy to fulfill. I washed my sweater and took a bath. Snegirev wanted to talk to me about the IPF, but I brazenly threw him out. She said that they wouldn't come again, and I'll tell you the details in the evening, so as not to tell you five times. If you don't like it, you can complain to vampires. You can start now, though. He had to come to terms with it.

  But he called my grandfather. And he said he invited me to live out of town and go skiing. Just as a friend. My grandfather believed me. Why wouldn't he? Snowflake had invited us before, we just preferred our summer cottage. And now I won't live there alone. The family reconciled and promised to come back soon, having specified whether everything was all right (intuition at grandfather's level). I obeyed that I had called so little - and promised that I would get better.

  Snegirev also assured his grandfather that everything would be fine - and we said goodbye.

  After the bath, I was thawed out, and I nodded like a bitch for three hours. When I opened my eyes, the sun was leaning towards sunset.

  I tied my hand again and looked at the bundle on the nightstand. My aspen cross. I never turned it around all day. Why not? I was afraid! But I'm turning it around now. It was just like before. Two sticks, a piece of cloth pulling them into the cross, soaked in blood and dried up. Now it's going to be harder to unwind. And there was something else in that homemade cross. It was either heavier or warmer than a regular aspen... Damn it! I angrily wrapped it back in a piece of cloth and stuffed it in my bag. Let him lie down. The aspen will come in handy.

  No one was waiting for me downstairs. I went to Aunt Tanya's and asked for something hot, meaty and delicious. And I got pork stew with spices. It was delicious, so I licked a nice little plate and asked for more.

  While I was dealing with my requests and dinner, the sun went down.

  I said thank you, and I went into the living room. Fangers will wake up soon.

  The first to appear in the living room was Mechislav. He looked just charming. Black pants tightened slender legs and emphasized a thin waist. A white shirt with a lace collar and long sleeves fell down with beautiful folds. Black curls with a beautiful frame fell down on his shoulders, as if he had laid them down for an hour. The scent of cologne swept around him with a wave of sensuality. The copper skin shone in an electric light. As always, I wanted to come up and kiss him. It's a picture, not a vampire. I licked myself and immediately gave out another disgusting thing so I wouldn't roll my lips too hard. My imagination is good, and Mechislav is one of those who will not miss the slightest opportunity.

  - Hey, I waved. - Cute pajamas. Where's Danielle?

  - You're as charming as you are witty, curly as a vampire. - And I'm glad to see that you liked my costume. And what's under it. And Danielle won't wake up until three hours later. This is his payback for yesterday's sleepless day.

  - Oh, I see. And we had guests.

  I missed the costume by the ears. Who's more likely to embarrass anyone: am I a vampire with seven hundred years of experience - or is he me? Don't start a fight if there's no hope of winning.

  - Is it an emergency?

  - I don't know.

  - Then let's wait until I've had some blood. Boris! Where are you!

  It was like Boris was waiting for a scream at the door. He immediately entered the living room with a high glass in his hand.

  - Your blood, Chief.

  - – ?

  The blood looked warm, almost smoky. I didn't understand anything. Didn't they bring the donor blood? But is it supposed to be in bags? Or did they put it on someone? Right in that glass? And who cares what they drink it from? It's more convenient to put it in a basin, but while the blood is being transfused, it will definitely cool down... Mecislav intercepted my confused look and smiled so that my nipples hardened.

  - We can do with canned blood for a while, Curly. But it won't be long. And then, it's better to drink the blood warmed up. Cheers.

  He smiled at me again, showing me his gorgeous fangs, and drained the glass with one long sip.

  - So who are the guests?

  - THE IPF. Does that mean anything to you?

  - THE IPF?! Were they here? And they just left?

  I managed to surprise Mieczysław. Green eyes have perplexed. I gave the vampire a nice smile.

  - They believed me. I honestly said there are no vampires here. Really, we were standing outside at the time, and you weren't there. And then they weren't at my house. And I didn't lie either. It's not my house, it's Snegireva's.

  - And they just left? Without looking around the house?

  - They tried to hypnotize me. They had extrasex with them. So he tried. I don't know what exactly I did, but I got all twisted up, so the vein on my arm opened up again. And it was turned inside out. Then they forgot about all the searches and started making me indecent offers. Like a budding, schizophrenic fanatic. But I'm a decent girl! With churchmen, women, children and animals, no way!

  Mecislav laughed.

  - You surprise me again, Curly.

  - She always surprised everyone, that's how she was. Pleasantly surprised, I hope?

  - How could you think otherwise? This is the second time I owe you my life. And I won't forget it.

  The green eyes suddenly became serious. But how can you believe him? Not a penny!

  - You know what I'm asking. Save Daniel, and you will pay me back for everything I've done and will do.

  - I obey, curly. But what happened to the churchmen? Did they go away?

  - They examined my wound on my left arm and left.

  - Wound?

  - The cut I fed Daniel's blood from. I made it with a blade, and it was very convenient. No teeth marks. Fangs. So they believed me. But they'll probably come back. We just stunned them today. Tomorrow it won't go away. I wonder what kind of bastard snitched on us?

  - And we'll find out soon enough. Vadim!

  There's a second vampire in the kitchen.

  - Your name, Chief?!

  - Call. You were looking at the road yesterday. We weren't being followed?

  - Chief, Boris has been checked three times! Do you remember?

  - I remember. And yet...

  - I didn't see anybody. There wasn't a single car!

  - All right.

  The word fell like a stone. And it did not bode well for anyo
ne. Who? I guessed it. Because Mecislav had a bad feeling about it.

  - Snowbird to me! Come on, now!

  The vampire's been blown off like a wind.

  - Do you suspect Alexei Ivanovich? But what good is it to him?

  - It's the straightest, curly. If he agrees with the same Andre, he'll get his interest forever, and he can also become a vampire.

  - Duke's a bastard, but not a fool. If only he didn't make someone a vampire.

  - That's right, too. If he was stupid, it would be a lot easier for us. So it's not Andre. But an anonymous call to the FPI is easy.

  - What's the point? Just money and autonomy? Although if he realized you wouldn't make him a vampire, he could have attacked.

  - Well, we're gonna check that out now. Are there any servants in the house, Curly?

  Two seconds later, I knew what was behind that question.

  - He sent everyone away. Even the guards. But you're not going to kill him, are you?

  - Why not?

  Remind the vampire of humanity? Or look for more logical arguments?

  - Because I was seen here. I don't want to be charged with murder!

  - We'll get rid of the body, Fluffy. And no one will ever suspect you.

  - With your lips...

  - Believe me, curly. He's not the first or even the tenth. And not even the hundredth.

  Looking at the cold green eyes, I believed it. In seven hundred years it is possible to exterminate a breakthrough of the people, even if you kill one person a year. And Mechislav must have crossed that limit. Boris dragged Snegirev into the carpet in front of Mechislav, like a pile of rags. To Snegirev's honour, he did not try to resist or run. Apparently, he understood that if a vampire gives in to his instincts, nobody and nothing will save him. The vampire was leaning close to the human.

  - Did you give us away?

  The wrath of Mieczysław filled the room almost visibly, sliding fire on my skin. I was quietly glad that his anger was not directed at me. The snowbird had to do much worse. Now I could have been afraid of Mieczysław. Anger pulled his face into a terrible mask. Now the vampire wasn't handsome. The bones came out sharply under the skin, parchmenting his face. The fangs were released to the full length. The eyes were filled with solid emerald greenery. He was much nastier than Daniel in combat. Why is that? Because Danielle was an ordinary man - at least in appearance. And turning into a monster, he was just scary. And Mecislav was becoming a terrible mix of a handsome and a monster. And he was disgusting. It's a good thing my stomach is tinned. Could have vomited from the same species. The snowbird squeezed into lumps.