Rudick had a completely crazy look.
- Uh..." he squeezed.
- You stopped at the purpose of your visit," Mechislav helped.
- Yeah, Rudick squeezed something out. - I'd like to take Prince Tula's place.
And then I woke up. I realized he looked like a petitioner now, so I tried to play back the point.
- Why don't we send your name out for a walk and discuss the situation ourselves?
- Rudik!!! - I made an outrageous promise. - You're a housekeeper, too!? What the hell is this? Before you meet a cute vampire, he's a hardened shovkinist! Oh! Or a seamstress!? Sweetie, what's the right thing to do?!
- Shut up," Mechislav asked me.
I puffed up and rustled with candy.
- I'm not building any houses! - Rudick is outraged. - Julia, don't you understand that there's purely manly talk!?
- WHAT!? - I'm sorry. - So you're telling me you're gonna go bang!? How dare you!? You're coming! You're insulting me! You've got to be kidding me! You're also ruining Slavik for me!? Shame on you! Rudik! You seemed to be such a decent man! I thought you were kind and smart! And you! To make Slavik such an offer!!! Horrible!!!
Further retelling would be too long. I got it. Ahala. I was breaking up my hands. I was suffering. Screaming that I wouldn't tolerate cheating on my own vampire. She accused Rudolph of indulging Mečislava. Why!? Men's talk!? They're vampires! They don't drink vodka! They don't go fishing (probably that's why)! Well, then, it's about women! And if they're talking, they can go left too! And if they can, they will go! Which means I, as a woman, have to stop! In the cruelest way!
- ...I'm gonna complain to you, Alfonso!!! - I'm done. - He'll show you how to hurt that poor girl! You mean me! If he comes, he'll show you right away. He'll get it and he'll show you!
Mechislav sent Rudolph an eloquent look - and yet he dragged me out of the hall. So he tried to do it twice already. But the first time I threw a decanter with pineapple juice at him. It went to both vampires. And the second time, I threw a vial of candy.
What a debauch in a restaurant - and without that!? How can you do that?
In his office, Mechislav clapped on the sofa, forgetting about the grace of movements - and laughed.
- Yulia, you were great.
- I tried," I stumbled, "without being a barbie maniac anymore.
- Oh, yeah. Rudick! Sweetie! Fresh birch juice!
I snorted.
- Why is it bad? He won't come anywhere near me now.
- Well, that's fine. You'll be by my side for a few days as a cover.
- WHAT!?
That's when I realized how I was set up by that fang monster. Yeah, you bet. He can run from Rudick himself, but if I'm around, you don't have to run.
- Am I supposed to be playing around for two days?
- It's better four. Until Alfonso arrives. And after he arrives, too.
- Ugh.
That's all I could say. I was angry.
But it didn't work either. Why not?
Whatever.
This is my town. It's my home. And my family lives in this town. My friends. Werewolves I made friends with who depend heavily on vampires. And there are some nice individuals among vampires. The sword can be called anything you want. Bastard. You bastard. A rare bastard. But!
With all this, he's not angry at all. And he doesn't hurt people just for the process. Mecislav is a walking embodiment of the principle of lesser evil. Because any other Prince in his place will be much worse.
And if I need to make an idiot out of myself for the status quo, I'll do it. I just need to negotiate the terms.
- Okay.
Mecislav smiled like a fed cat. He didn't doubt my consent.
- But I have conditions.
- Yes?
- I won't be here all night. This is a one-time thing.
- I wasn't counting on it. What's the second one?
- Stay out of my real life. Okay?
The vampire's eyebrows have crawled up. And it looked so touching, I wanted to invite them with my fingertip.
- The real one? What's that?
- It's where the family, friends, the institute and so on.
- Then what place do we occupy in your life?
I'd really like to proudly cut off "no". But that's not an appropriate lie at all. That's why...
- Personally, you're the fifteenth. Just after shrimp olives and condensed nuts.
The vampire just smiled.
- Should I ask you to bring it?
- I'll be right back.
- Well, then what do you want? Just say the word. - A vampire was sipping on the couch like a big predatory cat.
- Those two conditions you accepted?
- Yeah. You're not gonna be around me all night, and I'm not gonna pry into some areas of your life. Is that it?
- Practically. Back when I'm around you, you don't let go of your hands. Okay? No snuggling, no kissing - in one word Ni-Che-Go!!!
- Shall we have a trade? - A vampire squint. I waved my head.
- No bargaining. I'm there for you, but nothing more serious than a kiss on the cheek, you don't provoke me. I need a clear head, and with you it's already incredibly difficult.
Mecislav sprayed in a wide smile.
- Is that how I act on you, Curly?
- You act like that on everyone! - I snapped at you. - If you're put in a cat, they'll all get racing. Or do cats have March syndrome? One hell of a thing! Anyway, if you want me to blow this Rudick off, you keep your hands to yourself. Okay?
- Absolutely. As long as he's here, I'm just a paragon of shame, chastity and modesty.
- I snapped at you," I said.
The vampire showed sharp fangs in his smile.
- More terms, my lovely?
- Don't call me that, I feel like a ring of power.
- You have a lot in common.
- I mean, biting us is gonna break our teeth?
- In the sense of habituation. I can't imagine life without you anymore...
- And so do I. I can only dream about her," I gave in. - Is it a deal? No harassing. And two. Let someone else make arrangements with your balleruns.
- Is it hard for you?
- I'm lazy and reluctant. And I need to rest sometime.
- Okay, the vampire sighed. - Let's get together in between. You're not gonna meet and negotiate. I'll send Leonid. And you'll be introduced to him as my friend. Is that okay?
- Why would you even want to do that?
The vampire rolled his eyes.
- If you read the file, you'll understand.
- And where is it?
- Leonidas will.
- That's it? Can I go now?
- Fluffy, how unromantic you are...
- But smart, reliable and practical. What else do you want?
- Nothing," laughed the vampire. - Shall I walk you out?
- I'll find my own way.
- Okay. Then I'll call the same Leonidas, have him take you back.
- It's a deal.
Lazy showed up fifteen minutes later. He handed me two CDs and gave me a big smile.
- Enjoy your viewing.
I answered him with the look of a hungry hyena.
Mecislav walked us to the car and honored me with a low bow. I replied with a curtsy parody - and we finally left. We went home. Here it is - happiness.
* * *
He looked up at the dark sky and smiled. There was a weak breeze walking around the room, but he didn't want to close the window. It was warm. It was as if it was the middle of summer, not the end. It was almost. Two days of summer, and autumn. Fruitful autumn? It's possible. Alfonso da Silva should be here soon. But can it be used for its own good?
In the summer, it seemed that the desired target was close. A little more... if only to kidnap Julia - and Mechislav would lose part of his power. And Ramirez could have reached him. And everything would have worked out perfectly. Of course, Ivan Tulsky and Ramirez would have had to b
e removed, and then everything would have fallen on Mieczyslaw. Quite. Everything would have been possible. The spy had a team of fighters ready to do it all. But - alas. Those idiots couldn't even kidnap one snotty girl. They didn't take her seriously and gave her time to strike back. And Julia ambushed her to the ground.
The vampire wriggled, catching himself on illogicality. He hadn't been so careless before. It is he who is badly affected by the lack of discipline and order reigning in Mečislav's team. The disgusting panic and promiscuity of werewolves, the nightmarish behaviour of the Prince's surname, and the rare all-forgiveness of Mečislav himself. No, it's just disgusting! That's where he used to live, everything was quite different. The Prince of the City was literally a king and god on his territory. And ruled with the iron hand of fear. None of the vampires dared even look up to him. The surname understood his lord from half a glance and rushed to follow orders. And the werewolves were horrified to even speak the name of their lord. And to discuss him behind his eyes and say that the Prince has a "cool ass..."? If someone dared to say that, the death of the lousy men would be slow and painful enough. And here! Mieczysław even has torture dust! Interrogations?! The last one was a month ago. It's not on the torture table, where even the most persistent people tell the truth, but in the office. In front of that insolent little brat! So she can read the auras!
And that's instead of a competent third degree interrogation!
Horrible!
If he was the Prince of the city, he wouldn't let that happen. And even the old master would have been jealous of the order he had established. But alas.
He's five hundred years old and still not a ronin.
And it burns worse than calendar iron.
And at the same time, now he has a way out.
Yulia Yevgenyevna Leoverenskaya.
He had ambivalent feelings for this girl, angry at himself - and couldn't help it. A cold, honed mind refused to judge the girl in the usual parameters. She was too paradoxical and unpredictable. On the one hand - cold calculation, on the other - shaken. Throwing a fight for the sake of family and friends - and at the same time cold-bloodedly enumerate their shortcomings. To do everything possible for the sake of his brother, who has not seen almost ten years - and immediately give it to the werewolves in cold blood. And her crazy love for this useless artist? What a foolishness! It's not a vampire, it's a misunderstanding!
And at the same time, he knew many women who fell into the hands of Mieczysław as ripe fruit. And this one was not. But why not?
The vampire remembers a recent overheard conversation between two werewolves. Nadia and Lisa, I think? I think so! Also, where do you see the fox and the tiger being friends?! Yes, different clans of werewolves should be tormented and weakened! And there's no way to unite them under one hand! They're just gonna snap out of it and hit each other's throats. And these people were walking and talking like two friends.
- Mecislav is just a sweetheart. But I didn't sleep with him. He took blood, but there was no sex at all. He said that Julka would be offended.
- Leoverenskaya? It's a pity he's got a crush on his curl, and the stone guest breaks down, not gives...
- Hey, you don't kick a barrel on my friend! I'll rip my tail out!
- That's who's gonna give a shag, shaggy collar!
- How about you?! The rug by the fireplace!
- Flea bedding!
- Lice paddock!
The werewolves laughed amicably, to the surprise of the vampire who was waiting for the screams of a fight and was about to break up the scum and punish. But where is it... instead, the werewolf fox seriously said it:
- Don't touch Yulka. She almost went to her grave because of Mieczysław. What love is there!
- When's that? When Duke died?
- Yeah. Mecislav promised her and swore he'd protect Daniel, you know that?
- I knew it. Artist. But not from this world.
- Here you go. He painted me, too. He had a talent from God. He and Yulka had a crush on each other, I saw.
- Did you know him?
- He painted me, too. And her... Mechislav said that he only used her, and I think not. At first, maybe. And then the second time I saw them, he'd give his life for her.
- He did.
- Mecislav promised him protection, he didn't. And Yulka just didn't want to live. If it wasn't for her family, she'd have put herself in a coffin.
- Doesn't look like her.
- She'll bite on life. And at night, she'll be crying into her pillow. And gnaw at herself for not saving Daniel.
- How does she imagine that?
- I don't know. But only time will cure her. I suggest we go get a cup of coffee. Mecislav is a real mecislav, not a powder from a jar or these, God forbid, quick-soluble purely chemical pellets...
- Let's go...
The voices are hushed. The vampire listened for a few more minutes, but heard nothing else. I have to say, the conversation helped him. He still didn't understand Julia, but now he took her friends' version as a basis and built his analysis of the situation on her. And - it all more or less came together. At least some of the things he did.
And if you can count a man, you can control him.
It's a long way to go. But he will work hard. And the moment is not far when Julia will become his surname, and he, having increased his power to the necessary size, will be the master of his destiny - and the prince of the city. And what the hell is not joking - and a member of the Vampire Council?
Anything can happen!
The vampire dreamed of looking up at the starry sky. And brilliant pictures of the future floated before his mind.
For power and wealth, he'll do anything.
Chapter 2.
Don't trust a bear that walks on two legs. And in general, don't trust a bear that walks on two legs.
August 31
- Did the chief sign you for the opening after all?
- Why should I be surprised. He can't do it himself in the daytime, and it's a nice thing to have me fucked.
- And who else? You're his right hand and his left foot...
I involuntarily smiled. Yeah, you did. Otoslav Borisa, Mechislav began to shake communication with those, and with those - on me. Well, yes, who else...
- Honey, would you know how reluctant...
- I know. Between you and me, our governor's gonna make one stupid thing up and we're gonna blow off...
I nodded sadly, and we were silent thinking about the sad life of ordinary werewolves and surnames. The car was racing through the night.
There's a little distraction to the history of the city. Our town's been here for four hundred years. And all this time he's had very bad luck with the governors, or just bad luck with them. In the history and local history (yes, and there is such a thing...) we were told about six demoted governors and four hanged. And communism hasn't changed anything in that respect. The only exception was Stalin times. But then there was no stealing at all. Joseph Vissarionovich had a very pragmatic view on thieves. Blatant romance? Ha! In Stalin's times, the group "Forestry" would have gone straight to measure creativity against reality. So to say, "to learn everything from personal experience". And thieves... If you don't want to work honestly, you'll work where there's nothing to steal. You can't compete with pine logs. And if you do, will it do you much good? In the taiga and in the zone?
It was the only period when our city was thriving. Then, during Khrushchev's time, another thief was planted here, and he started to grow corn everywhere, killing a lot of pastures. Corn has not grown, but the city's economy has seriously shaken. And it's still staggering. Come on, it's a long story of many thieves.
The current governor is determined to continue the centuries-old tradition. Under him, all the factories stood up, the laboratories bent and agriculture sank slowly and sadly. But the "owner of the region" himself has successfully built up the palace for himself and his children and bought real estate abroad.
His grandfa
ther swears at him with the last words and says, "if this grabber doesn't get off, there's no way to do it, it'll slow down, Kazzel..." Mecislav...
Vampires have their own ways of doing business. One kind and gentle smile and a man does whatever he is asked. You want to live more than money. By the way, recently my grandfather stopped spitting poison at the governor, and I strongly suspect that a vampire is involved. Mechislav often crosses paths with his grandfather on business (after his grandfather crushed Snegirev's business) and sits by the fireplace as a pure friend.
But I'm the one who gets distracted again.
To all his other undeniable merits, our governor loves the holidays. Discovering that. The discoveries of this. Shining Hollywood crowns, cutting ribbons, giving candy to a child is always a pro. That's why we see him at every construction site. And this time, our thief is planning to build an underground passage.
We are a frank province. Let's just say it's not Moscow. And we're not expecting the subway in the next five hundred years. For fuck's sake we have an underground passage, and even near the city park, and even there, where people's road once in six months pass on very large holidays - the hell knows it. All normal people have been building above ground for a long time. It's high. It's convenient. Homeless people aren't going to be in them. Gypsies don't beg. Is it gonna break? That's how an underground passage can collapse. The wind? Snow? Hurricane?
Well, I'm sorry, it's not there. Tornadoes don't happen here, and everything else can be counted.
And it's much cheaper than an underground passage. But then you can steal a lot less. It's a fact.
Who would love that?
So we're going to build an underground passage. We have blocked the street, counted traffic jams and accidents on the roads and decided to hold the grand opening of the construction. Songs, dances, the first cube of land turned out by a new excavator...
This excavator is like another spacecraft. It's on the list. How much it costs, so to speak, in real life, the mystery of this is only known to the governor. There you go.
At the opening of this construction and was to sing Dosya Shiny. And at the same time Lavrik Zvezdno-Progulsky, Misha Pila and Linda Shalmari. But Mieczysław decided to get only one star in "Wolf Fight". Namely, this Dosu. Lavrika vampire was going to get in "Three Sixes", and the rest ... Linda and Dosya to bring together was not recommended. Everything around here could have been badly hurt. The girls were such antagonists. The blonde and brunette are about the same parameters and repertoire. But gentlemen prefer blondes. Few people know that then this author wrote another book with a lyrical title: "And gentlemen marry brunettes after all." And Misha Saw ... Firstly, his voice corresponded to the pseudonym and resembled an unblurred circular saw, and secondly, in the "Three Sixes" songs about logging and suffering of convicts simply would not sound. The wrong symbols, the wrong visitors.
Ring of Madness Page 134