Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  For a power she doesn't need!

  For a power that Julia didn't even think she could use!

  To Mecislava, who's got an eel wrapped around that bastard!

  For the fact that the spy didn't have it. Never. And he won't. And looking into the night sky, the spy sent curses to the gods who made him weak. Not as strong as that Leoveren bitch with his nose always upside down. Oh, if he had at least a fifth of her power!

  He'd be able to take the position that's right for him. And even his name would be pronounced with the proper reverence. No one would dare poke him. Or laugh.

  The spy hated to be laughed at. Even innocent friendly jokes would make him angry. Ever since he was a child. Oh, he was good at hiding it. But every smile caused a surge of rage in his soul.

  A while ago, a spy was almost happy. He seemed to be noticed, realized he wasn't like everyone else. And finally he would take his place and take revenge on all his enemies.

  But he won't. It's not.

  Turns out there's someone stronger than that. I'm sorry.

  But don't be discouraged.

  If all goes well, he'll get more than just money. He'll get the power. Power over the lives and deaths of people. And he can hold on to it. He's been promised all kinds of support. And he will serve his Lord obediently.

  The thought of the Lord made the spy's body tremble. Not all vampires are the same. The Lord was... unique and unique. And beautiful. A spy ever dreamed of getting up if not on a level with him, at least a step down. He admired the Lord.

  His cruelty. Ruthlessness. The ingenuity of punishment.

  The spy loved to participate terribly. And punishing vampires and werewolves himself. He liked the feeling of a supple body under his arms, liked the sound of the whip crashing into the wounded flesh, liked the smell and taste of blood on his tongue, on his very tip... The screams of pain sounded like music for his hearing.

  Whoever he had once punished was no longer laughing in his presence.

  About this delightful feeling of power and strength... How can people not understand him? Not to feel the pleasure of their superiority? Not to feel the sharp, almost orgasmic pleasure of seeing your enemy, recently so proud, crawling in the dust at your feet and begging not to hurt him anymore.

  And what a pleasure it is to shake your head looking at your eyes poured with blood and pain.

  "You dare to smile looking at me... Now I smile. "And only me.

  It's a delightful feeling.

  Oh, damn it!

  The spy stopped ironing his reflection in the dark glass with his finger. The moon hasn't risen yet, but the vampires are awake. And one of them was looking through the door. And he beckoned the spy with his finger. Yes, it was clearly a vampire, although his face and figure were hidden by a wide hooded cloak. But that way - smoothly and gracefully, as if sliding above the floor - only vampires can move.

  Why did he come here? Suspected?

  - What's the matter?

  The spy spoke quietly, very quietly. He knew this vampire shouldn't be here now. But he did come. What for?

  - The Lord of Horror and the Master of the Night Trail sends his regards.

  The spy shuddered. And then he answered as he was supposed to:

  - I, too, walk the night trail at my master's will.

  Tension is a little off.

  - What do you want here? You'll make me suspicious!

  - Shut up and listen to me. It's an amulet. You'll put it around your neck. If you want to give something to the Lord, you'll squeeze it in your hand and fall asleep in a few minutes. The lord will appear in your dream.

  - What if I have something to say in the afternoon?

  - There are vampires on duty who may not sleep at this time. Speak at any time. Do you remember what the Master wanted?

  - Yes. Although I don't understand why I'm taking this thing alive?! It's better to kill it!

  - It's none of your business. Do as you're told.

  And the door slammed in front of the spy's nose.

  He waited a few seconds and looked out the door. That's okay. And there was no one.

  - I wonder who this vampire is.

  The spy's own voice sounded unpleasantly loud. He was silent and rushed back to the window. And that's where he started to look at the amulet.

  Thick gold chain. A round medallion three centimeters in diameter with a lion in the jump. Fat and warm. Heated by his hand.

  The spy hastily put it around his neck.

  Thanks to this thing, he can see the Lord. Even if it's only in his sleep.

  The time will come when everything will happen in real life.

  He will try very hard to make that time come quickly.

  Chapter 5

  Business is time, scandals are prime time.

  Mechislav met me on the doorstep of the club. He measured me with Vadim's icy look, then tried to freeze me, but I didn't care about everything. My head spinning more and more, I was dizzy, and my muscles were cramping. Even if you fought me like that, nothing would have worked. Except with a hammer on my forehead. And the vampire understood that very well.

  - "Water with ice and lunch with vodka in my office," he told Vadim in an icy tone. Then he picked me up and took me somewhere. The smell of honey and apples enveloped me from all sides, mercilessly and inexorably.

  And in this condition, I can not really resist.

  Mechislav carefully sat me down on a healthy leather sofa in his office and fell down next to the carpet. This time he was as humane as possible. The vampire didn't give up his favorite black color in his clothes, but made him more modern. The black jeans tightened the muscular thighs. The black sneakers stayed on the doorstep, and now the vampire was enjoying his bare feet in the thick fur of the carpet. The white shirt, which looked like ordinary cotton, fitted his shoulders and emphasized the golden skin tone. And, of course, it had nothing to do with the product that was sold even in expensive stores. Exceptionally natural fabrics and hand sewing. Even if Mieczyslaw decided to look a little more modern, he still would not sink to mass consumption goods. Any of his things should be one of a kind and create a decent frame for his carrier. Black hair was tied into a ponytail, from which several naughty strands were beaten out.

  And I felt an unbridled desire to let go of his hair. To put my fingers in it, to find out what they were bound by - an elastic band, a ribbon, a shoelace - untie it, let it loose and bury myself in my face. Breathe in the fragrance of honey and apples, driving me crazy, and never break free ... Let there be someone strong.

  Don't you dare! You're Leoveren! - You're back for your numbers?

  Oh, I shouldn't have inhaled. The scent of a vampire hit my receptors so hard, an uncontrollable wave of nausea came up from somewhere deep in my stomach. Oh, Christmas trees...

  - There are rooms here, too, Curly. Would you like to see it?

  A vampire's voice slipped through my skin with the touch of a summer breeze - hot and honey-scented. And it turned out to be the last straw.

  - Yeah, I wish. Do they have a toilet in them? Oh, I'm sick!

  I was really sick of it. Vampire magic after werewolves had that effect. Mechislav picked me up and rushed to the bathroom, without saying anything else. Although I had already tried to irrevocably ruin his carpet.

  It was the last eccentric thought.

  For what happened next, I gave the vampire an extra point.

  I vomited. Long and painful. Yellow. How exactly? Anyone who's ever vomited with excruciating dry spasms that reduce their stomach and cause stomach and throat pain will understand. It's a very unpleasant sensation.

  Mieczysław did not move away from me. He supported me at the waist, removed my hair from my face and at some point, it seems, collected it in a ponytail. He rubbed my forehead with a wet towel and ignored all my attempts to send him on a long intimate cruise. Or at least to hell with the horns.

  When my cramps were over, the vampire picked me up again and took me to my room. And he bro
ught a glass of ice water to my mouth.

  - Drink slowly, girl. What happened to you today?

  - How are you this morning?

  - I already know you had bad dreams this morning. Everything you've had has manifested itself to me.

  - And you had my dream?

  - Yes. I'm very sorry.

  - If you were really sorry, Danielle would be alive now.

  - We've discussed this before. Let's go back to the roots. You often have such dreams. You have to do something about it.

  It was said to be cold and grim, like a diagnosis.

  You have diarrhea. Take your pills.

  I imagined I'd have to tell Mieczysław about all my dreams, and I got angry. I may be hurt, I may be ill, but these dreams are the only memory of the person I love. And I don't want to lose them. And I won't!

  - Resurrect me a loved one.

  - Don't be foolish.

  I think I got the vampire off balance. Otherwise, he'd have responded in a much more... kurtuazno? Frivolously? Definitely not so short and evil. It's more my style.

  - Okay. The I.F.P. people want to talk to me.

  - Do you need security, Fluffy?

  - Why, you still haven't got her on me? I had a better opinion of you.

  The vampire had a big smile, showing sharp fangs.

  - Drink some water, Curly. Of course he did. You're my valuable possessions, and I'm used to protecting what's mine.

  Slurp!

  I tried to splash water on a vampire, but Mieczysław slightly turned aside. A wet strip formed on the carpet, a few ice cubes disappeared into the thick pile.

  - Bastard.

  - Repeat, my lovely.

  I sputtered with anger. Even the bad stuff has gone somewhere. Not a bastard, eh?

  - My eyes wouldn't look at you!

  - You've got the security. Who exactly wants to meet you?

  - Rokin. Konstantin Sergeyevich Rokin.

  - I know this one. He's a good man, but there's a lot of fanaticism in his head. But he's certainly not a hired killer.

  - That's right. He's more of a recruiter.

  - I know the IPF's been making you offers...

  - And work with them and become a guinea pig... But mine...

  power

  is too tightly tied to vampires.

  We didn't say anything. Mecislav understood everything. So did I. I'm a family man. Whether the connection with the vampire awakened my strength, or just the right time has come, the stars have successfully risen and the cancer on the mountain whistled Mendelssohn's march, and the vampires were the first by the sweet pie - now it will not change anything. I won't be able to work with the IPF. If I show something... inappropriate from their point of view, I'll be taken seriously: exorcisms, the expulsion of demons and other cute little things from the arsenal of the Holy Inquisition. Thank you, I'm not tired of living yet. Even the movie "Exorcising the Devil"... Who wants to be a guinea pig? I'm not a hereditary masochist!

  - Okay. Talk to Rokin, but try not to argue with him.

  - A skinny world is better than a good fight?

  - A paper war is better than a nuclear war.

  It was hard to argue.

  - I saw my brother.

  - Rarely a nasty creature. How could your parents

  this is .

  ? Neither your strength nor your character is one naked selfishness. He doesn't even like that girl Clara.

  - Why did he get involved in all this?

  - He's playing knight Roland. Only things are a little tougher in life than legend. And when he realized it was too late to get out, he needed Clara. But not as a man, but as a path to salvation.

  - I thought he was crazy about her.

  - As long as he's in bed. And it's doubtful.

  - You're the expert on bed.

  - Curly, you should have realized by now that love and everything connected with it is part of my power. That's what I know about these things. I just see it. What else happened today?

  - Dedication of my brother to werewolves. Nothing much. It wasn't that big a deal. It's more important than that.

  - What's more important?

  The tone of the vampire was dangerously soft, like massage oil. It spilled over his body, caressing and paralyzing his will. Yeah, yeah, I think I'm gonna get a little hotter. I sighed and gave it away:

  - We found a way to extend pregnancies in werewolf women. Now they can have healthy children. Really, it was unexpectedly hard for me.

  - Is that why you're so exhausted? - The tone of Mecislava has softened. - What kind of way is that, and who can use it?

  - – Я. I don't think there's anyone else. When we found ourselves in the clearing where we wanted to initiate, I decided to talk to the werewolves. One fox reacted to me... aggressively.

  - What was her name?

  The notes in the vampire's voice didn't bode well for Nastia. I raised my hand.

  - She was pregnant. She's five months pregnant. There's a full moon today. She was about to miscarry. Imagine what it's like for a woman.

  - I can't. But I agree to forgive her rudeness.

  - I didn't get mad at her either. Instead, I tried to look at her like... with a side look. And I slipped into a trance.

  - Can you see... what exactly?

  - A werewolf aura.

  - – И?

  - Every werewolf fox in the aura has the same pattern. The colors are all different; by the way, do you know what red means?

  - I'll give you a lecture on auras later. So?

  - I just hung the drawing up with a scrap of mist. That's all. It's like a patch of adhesive tape. Inactive isn't dangerous. The werewolf's connection to the moon has been severed this month. No threat of miscarriage.

  - But next month, we're gonna have to do it all over again?

  - It's about that. Two days before the full moon, or the full moon, that's what the fox will decide. It's better for her when she can't hold back anymore.

  - And how much strength does that take?

  - That's it. My condition is the result of helping a girl. And then...

  - Then what?

  - I caught a portion of the pack emotion. During the initiation, werewolf magic was released. The pack was actually one, and I was overwhelmed, too. I wanted to run on all fours, eat raw meat and wail on the moon. If I was okay, I wouldn't even be in pain. But when I had almost no strength left, other people's magic is... unpleasant, to say the least.

  - I wanted to restore your mark today.

  - Only after I've successfully resolved the matter. I don't want it to be like Daniel with Slava. And in fact, we have already agreed.

  - Haven't you heard of such a thing as an advance, girl?

  - An advance as well? Didn't you work as a merchant in your time?

  - Well, it doesn't matter. Anyway, you can't do anything today. Except for lying.

  - And what was I lying about?

  - You forgot about one little private visit. Someone Sergei Mikhailovich Novikov.

  - Seryozha? So what?

  - So I want to know what this man was doing in your house for three hours straight.

  The vampire was almost hissing. It felt like there were ice air bubbles rolling around on your skin. Or little ice balloons. And melting behind the chimney. I never thought a vampire could do that with a voice.

  Well, let it be. No fang beast will dictate to me what to do with whom!

  Yeah, "he'll have, he'll have a colon wrap! In protest! As a sign of protest!" A quote from an old movie helped me get my act together. I smiled and scraped it off:

  - Mecislav, you didn't come out with your chins for a dueny.

  - And I ask how your master is," a vampire suddenly strained me, grabbing strands of hair on the back of my head. Before I could even squeak, our eyes were five centimeters apart. - Did you sleep with him?! How did you sleep with him? I liked it, you little...

  - I liked it very much," I gently whispered. - It's much nicer to sleep with a
normal person than to tolerate your attempted rape!

  His eyes burst into rage. The emerald green had expanded so much that it poured out both pupils and squirrels. In the depths of it there were fires of scarlet sparks. White fangs gleaming against the copper skin. How mechislav is angry that he does not even consider it necessary to control himself in such a small way?

  I wanted to get out of here. Fast and far. But it was too late.

  - What we had is not an attempted rape! You just don't know the difference! Now that's more like violence!

  Mecislav pulled my hair sharply. A glass of water flew onto the carpet, and a vampire kissed me on the lips, asserting his superiority.

  Now it was nothing like the previous kisses. Too cruel and painful... Mecislav just made me obey. There was a taste of blood in my mouth. I don't think Miecislav has removed his fangs.

  For a few seconds, I was still trying to fight and break out. The instincts of the driven animal, who is struggling to get out of the trap, played a bad joke on me. The resistance only made the vampire even more furious. And after a few moments of painful kissing, I found myself on the couch, tightly pressed with a heavy body. The vampire's fingers tightly pressed the back of my head, keeping me from moving. My second hand ripped my shirt off, and it flew to shreds as the vampire stroked my naked skin calmly and confidently. It was as if my legs were pressing down on the mountain. And the kiss went on and on. I tried to push the vampire away, but I might as well have moved the rock. There was something hot on the face. Blood? Tears? And the kiss didn't stop, cruel and intentionally rude.

  Mecislav asserted his dominance, as if the master had branded his lips, hands, body... so that no one would dare touch me.

  I was already short of air. With the last effort I tried to turn away, but instead I achieved only that the vampire painfully clenched my chest, and with his second hand he pulled back his head even harder. Hot lips slipped on my neck, where my pulse was raging under my skin.

  This drop was the last one.

  I blacked out.

  * * *

  Something cold was sliding down my face. It's nice. It feels so good.

  I purrred and reached forward to bury my head in this amazing cool.

  - Calm down, girl. You're gonna feel better now.