Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  - What did you do?

  I blinked crookedly.

  - I just got a master who knows how to summon all the animals to our team. All of them.

  I mean, there's a righteous horror on the faces of werewolves right now. Yeah, you bet. It's like saying to the Kagebeshniki: "Gentlemen, we've hired Wolf Messing." Secrecy and free will, to hell with it. You sell all the secrets of your homeland and you won't even know it.

  - Yulia, - Gleb stretched it out. - Are you sure...

  I waved my hand. And it's so clear what he'll say. Are you sure it's not the enemy?

  No, it's not. Peter could be the enemy, too. I come from a sense of gratitude, and what kind of gratitude could an almost thousand-year-old vampire have? The memorable Duke over there was a bastard. And he's a couple hundred years younger than Peter. Yeah, he was. Man, it's nice to apply that word to Duke. I was, and I sailed. Ashes world. With holy rest.

  And Peter may not be any better. On the other hand, whoever broke the curse can bring it back. But it's better to tell Mieczysław. Let the vampire use even the caress, even the fear... even the charm!

  - I'm not sure about anything. Guys, take my phone and dial Mieczyslaw. Otherwise, our prince will have had enough of his worries.

  Gleb obediently began digging the phone out from under the seat.

  - Julia, vampires don't strike," Konstantin enlightened me.

  - It's just your vampires living in the greenhouse," I enlightened. - And once they contact me, the result is clear. Duchka is dead...

  - Not from hitting.

  - From a blow, just a magic one. Gleb, hold the phone to my ear, okay? My hands hurt like hell.

  The werewolf obediently hung up on my ear. And from there, he barked:

  - Yes?!

  Well, let's take credit for that. He learned to yawn, look, we'll talk for ten years - and the vampire will speak human. You can't even talk to him now. He's still pulling on bad things. It's from a magazine for boys.

  I gave the pipe to a werewolf and begged for an eyelash pat.

  - Guys, don't we have a drink?

  * * *

  Mecislav was flying around the city like a madman. The drivers squeezed everything out of the cars that was possible and impossible, keeping the speed under two hundred kilometers per hour. And I don't care that you can't drive like that! Three times I don't care about any danger! All the more reason to drive vampires with ten times the human reaction.

  And the only thing that knocked on my head was Julia, Julia, Julia... His surname, his woman, his other half.

  And he also thought that he could guarantee her peace and safety.

  Idiot!

  Mecislav waited every second for a piercing, tearful pain inside. If she was killed...

  He'll survive. But he won't hold out. And he'll have to start over.

  How could he send her with only two bodyguards?!

  He knew the embassy was interrupted. And he thought that Julia would be the next target.

  He didn't think so.

  Idiot.

  The vampire looked at his watch.

  Twenty-one minutes had passed since her call. In that time, he managed to gather eight vampires, arm them all, get in the cars - and drive to the other side of town.

  Not on central roads.

  Traffic is not the only problem in Moscow.

  On the outskirts and detours. Five minutes lost on them could be compensated for by speed. But there are almost never any traffic jams on such roads.

  Twenty-two minutes.

  As long as she's alive. That's how he feels - as a master.

  Phone call.

  Mecislav couldn't get to the button right away. Julin's number was on the phone.

  - Yes?

  - The alarm went off. We fought back.

  That's the best four words a vampire has ever heard in his life.

  - Where are you now?

  - Still there. On Lobachevsky. This car's no good for scrapping. Can you get us out of here?

  - I'll be there in five minutes. You're not hurt?

  - You can't wait.

  Julia hung up.

  The vampire shaken his head and smiled wide.

  - It's okay.

  - Chief, what if it's a trap? - One of the vampires was missing.

  Mechislav shook his head.

  - It's not a trap. She's really okay. If it was a trap, Julia would have made me understand. But don't slow down. I want to get there as fast as possible.

  * * *

  Vampires and werewolves came almost simultaneously. First, the Mercedes tires of Mieczyslaw's. The vampires jumped out and rushed to us. Well, we were a heartbreaking picture.

  On the side of the road was a shattered car. After the bombardment and the meeting with the pole - it is unlikely that they will even reach the dump. I was lying in the back seat with my legs on the door. Gleb gave me his knees instead of a pillow. Not that I felt very bad. In about three hours, and if they feed me, everything will be just fine. But so far - mutilo, dizzy and did not want to move anywhere. Constantine dragged Peter's body out of the house. The vampire was alive, but now all his forces went to get rid of the remains of the curse. I didn't know how long it would take him to get rid of it. A day? Two? A week?

  We'll have to talk to Mecislav about his food.

  I wonder if a vampire can be fed intravenously. And with what? If a vampire was blood type one when he was alive, can he get a third? And the rhesus factor, too...

  What am I thinking about?!

  Mechislav jumped out of the car and somehow strangely came right next to me. He definitely used vampire charms - you can't call it any other way. I didn't see him move, didn't even feel I was pulled out of the car, and I woke up in his arms. The vampire had me pinned down like a baby. And all I had to do was hold him with two hands around his neck. Now if he drops it, at least I won't slam my ass to the ground. From all the way up. My hands were hurting more and more, by the way. And that pain has somehow muffled an acute attack of sexual desire from the touch of a vampire. I guess that's how Machislav will always act on me. As soon as he gets close to me, he dizzles, all clever thoughts fly away, and at the bottom of his stomach begins to stretch like a hoop. And I don't want to think about anything. Just close your eyes and accept what your master is preparing for you and command...

  Yulka! Again!

  - What the hell is this! - I resent it. - I almost got killed, I have to go to the hospital, and in general, Mecislav, you can not seduce a sick man.

  The vampire hasn't paid any attention to my grumbling. He just pressed me even harder, so I almost choked to death.

  - Julia, I almost went crazy with anxiety! I changed my mind as we drove here... I was so afraid of losing you!

  You bet! So much effort, and everything's falling apart? Are you looking for a new surname now? You'll be scared here! If you're still alive.

  - So will I. I wanted to live. And don't make me sick, I'm sick as it is.

  - I was so afraid of being late...

  - I, too, was afraid you'd be late," I confessed. - We're very lucky that Peter...

  - Peter?

  - This is one of the vampires who ambushed us," I explained. - I suppose you know him as Rodion. Or Raoul. He's a servant of one of the Council members, a certain Alfonso da Silva.

  - Alfonso da Silva? - Vadim took a swing at me, whitening like a canvas.

  - Hey, calm down! Alfonso himself is not here, only his subordinate is here!

  - Vadim! - Mechislav shouted. - Get a grip on yourself!

  - Stirlitz got a grip on himself. His hands were dirty, I giggled like a fool. - Vadik, don't worry. If this Alfonso comes here in person, I'll make him Alfonso. Sync by honeybunny

  [12]

  .

  The vampire shaken up and winked at me. Confidence, like a caterpillar on a branch, crawled on his face again.

  - Yulka, I'm counting on you.

  - Go ahead, - I agreed. - Just examine the house first. I didn
't send the guys. They've had enough. Imagine, I carried them to the church...

  Vampires rushed into the house ambushed by unheard shadows. Several jeeps broke into the street. The werewolves sprinkled pea out of them. It got noisy and funny. Valentine flew up to us. But he didn't dare to hug: Mechislav held me in his arms, so he would have to hug a vampire first. And that's fraught with danger.

  - Julka, are you all right?

  - Partly. My hands hurt.

  - What happened to your hands?

  A werewolf cleverly scratched my elbow.

  - Mecislav! Look at that!

  I saw it too. And I wished I could faint. My hands were swollen almost twice and red - in the tone of a fire engine. And of them - either from under the nails or just from the pores of the skin - slowly dripping blood. Boo-hoo!

  - What's that?! - Swordsman made me feel more comfortable and looked me in the eyes. - Julia?

  - I don't know. I guess the curse resisted," I sobered. I didn't want to do anything at all. Not to report, not to tell, not to fight, not to argue...

  The vampire took a sigh of grief and put my head on his shoulder. I didn't mind. I was too tired. I wanted to close my eyes and dissolve into a cloud of honey flavor. I wanted to soak through it and drink it like thick wine. I wanted to purr and rub my face against a vampire's shirt. Or he could pet my hair, kiss me, say something nice, how he was worried about me, how bad he'd be without me...

  Hurry up, the pigs will fly!

  What's wrong with me again?!

  I shaken up when I came to my senses. Weakness makes my head go crazy. A little more, and it'll be much worse. I'm going to want from Mieczysław human participation, spiritual intimacy, understanding and care - something a vampire just can't do.

  He's beautiful, but he can only offer me sex. And I want warmth. Kindness. Love, finally! For me to be loved and for me to love. Just like I did with Danielle.

  Now I know it clearly.

  Oh, Danielle... How could you even die?! Unconscionable! The thought of the vampire you loved helped shake things up. I twitched my head as soon as I hit Mieczysław in the jaw and started to report.

  - I went to the IPF. We had a little fight. And when we drove back, I was shot at. Us. The car crashed into a pole. They tried to lure us out of it. The guys said it was a call. And they're being called by a calling fox. It would have taken us five minutes. I tried to do something about it. I fell into a trance, I saw a vampire, and I found out he was cursed. That's why he only called for foxes.

  - Wait a minute. How did you fall into a trance?

  - I don't know. Well, somehow.

  - And the curse? I know all the damn vampires. And Rodion's not one of them. He's not cursed.

  - Hello! Yes, he is! What am I, blind? What did I take off of him then, if it's not a curse?!

  - And what was it about?

  - P... I mean, Rodion," I decided not to tell anyone the vampire's real name, "if he wants to, he'll share it with me," and I could make an agreement with any animal in my life. I suppose that his gift is not to summon animals, though he can do it. His gift is to speak and understand. To have an impact. To sympathize. To empathize. To control, but for the good of the living. He can do it. To heal, to care, to love...

  - Dangerous talent," said Mechislav. - Does he know that you lifted the curse from him?

  - Yes, he does.

  I just saw the wheels spinning in a vampire's head. Behind a perfectly smooth forehead and serene green eyes guessed the hard work of thought. Benefits, harm, alliances, threats, attraction to your side...

  - I made a deal with him. He's gonna get ronin status, and then he's gonna come back here and help me deal with werewolves. As for my... prank.

  - Did he promise you that for breaking the curse?

  - Yes, he did.

  - I always knew you were a real treasure. I didn't buy into complimenting a vampire. So he headed for the side of the road. That's where the bodies were taken out of the house.

  Yeah, that's what the bodies were. Six grand. Two vampires, four werewolves. All of them with varying degrees of sophistication. One vampire just doesn't know it. Okay, a torso with no head or hands. Head and hands are right there. It's a good thing I threw up after the IPF, or I'd be...

  I wonder if nausea was considered a sign of attention from a beautiful lady. In those times when knights sang under balconies and scarves, scarves and socks were dropped on their heads? Or at least nightspots?

  Actually, anything's possible.

  It's just me, distracting myself from reality. At the same time, I turned away, closed my eyes and hid my head on Medislav's chest. It's better to think about sex than corpses. And the smell of honey and flowers was much nicer than blood and, sorry, intestinal contents. Yeah, that's right, blood and shit, smelling like bodies torn to shreds. And I didn't want to see or smell it. I'm nauseous.

  All I could hear were short vampire comments:

  - This one, separately in a plastic bag. We'll set the identity later. Let's move it. We don't have much time. A dead werewolf is also separate. Living vampire and the rest of the werewolves to the cars. We're going to the hospital. Vadim, get behind the wheel now. Boris, stay here, clean this place up. Valentin, get him four werewolves to help, and you follow us. Julia, get off my shoulder. We've already moved away from the corpses. How are you feeling?

  - I'm okay. Thank you. It sucks. What else?

  - Nothing. Let's go see your hands.

  - Where am I gonna go?

  I grumbled more out of habit. I should've seen your hands. I should've treated them. And I should have called my grandfather. And deal with the attackers somehow. That's what I was talking about in the car.

  Me and Mecislav took the backseat. And the vampire didn't even think to let me go, so he held me in his arms. In the front seat there was some unknown to me bloodsucker, dark-haired and strong as a mushroom pork. His clear gray eyes followed us into the rearview mirror.

  Vadim was driving.

  - Julia, what did Raoul tell you?

  Mechislav couldn't keep quiet for long. That's right. We need to think about who, what and how. If we don't want to wait for the second visit. I might not get lucky again.

  - Raul," it was strange to call Peter that, but I didn't even stutter, "was just a performer. And I knew almost nothing myself. The main one was a vampire named Diego. That's all I know about him. I don't know who he was, I don't work for anyone.

  - Sasha, we'll be right there, and you're gonna go find out about vampire Diego. You'll go through his pockets if he has any ID...

  - I'm sure there is," Vadim put it in. - He didn't come here on the wings of love, did he?

  - And who knows you fangers," I mumbled. - You're flying, aren't you...

  - Not all of them. And werewolves can't even fly. If you don't find the documents, you'll take your head, wash it, take a picture and look for it. Is that clear?

  - Yes, guv.

  It was clear to me, too. I had a clear idea of the process of washing and photographing a dead head, and I was spastically twisted. My stomach wasn't spinning well. Oh, I've been throwing up a lot lately. Vadim swerved to the side of the road, I took a bullet out and bent over some bush.

  And it seemed like everything came out of me after the church...

  Okay. Let's assume the bush got free fertilizer.

  Mecislav supported me by his shoulders and wiped his face with a wet cloth.

  - You feel better, kiddo?

  I looked at a vampire for evil. I'd rather vomit in front of the whole State Duma than in front of him. More than anything in the world, I didn't want a vampire to see me weak and addicted. Especially not from him.

  - You yourself... baby!

  Mechislav wasn't offended. He just picked me up and carried me back to the car.

  - My hands were hurt, not my legs, - I tried to shake my rights.

  - Legs? We have to check.

  Mieczysław's palm crawled on my thigh. I spiked with a vi
per:

  - Bite, shh, shh!

  - This will be the first time a vampire has been bitten by a human, - Vadim could not resist.

  - The second one. I have good combat experience, so do not provoke! - I growled.

  - I obey and obey, about my master's surname," continued Vadim shouting.

  I stuttered and went back to the old subject.

  - Raoul told me that he had simply been ordered to ride with Diego and help with everything.

  - I see. What else did he say?

  - Nothing.

  I kept quiet about the curse and Peter's life story. If he has to, he'll tell you. And I won't talk. It's disgusting.

  - Well, I'll question him myself.

  - Yes, you will. When he comes to his senses.

  - And when will that be?

  Mechislav's darkened. You bet he did. We don't go the easy way, we get into them.

  - The thing is, it took us a lot of time to break the curse.

  strengths

  . Both me and him. And then he gave me a lot more so that I could get in shape and act. If I was hibernating right now or if I fainted at all, you would have ripped his head off. And then it was sorted out.

  - Yulia, no! We're civilized vampires! Tearing his head off is not our method," Vadim continued. - Well, there, kick teeth, take out nails, cut belts out of the skin...

  I remembered Daniel in that state, and I got caught up in it.

  - Vadik, if I throw up on your boss again now...

  - Why, was it the first time already?

  - Then Vadim will wash my shirts. It's a month. By hand," said Mecislav. - And to you, too. And at the same time panties and socks.

  I wonder, do vampires sweat their legs?

  - I understood, I was scared, I shut up.

  - That's right.

  - In short, you don't have to wait for Raul from a coma for the next three days," I summed it up. - As long as he gets the rest of the curse - now, having got rid of the main one, his body will sharply begin to struggle with oshmettes - while he regains his strength... By the way, he will be awfully hungry when he wakes up.

  - We'll feed him," said Mechislav. - It was he who set the werewolves on his partner, wasn't it?

  - With my humble serve. I wanted him just to be captured and held, but Raoul gave the order to kill.