Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  Will I?

  Shzazzz!

  Glee club!!!

  I took another close look at the hall. Not a single seat available. That's not your pop. Bears don't make mistakes.

  Well, that's fine. Let's try to sit in a chair, but differently. Not like school, but on horseback. It'll be more casual.

  I took a decisive step towards the chair. The soft carpet caressed my legs. It's a shame to walk around in shoes...

  I threw my shoes down, tried the carpet nap and smiled.

  - Kostik, take the stool to the wall. If you'll excuse me, I'll be right there, because after your chair I'll have a soft spot flat.

  And I brazenly sat down in Turkish on the carpet right in front of the bear table.

  Now we are in an equally uncomfortable position. The main bear just couldn't see me across the table. I didn't see her either, but I didn't give a damn what's so uncomfortable about it. The other bears could see the back of my head. The bone pulled the chairs back, pushed Slava a little, so that he wouldn't slow down - and froze at the door, like a guard of honor at the Mausoleum. Slava followed his example. And that's right. There will be no help from them anyway, but psychologically everything is right.

  - I suppose you already know me - I turned to the leg of the table, not particularly raising my voice. - I've heard of you, too. Are you Maria Ivanovna?

  The bear went round the table and stood right in front of me.

  - Yes. Tell me, do you always act so casual?

  - I usually behave much worse," I admitted. - And it's justified. Why don't we go somewhere a little more comfortable and start our meeting again?

  The bear shook his head.

  - I suggest we just balance the odds.

  And she fell next to me on the carpet. I sighed enviously. It's beautiful. Tall, handsome, a little smaller than the girl who walked us here. A luxurious dark braid falls over her shoulder and pours its tip on the floor. Bright blue eyes shine. If they weren't so tired and thoughtful, she'd have gone for my age. And don't tell me about the plastic. I know you can mow up to ninety in a girl these days. Only this isn't the case. I swear to you, no scalpel has ever touched her before. And she won't. But moves like a young girl, but pink young skin with a healthy blush and no wrinkles...

  And she's definitely in her 40s. And deep in her 40s. That's how I feel... Peter taught me the basics of how to feel an animal. Not to speak, not to understand, but simply to feel. He's in pain, and I'm in pain. He's sad - and I'm sad... And I knew that her beast was at least thirty years old. We don't usually have ten-year-old children. Well, count it.

  - You're beautiful," I said. - I envy you. I'll never be like this...

  - Why is that? We can initiate you, lovely, but I think the bear said it with a threat. I wasn't scared.

  - Yes, you can. But you can't do it.

  - Why is that?

  - Because Mecislav will skin you.

  - Covering up as a vampire?

  - Threatening with your claws?

  We looked over and snorted. One, one, one. I sighed.

  - You have more strength and experience. Sooner or later, anyway... I'll be wrong, but we have to live in this town. Why do you have to catch me and push me? You can just try to talk like two adults.

  - A man?

  - You're a werewolf. I'm a family man. But we used to be human. And we were basically human.

  - Is that what the woman who writes the IPF magazine tells me?

  I rolled my eyes.

  - Am I supposed to say something like, "Is that what the woman who's saying to me? "Honestly, I won't say it. I was lazy to read your biographies. Mecislav gave them to me just yesterday. And yesterday he reported on today's summit. But I have everything with me. Do you want - let's read it together and figure out who is better informed?

  The bear suffocated with such impudence. I looked at her with calm eyes. And what was strong, she produced the same thing: "I am not the enemy. I want to talk to you." It didn't work out so well. I should have another week with Peter to study. Well, no, I'm not... I'm gone.

  For a few minutes there was silence in the room. And then there was a hoarse laugh from one of the sofas.

  - And I like her.

  - Not like sausage on the counter, I hope? - I didn't turn around to specify.

  - You have to feed the enemy sausage like that.

  - You don't have to. I want to live, I just want to live! - The last sentence I sang was like in "20 years later". And the bears caught the analogy. I heard another laugh. One after the other, they were leaving the sofas and also on the carpet. I turned my head. It was uncomfortable to be surrounded by these Valkyries. But they were good. Especially one - tall, slender, with blue eyes and a thick oblique wheat color. If Hitler had seen it, he would have thought of conquering Russia forever. And would start to actively glue this living dream of a true Aryan.

  The bone gave me a questioning look, but I shook my head. There was no interference. As long as I'm coping... maybe. Or maybe not.

  - She's not lying to us," said the blonde. - But she doesn't tell us the whole truth.

  - And you, too, I spilled my hair. - Typical eye for eye situation. What do you want from me? Can you tell me straight?

  - Children," the blonde answered briefly.

  I rolled my eyes.

  - Finally. I'm sorry, I don't know your name...

  - Dasha.

  - Okay, great. Dasha, tell me, did you somehow find out about my abilities and decide to take advantage of them?

  - Not quite so," the older bear sighed. - You see, Curly...

  - Better Julia.

  - Okay. Julia, we can't have children. No, we don't. We're resigning ourselves. But if there is an opportunity, we must take it. It's easier for men. Although they do take risks.

  - With what? - I was genuinely surprised. - It's not like they're giving birth...

  The bears have looked over.

  - Do you even know a lot about werewolves?

  - Actually, what they say about themselves. Is that a lot?

  - Well, we try not to give extra weapons to vampires. But it's not even a secret. Do you know what ghouls are? Wolfhounds?

  - Wolves who can't control their transformation? Damned?

  - They are not cursed at all," Maria swung away. - They're just children born of a werewolf father.

  My jaw's sagged.

  - I mean...

  - Yeah, well, a baby can either spill over as a baby, and then it can be destroyed immediately. Before it can do any real damage. Or only when it's of legal age. And that's when the problems begin. Volkodlak - although the father can be at least a werewolf lizard, it's just a name, and the child may not have anything to do with wolves, wants only to kill. And it kills. Until he's stopped.

  - Well?

  - We want to make sure that the babies that Nastia has will not be such wolfhounds. And if they're normal werewolves, we'll make an alliance with you.

  - With us, I "corrected" it. The bear did not pay any attention to it.

  - You're our children. We are your protection and help.

  I slammed my eyelashes. In fact, that's what I needed. Practically? Where's the filth buried!? Yeah, I think I figured it out.

  - Me - or me and Mieczysław? You will consider that I am his surname. As far as he is concerned, so am I. His interests are my interests. His business is my business.

  - You don't like to agree with that, do you? - Maria squinted.

  Shit! I'll delete them if I find out who's feeding them information!

  - It had nothing to do with my love," I cut it off. - For me personally, your help and protection are pleasant, but I can do without it. Yes? Whether you will support Mieczysław - or not - is much more interesting. And more important.

  - We don't want to get into vampire squabbles," Maria cut it off. - They'll never calm down. We just want to live. And we want to enjoy life.

  - But it's better to be happy with her and the children in her arms," I re
marked ingratiatingly. - And if anything, you're not going to sit in the den anyway. She'll cover everybody.

  - Is that a threat? - in the questioning bear's head, the growl was vibrating. But I looked at her gray eyes nonchalantly.

  - No. It's a sad fact.

  - And it looks like a threat...

  - You have to be baptized if something seems," I cut it off. And I got up from the carpet.

  - Ladies, I think the negotiations are at an impasse. I'm proposing a way out. You wait until delivery. Then... do you have any way to check on the babies?

  - Yes.

  - Well, that's great. Although they'll still be normal fox werewolves. But you'll check them out. Make sure anything's possible. And we'll talk from that point of view. I'll give you healthy children. You're our support for Mieczysław. In the meantime... will you allow me to defer?

  The bears didn't say anything. I got out of the circle and went to the door. Kostya supported me, allowing me to put on my shoes in peace.

  - Goodbye. It was nice talking to you," I said softly. The door slammed.

  I was walking down the halls like a sleepwalker. And only in the car did I let myself relax.

  Gleb looked at me with sympathy and moved to the back seat.

  - Take off your jacket, I'll massage your shoulders.

  - Are you an angel? - I asked, throwing down my shoes at the same time.

  - No. I'm just a werewolf. What was it?

  - His nerves were winding," he cut off the Bostick. - They were probing. They were trying to find their weak points. Vipers.

  - Bitches," agreed Slava. - If you live like that, you'll choke on it.

  - You won't make it. You'll be strangled earlier, I didn't agree. Gleb's fingers were soaked in tense muscles - and I was spoiling. How good!

  - What else have we got this afternoon?

  - You've got a sports complex... cut off the Bostick. - And don't even mind. You need to stretch out.

  - I didn't even bring the suit...

  - There's an extra tights for you," said the werewolf. And he stomped on the gas.

  * * *

  I spent the next four hours in the gym. Training, swimming, shooting, and then a massage and a Sharko shower. I had Valentine work out with me. After the summer remodeling, Mechislav ordered me to train. Yes, I'll never make a judoist. And I won't even pass for a white belt. But why?

  I'll do fine without the official crusts. And the skills give me something useful. I spend hours practicing hits on certain points and from different distances on dummies to human height. And I know whether it's a kill or a serious maiming. If I'm very lucky, the enemy will get off for a month in the ICU. But don't tell me about humanism! If you choose between yourselves - and some drug addict or bully, I'll choose me. And I'll stay alive. Let them judge me if they catch me and prove it. I'm not gonna sit by my body and wait for cops! No, you won't! Whoever attacked you, let him defend himself! And at the same time, he can justify himself in a frying pan or before the apostles.

  Strikes are practiced first with bare hands. Then they'll teach me how to work with a knife. And with a stick. And what's the most commonly used thing in street fights? Hands. Sticks. Rocks. "Roses." What's picked from the ground goes into business. So my job is to keep it all to myself. While it was summer, I came to the sports complex every day. Now that my studies have started, I have to slow down. Or I'm gonna give up something. But Mecislav was adamant. Fighting and shooting. And it's bound to be running. Because a woman must have a three-W principle. I'm sure. Hit it. Got away. The last one, at maximum speed. That's why it's a run. And swimming added when the vampire discovered I was swimming fast, but only in one direction - bottom-up.

  After training and massage, I went home, crushed and satisfied. I have a long and pleasant evening ahead of me. No need to go to the vampire. If he calls, I'll report back by phone. And other than that, I'm on my own tonight. I'm gonna learn some tails, hang on the Internet for a while and go to bed. And don't let me have nightmares.

  * * *

  - Why did you pull me out today? Even before the first of September, you don't let me sleep, the victim of a sadistic dentist! - I went to Mieczysław. And what do you want? My nerves aren't iron! In the evening, you pamper in front of the computer and look forward to a couple of hours in the library, reading delightful reviews and no less delightful books - and here - zynnn!!!

  Your dreams are ruined by the phone call of a werewolf who claims that Mieczyslaw said to bring you - and the sooner, the better. And I just decided to unsubscribe another maniac, who said that Carlson - written off with - ATTENTION!!! Göring!

  When I read it, I almost died laughing at the computer. Carlson, who lives on the roof - and Hermann Goering, who is one of the main Nazis! What's it like? What's the argument? They share the same phrase, "I'm a man in the prime of life..." Whoever says that... And they both fly! Awesome! That's enough for the resemblance! Well, let's keep mocking children's tales. Then who's the Stranger written off? The Know-Nothing is an exact copy of Tsiolkovsky. That's how he was dragged into space. And Know-Nothing must have been Nicholas II. None of them wanted to study...

  Well, that's okay. I was just about to write the author a message that everything's being treated like I've been ripped off a book. And I had to fit in killer pink jeans with playboy bunnies and a pink T-shirt bought to piss off a vampire. It depicted Dracula Bram Stoker with painted flowers and said: "Glory to modern dentists!!! ».

  It's an alternative to gothic. I loved it, and the vampire screams every time as if I were filing his fangs: "How can you wear such a filth!? ».

  I don't explain what I'm wearing on principle only. If he'd just once said "You look amazing in that shirt," I wouldn't be wearing it.

  Valentine arrived ten minutes after the call and loaded the disgruntled me into his car. I grunted all the way.

  - What hit him in the head?

  - I don't know. He didn't report to me.

  - Why did you have to pull me out!?

  - I don't know. He didn't report to me.

  - That he wasn't lying still in his coffin?!

  - I don't know. He didn't report to me.

  - Do you know any other words?! - I got pissed off.

  - I don't know.

  - He didn't report to you?

  - Yeah.

  - And the neck?

  - You can't hit the driver. We'll fit in the pole.

  - It's okay, I'll take my chances," I twisted, aiming for the cuff. Yeah, I just took my hand off. Bastards! It's just bastards all around! Shaggy bastards! Toothed! Disgusting! Biteers! And some from the IPF, too.

  Paranoia?

  Oh, I wish! I even agree to schizophrenia. In advance. But there's a whole reality around here.

  I flew into a vampire's office like a witch on a pebble without knocking. I'm sorry. There was no one at the table. Was there a fight?

  Before I knew where to look for that scoundrel, I was surrounded by strong arms and a tender voice whispered in my ear:

  - Welcome, Fluffy...

  I rushed off what was strong in his hands. The only thought left in my head was to run away before it's too late! But the vampire wouldn't hold me back. He just held me back so I wouldn't fall.

  Mecislav was amazing. Today, the vampire decided to dress beautifully - from his point of view. I don't argue, his taste is impeccable, but here's the coincidence of his style with the current fashion...

  But he was incredibly good in those clothes. It was all right for him.

  The vampire dressed up in narrow, fully-fitting hips, legs, and anything below the waist, elks of some beige thin material. Suede? It's possible. Or just that kind of fabric. It was very tight, letting you know that there was no underwear under the moose. Not even the strings that strippers usually wear.

  The vision of a vampire dancing striptease appeared before my eyes so brightly that I shuddered and involuntarily licked.

  Instead of a shirt on a vampire, there was a kind of tun
ic that barely covered the most valuable things, and when walking the tunic waved freely, giving everyone the opportunity to appreciate the muscular hips and buttocks. A wide leather belt of the same creamy shade as the elk was pulling down the thin waist of the vampire. Short sleeves opened strong hands, on which the muscles rolled in golden waves. A deep neckline made it possible to admire the pale golden skin of the chest. The pale green color of the shirt gave his eyes a shade of young spring leaves. Black hair fell on his shoulders in a luxurious wave. His eyes were shining. His lips smiled. The smell was beating in the head and drugged...

  Oh, my God!

  I didn't get a chance to say it out loud. Mecislav bowed before me in court bowing.

  - My queen. My star...

  I looked at him like he was hypnotized. That's how a bird looks into the eyes of a snake about to eat it.

  - I... - I squeaked and choked on something. The scent of honey and exotic flowers squeezed out all my thoughts...

  Mechislav didn't waste any time. He took my hand, turned it over and kissed it, sliding his lips and tongue along his palm, tracing the drawing of the lines of fate, slightly touching the scars... Then he put my palm to my cheek and rubbed it like a cat...

  - Your fingers smell like mint, fluffy...

  His skin was just like that. Smooth and velvety. Stunningly soft and warm under my arm. And I wanted to stroke him like a cat, walk my fingers all over his body...

  Just a little more, and I just can't resist. I can't resist anything.

  There was a knock on the door and it sounded like it was ripping off a sticky web. I shrieked, and I tried to kick a vampire with my foot in a sneaker. Mieczysław stuttered, but he duck out and went to open the door. On the doorstep there was... Peter?

  Yes, that was him. He hasn't changed a bit since we broke up. I woke up even louder, and I hung around his neck.

  Peter and I met this summer. That's when dangerous and predatory guests came into town. Mieczysław was going to kill me, and I was going to be privatized. And since we resisted as hard as we could, they decided to take me prisoner. Peter was in the capture group, and with his gift we would have no chance. We wouldn't have a chance. Peter knew how to order fox werewolves. And they obeyed, even if they knew it would lead to their death. We'd be twisted in five minutes if it wasn't for my stupidity. I tried to do the same thing with the grab team as I did with the vampires holding Vadim and Boris hostage one winter. And try to put rats on them.