Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  - Where do you want the next batch to go? - Lyosha has brought another mountain of boxes.

  - In the corner. And many of them there?

  - Three more times that many.

  - Oh, Mom...

  The next two hours passed in a pleasant selection of shoes and rags. The dream of any woman. Tanya said it was all paid for, and I wasn't shy. We're gonna have to meet this delegation anyway, then we're gonna have a few more days to talk... We need clothes. And if you get something for free, it's a sin not to. Especially since I myself will never buy a hand-embroidered natural silk dress. True, and I'm not discouraged about that.

  Between us girls, it doesn't matter how much the clothes cost. It should perform two functions, namely - to emphasize your natural beauty and be comfortable according to circumstances.

  That's it. If a thing meets these rules, I absolutely do not care if it costs three hundred rubles or ten thousand. Both will be good for me, although I will buy the thing for three hundred rubles faster and wear it more easily.

  For this evening we have chosen a simple dress made of linen with the addition of some synthetic. The dress retained the color and structure of linen, but did not crumple. It was a safari dress in shape: dark blue bottom, white top. No sleeves, but you can throw in a white jacket if you really need it. Thanks to the synthetics, it perfectly emphasized the figure. It's very simple and formal.

  It would be. But the dress came with sandals on a heel the height of the Eiffel Tower. After we picked out the dresses, Leshka went for the accessories. The dress was also accompanied by white metal earrings with blue stones, the same two bracelets and a ring.

  And they were too heavy for simple costume jewellery.

  - Is that silver?

  - No. Silver can be seen as aggression. It's platinum, just shrugged Tanya's shoulders.

  I immediately stole all the jewelry and stuffed it in a box.

  - I'm not going anywhere in this.

  - What's all this nonsense?

  - It's too expensive.

  Tanya rolled her eyes.

  - Yulia, vampires are very rich bastards at all. If Mecislav wants to, you can change these kits every day. And if you lose something, he won't even notice. Okay?

  It was clear to me. But still...

  - And then, you're his last name. And you should look gorgeous. I have to.

  Did I tell you before that werewolves have no conscience? Or was it about vampires? Oh, never mind. Anyway, they were great at singing.

  * * *

  The makeup artist was Lisa. The same fox who walked me to the road yesterday.

  - Hi," she said hello as she flew into the apartment. - How's it going?

  - I'm fine.

  I was already fully dressed, and all I had to do was paint me. I've never been jealous of the models, and I won't be. If they prepare for the podium like this every time, there's not enough nerve with such a nightmare job.

  - The initiation was a success," she said, laying out her jars and vials on the computer table. - Your brother is now in one of our rental apartments with his daddy. We kept an eye on her too. It's not that weird. It turns out to be easy, but a lot of people do.

  - How's she doing with strength?

  - It's the paddy! What kind of power can she have?

  Fair enough. And I didn't feel much when she and I... had an argument.

  - And how is Nastia?

  - She hasn't flipped over and she doesn't even want to. She's lying at home and isn't going out for the next three days. Even switched to a plant diet so she wouldn't provoke a predator.

  - That's good. Lisa... please... remind me... - I talked to the breaks, since the fox has already started working on my face - I must... I will... examine her... every... week...

  - Okay. I'll remind you.

  - Okay, here's the deal. What are you gonna put on me?

  - Almost nothing. Natural makeup. I'm just gonna emphasize my eyes as hard as I can.

  - Okay.

  That was really good.

  It's freezing. Then they knocked on the door again.

  - Come in!

  And why does everyone ignore the intercom?

  - Yulka, hi.

  - Hello, my treadmaker's name.

  - Yulia Yevgenyevna, nice to meet you.

  The first one, as easy to guess, was Nadia. The second one was Boris. The third was a stranger I don't know. A werewolf, after all. But which one?

  - Nadia, Vadim, Hello! And you, young man?

  - Alexander. I'm a werewolf tiger.

  - It's a pleasure. I'm Julia, please call me that.

  - That's what we'll do. Yulka, show yourself, spin! You look great!

  It's been another half hour. Boris immediately took a picture of me on the phone camera, sent a picture to the chief, talked to him and got approval, but he did not offer me the phone. It was for the best, too. Mecislav had already pissed me off with his spleen liver. If he makes me angry before meeting Ramirez, I'm not responsible for myself.

  * * *

  What is our local airport?

  In short, it's a dump. In detail, it's neglect and ruin. Just like during perestroika, it was never put back together. Scavenged slabs, subdued asphalt, old buildings that have been in need of overhaul for ten years, old mosaics on the walls depicting planes and young builders of communism ...

  The smell.

  The indestructible smell of desolation and destruction. And for some reason, the public toilet. I was sick of it the most, and we didn't wait in the building.

  For some weird reason, our airport was still working. There were two old planes and some mini-planes like corn. Ramirez was going to fly in a small private jet. On my humble guess, this plane was worth more than our entire airport. And when I asked about secrecy, Boris shrugged his shoulders. It's not even gonna be so much of an IPF.

  I refused to sit at the airport, and we waited in cars like decent people. During this time, I trained to see auras. It wasn't bad. Nadia was intense green with shades of purple, red and yellow. It's a cute combination. Boris was mostly orange with red and blue. There were gray spots floating around the left leg; when I asked about them, it turned out that the vampire had recently pulled a lot of ligaments. It's going to recover soon, but it still hurts.

  Alexander turned out to be pinkish-yellow with an admixture of blue. It's in the basic colors. Of course, everyone had admixtures, additions, embeddings, and Nadia and Alexander also had a silver aura pattern. Boris had one, too, but it's black. He depicted something, but as soon as I started to look at it, the auras were losing clarity, I just stopped seeing them. It's sad. Yesterday, I was very lucky to have Nastia. To see for so long, and also to correct... I must have been very caught up in the magic of the pack.

  * * *

  While we were waiting, my phone was ringing. I looked at the number, Valentine, and I pressed the reception button.

  - You did?

  - Yulia, hi. Do you have a few minutes to talk?

  - Yes. Hi. What's up?

  - Oh, nothing much. It's just that your brother really wants to talk to your grandfather.

  - Wouldn't he go...?

  - Yulia, you know what's better sooner than later. And also... He cares a lot about it, and I need a calm and completely controlling werewolf.

  - And you threaten to rip his tail off...

  - Julia...

  I fought more out of principle.

  - Okay. I'll call Grandpa now; if he's awake, I'll call you back.

  - It's a deal. I'm not saying goodbye.

  The shape-shifter passed out. I looked at my watch and dialed my home number. Lucky for me, Grandpa picked up the phone.

  - Leoverensky.

  - Leoverensky. Hello, napkin!

  - That's the napkin itself, fungus. Didn't you go to your mother's again?! I'll rip your ears off! What's the matter?

  - Slava wants to see you.

  - Why should I look at him? Screw him yourself!

  - He doesn't
believe me.

  - So put him on the phone, I'll tell him myself.

  - He's not around. Maybe I'll bring him back after all.

  Grandpa was quiet for a few minutes.

  - Okay. Bring him in. Tomorrow I have 1:00 to 2:00 free time. Can you do that?

  - You ask me!

  - Then it's a deal. Can you talk to your mother?

  I'd like to, but Ramirez is coming soon. You can't relax before this meeting, you can't...

  - Later. I promise.

  Grandpa was quiet for another twenty seconds.

  - When are you going to solve your problems?

  There you go. And I didn't say anything, I didn't even hint that I was in trouble... If anyone in our family is a psychic, it's Grandpa.

  - If it all comes together, today or tomorrow.

  - If it doesn't?

  - It's a week.

  - I'll hold your mother for a week. Then the will to show up. Okay?

  - Yes.

  - I'll see you tomorrow.

  - I'll see you tomorrow.

  The beeps came out of the tube. It was a technical matter to call Valentin back and agree that the werewolves with Slavka would pick me up tomorrow.

  And then I lost the plane. We hurriedly went to the runway, and Ramirez came down the stairs to us. As always, charming: black suit, white shirt, red-gray tie - the vampire looked like a successful businessman, not the emissary of the Council. Last time I saw him, he looked completely different.

  Or is he the one who relaxes at home and tries not to stand out here? I guess that's the way it is.

  - Yulenka, it's good to see you! Have the chaperones grab my bags.

  - Of course, I sang. - Alexander, Boris, please take care of it. In the meantime, I'll escort our guest to the car.

  - I'll be glad to use your invitation.

  Yes, it's good that we're in two cars, and both jeeps. Wherever we load six suitcases the size of the middle fridge, I'm not crazy. But they weren't a problem for Boris. Nadia got involved in the process too. Werewolves and a vampire picked up two grand each and dragged them to the cars. And Ramirez cleverly picked me up.

  - Ramirez. It's good to see you.

  - Julianne, you've become very charming. When we first met, you were a diamond, but now you're a diamond that dispels the dark of the night.

  - Mecislav is a wonderful jeweler," I shrugged my shoulders. Negligent, but understandable. That's it. In translation - look, but do not touch with your hands. Not about your honor baked pies... Not yours - don't touch!

  - And that's why you were pulled to the side of the charm?

  Your antelope! The day I slept with the boy, and Ramirez knows about it from somewhere?! Who ratted?! If I find him, I'll tear him to pieces!

  A mirror-like beast has grown up in my heart. But I remained calm on the outside.

  - I wanted to try what it feels like with a man.

  - And Mechislav allowed it?

  - He wasn't happy, but he understood everything.

  Not a word of untruth. It's not like I said anything,

  when

  he figured it out-- before or after sex.

  - Does that apply to other vampires?

  Ramirez's hand was on my knee.

  What do you think you're doing, fellas?! If every guy with a bad hoof touches me with his hands, you won't attack my knee! –

  in unison have grown both parts of my soul.

  And inside, slowly but inevitably, a wave of rage rose. Ramirez seems to have felt it, but there was nothing he could have done.

  Sync by honeybunny

  spinning around me by a cloud, confidently clinging to his aura, identified - and did not want to let go of his victim. She was gathering in storm clouds around us, and I knew more and more that I had to either give it all to the vampire or just kill him. That's the least I could do.

  - Oh, shit!

  I didn't have any other words. Boris pulled to the curb and stopped the jeep.

  - Leave us alone! - I gave the order. - We have to!

  The vampire obeyed. He got out of the car, but he wouldn't close the doors. I looked at Ramirez helplessly. I knew what was going on, but there was nothing I could do. Then, in winter, mine.

  power

  reacted to him. I shared blood with him and

  force

  . And now I recognize him again. Blood demanded blood.

  Power is power.

  . Rage is rage. I haven't seen Mieczysław yet today, but I already knew: we'll have to spend some time to get me cleaned up. And all we have to blame for that is Mieczysław. While I was alone, far away from temptations, I could control myself. Mieczysław demanded that I share with him...

  force

  . I obeyed, and I'm gone. That's how tied-up alcoholics don't drink for years, and then they snap again, that's how an ogre tiger snaps at the smell of fresh blood...

  The wave has been growing. Ramirez squeezed a cold and clung to my hands. I screamed. The sensation was sharp, painfully sharp. It was as if they'd ripped a sore spot off the wound.

  - It hurt...

  - It's nice...

  Which one of us said what? I didn't know. Ramirez slowly brought my hand to my mouth. One look in the eye was enough for us.

  - Yes, we did.

  - Oh, yes, now...

  A short blow of fangs to the vein of the wrist - and a powerful explosion.

  strengths

  leaving my body. Last time it was a flow. This time it was one powerful blow. Ramirez didn't even have time to take a sip when he was caught up

  power

  . He curled up in the seat and screamed. But it was too late. It was different now. I didn't control my power before, it was too wild for me. But now I understood more. We got used to each other in six months. And my strength, hissing and growling, broke off the chain. It... I... we wanted more than just to get inside a vampire. We wanted him to be... ours?

  The roar, the clawed frame, the beast from the mirror. He liked Ramirez. He felt a soul mate, just as cruel and dark. And I realized: Ramirez felt him too.

  And he opened that door in his soul where the cruelty was hiding. And I screamed.

  Ramirez's cold power was pouring into me. I gave my fire and I got ice in return. But the ice melted and turned out to be oil. I was burning inside, and I didn't know how to stop it. Ramirez's anger and hatred became fuel for both of us. And I was seriously afraid to burn both myself and him.

  - Yulia!

  Someone's voice was trying to break through the cycle of ice and fire. But there was nothing they could have done. What about me? How do you break that bond?

  Ramirez didn't even try. For the first time, he found a man who could splash out all the darkest things in his soul, and in return.

  power

  . Of course, he didn't want to stop. What about me? I'm not just a beast. I'm also human.

  The woman with the beast's eyes stood before me like I was alive. Next door, in a ring of fire...

  strengths

  My beast.

  - Fury tears the chains of the mind. But love quenches the rage," she said. Or am I?

  Danielle...

  Let them say whatever they want. For me, it was love. For me, it was love.

  I breathe, which means I love; I love, which means I live...

  [4]

  I love...

  Something has changed inside me.

  Danielle... Let you die, I still love you.

  And the spark of his fire burst into me brighter.

  strengths

  .

  Ramirez suddenly recoiled like I was poisoned with blood.

  - Danielle?

  The fire inside me calmed down a little, and I took control of it more and more confidently. That's it. Now you can give the rest to the vampire so you don't keep his rage inside you, and you can try to figure out what's going on. The last vortex blew a vein as it moved from me to the vampire aura, and everything quieted down. Only a white light burned ins
ide, driving out the remnants of Ramirez's power.

  We could barely breathe.

  - Julia, I didn't expect this from you, Ramirez finally exhaled. He returned to drive, and the car rushed towards the city. The bone and Nadia followed us like sewn on.

  - I didn't expect it myself.

  - Didn't this happen with your master?

  - My power reacts differently to different vampires," I turned around.

  - So it's just me?

  - Yes. It's more sexy with Medislav every time.

  - And with Daniel?

  The blow was unpleasant. But I smiled calmly in return.

  - Daniel is dead. Is it worth disturbing his memory?

  - Did you forget him so quickly?

  Feeling it, you bastard. But I can't send him to hell, so Boris looks more in the rearview mirror than he does on the road. Okay. We can do this. It's too much up to me.

  - Women never forget their first man. And a loved one, too. Danielle is my first love song.

  - How romantic...

  A mocking note in a vampire's voice would catch even a sophomore. Well, you're on your own.

  - Yeah. Love is always beautiful. And sacrifice for the one you love, too.

  A subtle hint of Mary. For now, a subtle hint. Bye...

  - When do you expect a delegation from Tula?

  - Today, maybe a little later. That's why Mecislav couldn't go to meet you. He stayed waiting. But I'm his last name, so don't consider yourself offended.

  I smiled nicely. The vampire switched to immediate problems. All the better.

  - Last name? I thought daniel's death took the seal off?

  - One. Mecislav was my master in the Seal of Body and Mind, Daniel only in the Seal of Body. When he died, one of the Seals of Mieczysław disappeared.

  - And you still have not restored it?

  - Mieczysław was afraid for my health.

  And not another word of lies. He was afraid. Who would argue. Only for the mental. It's true, my roof was going as far as I could. Well, at least I'm getting in shape now.

  A woman with beastly eyes was smiling. And there was a beast spinning outside the mirror.

  Mistress, let's tear it up like Bobick's slipper!

  I wouldn't mind, but then who's going to take care of the situation with Slava and his fall?

  - Mieczysław said that the situation is very delicate, and it has to do with your brother?

  - I'd rather he told me himself.