Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  The lord. Absolutely. And dangerous.

  Burning fires show the first manifestation of his power? Burn, different from all, fought off a flock of rams. Burn! And that look on his face... Let such a creature come to power, and it will bleed all it can reach. Just like Hitler. Or, if you take the churchmen, Torquemada.

  It's better not to mess with him. Live the hunt.

  * * *

  Finally! I got enough pussy! My bearer heard me today.

  People, these ridiculous, insignificant assemblies, used to be incredibly stupid, but now their stupidity crosses all mental limits! They can't practically hear me! None of them can reach the right level of comprehension.

  So much has been lost over the years...

  But today, today I was finally heard!

  That's funny. In doing so, man turned to his God. But I answered him. How these fools wouldn't know what to say is ridiculous and funny. Their God has never answered prayers. Those who hear them do. Those who are near. Like me.

  I heard it today. They heard me too. If you piss a little, I'll piss myself off!

  * * *

  Mecislav never met us. We were met by Vadim and Dosin Producer. "Niva" entered the club territory, braked at the back entrance, I jumped out - and got into the arms of a vampire.

  On the other hand, a taxi entered the club, from which Dosya Shiny crawled.

  I wonder where she was going. Isn't this the first time she's been in our town?

  - Fluffy, you're irresistible as always!

  - Wade, stop it, I wince.

  - And that instead of blushing! Get it on! And a gentle, slightly stuttering voice: "Vadik, I am so flattered..."

  - You can't wait, you fang face," I snapped.

  Vadim grabbed his heart, slightly confused it with his stomach, and groaned:

  - Donna, your cruelty hurts me in the heart!

  - Heart to the left.

  - It's not important anymore!

  On the other side of the car, the producer was reporting to Dosa.

  - You... yours where... you...

  In Russian, it sounded like, "Girl, where have you been? We are tired of waiting for you! »

  Dosya especially did not snap, apparently, understood what she could get in the face. And the producer was sick of it. He kicked her to the club.

  - Come on, crawl on the second floor. It's all ready for you there. So you can sparkle and shine in ten minutes? Suck it all up?

  She threw up and let me go to the club. The producer went after her. And Vadim looked at me.

  - Yulia, Mechislav asked you very much.

  I rolled my eyes.

  - On my way.

  * * *

  Mecislav was waiting for me in his office.

  - Fluffy, it's good to see you.

  I doomed to breathe.

  - You look just charming.

  Miecislav was really great. The clothes were kind of modern cut - black jeans and a shirt. But the jeans were clad in some kind of velvety material. And you can see perfectly well that there's no underwear underneath them. Or a thong? And the shirt is translucent and incredibly rich in gold and orange. So is mine. And underneath it, you could clearly see the vampire's torso. Yes. Jean Marais is the only actor who could boast a figure like that. I almost licked it. Come on, you bastard. And he's well aware of that. There's a smirk.

  - What are you thinking, Curly?

  What can I say? Of course it's disgusting.

  - Tell me, do you really not have underwear under your pants, or is it a thong like a stripper?

  The vampire slammed his eyes, but then sprayed in a wide smile.

  - Strings are bad for your health. So no underwear. Would you like to see it? Or do you want to touch it?

  - Nope. I'm just wondering how you can zip up with no underwear. You're bound to pinch your hair.

  The vampire was heartily laughed at.

  - Fluffy, you're a miracle. But when you live long, you learn to dress without loss to yourself. I promise to demonstrate it sometime.

  - I'll be fine," I said. It's always like this. I wanted to say nasty, but the vampire is only having fun. - What did you call me for?

  - See, I need you to stay by my side all night.

  - What for?

  - Alfonso da Silva arrives tomorrow.

  The name fell by a stone. So is the timing.

  - Tomorrow already? Your zebra!

  - Therefore, today we must demonstrate to all spies that we are one team. We are united, invincible and so on.

  I'd believe it, but too much... okay, the sparks were flickering in the green eyes. Flickering, sliding on my skin like a naked look, and caressing on the way...

  I had to shake myself up. And shining your eyes at a vampire is nothing to stare at! I'm already holding on to the last of my strength... not to rip that shirt off him and hold on tighter - body to body, naked skin to skin.

  - Cause he never sent spies to us before. Because no woodpecker has reported to him all this time...

  - So what? I'm not talking about reality, I'm talking about a demonstration of our close relationship. Okay?

  I made up my mind. Mecislav painted a sympathetic make-up. It turned out frankly badly.

  - Fluffy, I have extensive experience of survival in our world. Let me do whatever it takes. And everything will be fine.

  - Will it? I don't think so.

  - Curly, we'll definitely make it. Think of it as just another exam and it'll be easier.

  I sighed. I didn't want to argue. Mecislav really knows better how to survive in this pack of vampires. And if I want to survive, I have to help him to the best of my ability.

  - What should I do?

  - Stay close to me and pretend to be hot love.

  The vampire saw the look on my face and hastily added it:

  - Or at least a gentle sympathy.

  - Just keep your hands to yourself. I will," I warned you.

  - Curly, have I ever allowed myself...

  - Haven't you ever allowed yourself?

  The vampire sent me a gentle smile.

  - It's the beauty of the hands that stretches out.

  - And you pretend I'm the Mona Lisa. Before the restoration. It's better," I snapped, dropping my jacket and purse on the sofa. There's no need for that. It's going to be hot at the club.

  The vampire gallantly opened the door to me.

  - Signorina, would you do me the honor...

  I swam past and immediately jumped up out of outrage. A cheeky bloodsucker ran his finger down my leg, from thigh to knee.

  - You look so good in blue, my lovely...

  You bastard.

  * * *

  As soon as we walked three steps, we got the Dosa under the producer's arm.

  I just woke up, and I got dumbfounded.

  What can I say? The milking was Shiny, in the full sense of the word.

  Everything was shiny. A dress the size of a handkerchief (for the very irresistible), made of some kind of gold synthetics. Hair coated with sequin varnish. The body, generously sprinkled with gold powder. Shoes inlaid with a terrible amount of strasses. Face generously painted and covered with rhinestones (on eyebrows, eyelashes, lip and eye contour).

  And of course, the wild amount of jewelry was shining. One or two rings on each finger. Several chains - gold of complex weaving, gold with diamonds, gold with some black stones, gold with yellow stones. Bracelets with different stones were shining. The tiara was sparkling. Sparkling, sparkling fountains of sparks, earrings, each of which could be hung on a tree instead of adornment.

  In fact, Dosya made an impression of a Christmas tree. It's beautiful, but it's too much. I unwittingly wanted to say, "Metron is an ariston."

  [8]

  In a simple blue dress, she looked at me like a princess to a peasant woman. I did not remain in debt and began to look at her like a countess - a prostitute, who by unfortunate coincidence was allowed to decent people.

  I dare say it wasn't bad.

/>   Because Dosya stopped paying attention to me and smiled at Mieczysław.

  - Mechislav Nikolaevich, it's so good to see you...

  I sighed, and I put my hand on a vampire's elbow.

  - Donya, why are there no teeth without strasses?

  The singer looked at me with an indignant look and reached out with an incredibly mannered voice:

  - And you are that... that...

  - You can also say "which", "here" and "in general," I said kindly.

  - Oh, yeah? - stretched out Dosya. - Actually, who are you?

  I looked carefully into the singer's blue eyes. The intellect didn't sleep in them. And I didn't even come to see them. But the arrogance was to eat with a spoon. Dosya clearly had an eye on my toothpick. Why? Young (just seven hundred years), unmarried (I - do not count, and at the wedding he would have walked, if only he got away from me), och - very cute (rare understatement). What does a female singer need who can get into circulation in a year and a half? Age is a terrible thing.

  I didn't even try to explain to her who she was looking at. No, you didn't.

  - I'm his fiancée. If you stare at my fiancé, you'll shine with crowns," I snapped. - Come, my sun, they're waiting for us downstairs.

  The vampire smiled charmingly at me, and we swam past Dosi like an empty spot.

  There was nowhere to fall an apple in the club. It's like people are besieged. The instinct of the crowd is called. Mass psychosis. If a man is alone, he won't yell and jump. And if there's a lot of them, they start winding each other up. That's what the leaders of the revolution used to use.

  Mechislav looked around.

  - Fluffy, I got a party to open. Will you survive without me?

  - Somehow. Oh, Nadia?

  - Okay, great. Nadia, keep my girlfriend company, - said werewolves Miecislav. And ran away.

  Nadia looked at me critically.

  - Still, you're too modestly dressed for a nightclub.

  Yeah, and not a single sequin in the entire clothing area.

  - My will, I wouldn't have come here. I'm not a pop singer, or a pop fan.

  - Let me through, aunts," a capricious voice sounded from behind.

  Oh, Dosya, easy on the devil. Damn you... I think she was just picking up on me and the vampire. And she crawled out.

  Nadia was staring at her with a frank rapture.

  - You're... You're the one who milks!?

  Dosya measured it with a contemptuous look.

  - Get out of here, village. What kind of perfume have you sprayed? Pheromones of dogs? This stench is going to make me allergic!

  There are tears swelling up on the Nadia's eyelashes. I took offense at my friend.

  - Who'd talk and you'd shut up, the mop is painted.

  Dosya tried to look at me, too. But where is it? I looked at the vampires, and I looked at that slut...

  - Do you even know who you're talking to, redneck? I am Dosya Shiny!

  I was staring at Dossa with an innocent look.

  - Come on! Who wouldn't know you? You've become famous all over the country! Weren't you the one who did the detergent commercial? As a piggy?

  The milking suffocated outrageously. I picked up Nadia under my arm and took her aside. The girlfriend was clearly upset, tears shining in her eyes. Shit! Well, Dosya, wait! I'm not a wolf, I'll eat without ceremony! Nadka's my friend. And the most important thing is what you'd be upset about!

  - Nadia, ignore this mop in sequins. It's just a dyed doll. Cheap, vulgar and inflatable. A real celebrity would never allow himself to be so boorish.

  There was a squashed wheeze behind my back. I turned around. Mm-hmm. Dosya followed us, and she heard both the comfort and my characterization of her person. Is there a problem? Oh, okay! Sweep! As long as Mechislav didn't interfere.

  - Do you want some valerian? Or just vodka?

  Dosya got a speech and broke my short profile. In freestyle translation it sounded like this: "Oh you, a bad woman of very easy behavior with unconventional tendencies, which came from the same parents who freely crossed with animals.

  I listened with interest. Then I applauded.

  - Bravo. Did the clientele on the road teach you that, or did they catch you on the stage?

  The people standing next to each other had their ears set. But before Dosya woke up again, her producer was pushed through the crowd.

  - What's going on here?

  - It's not a big deal. Your ward boasted a free translation of a small boatsman bend. And I was wondering if she had learned it before meeting you - or later - I innocently slammed my eyelashes.

  The producer figured it out without a translation. He threw Dosa by the elbow and took her somewhere in the back room.

  Smart man. Even though he's a bastard.

  Mecislav came up behind me and hugged me at the waist. I took a dreamy sigh and put my head on his shoulder. And how good it would be to kick him now - to limp for a week! A dream!

  The vampire clearly guessed my thoughts because he wouldn't kiss.

  - Good girl," he whispered in my ear.

  I smiled pretty good. Of course you did. And pretty. And anyway, I don't like those Dossiers. You're gonna pick up some more nasty things in the process...

  The evening was going its own way. First someone danced, then sang, danced again, then Dosya performed, then someone else...

  I wasn't interested in all that. So I looked for Peter - and of course I found him.

  The vampire and I understood each other from the first minute. And we hid in a quiet corner. To work on the aura.

  The vampire wasn't doing well. And suddenly I'm doing something else. I've seen a two-layer aura now. It was like a blanket on top of it that placed the internal characteristics of a human being. And they painted everything in different colors. And underneath them, like a ball of tangled threads of this or that color, there was something else. And there were also some managers...

  But what is it? And for what?

  That's where Mechislav found us. He appeared behind his back like a breeze, slipped on the next chair, gently hugged my shoulders, took my hair and intimate whispered in my ear:

  - Fluffy, I'll get jealous. To be alone with an outside man...

  - You? Jealous?

  I was so surprised, I didn't even make fun of myself. Mecislav and jealousy? Bear and pedicure, herring and orange jam...

  You can be jealous of him. But to be jealous is he!?

  It's more like the whole State Duma is being transplanted! Led by the president!

  I turned to the vampire, touched his forehead...

  - No fever. Well, then what?

  - Temperatures? Yulia, vampires don't get sick.

  - Are they crazy? Is there some kind of vampire flu? Like pig flu? Cause we got the Prince of the city getting sick...

  - Julia!

  - What, Julia!? I've been like Julia for twenty years. And I haven't complained about it before I met you. What's gotten into you? What kind of jealousy? What do you mean?

  Mieczyslaw took an offended look. The green eyes shone with stray sparks. He looked so touching that I wanted to hold him to myself, rub his hair...

  Aha! Give me a jar of jam and a big spoon!?

  Julia, it's a vampire! Dangerous! Dangerous!!! DANGEROUS!!!

  - Yulia, a woman like you can't help being jealous. You're too charming.

  - Mecislav, what do you really want?

  That was rough. Well, what do we do? Play games with a seven hundred year old vampire? Three ha-ha. He'll beat me anyway. And the creepy squads were already running from his close presence. And a disturbing heat was pouring down the bottom of his stomach. He was too close. It was too easy to move and hug him. Or to get on a vampire's lap at all - and not think about anything else.

  Except you can't.

  There's no way to give up. I don't want to be one of many... Ow!

  The thought was so nasty that I didn't even want to think it through. Well, we have to. I don't want to be one of man
y because I want to be the one!? Oh, no!

  - If you want, I'll order me to take you home. And tomorrow night, I'll wait here. Come early, we'll need time to get ready...

  - Why would you be so noble?

  - I don't want you to blame me for all my sins. The fact that I'm interfering with your "normal" life, - Mechislav emphasized this word.

  I thought for a minute. I was tired, and Peter had something to do, he had to take a break, let everything we could understand today lie in our heads...

  - Okay. Make the arrangements, please.

  - I've already ordered it. Valentine's taking you. Come on, I'll walk you out.

  - Pete, happy to stay," I winked.

  - Goodbye," said the vampire. - I'll see you the other day.

  Good girl. He understands that if Alfonso comes tomorrow, we'll all be full of rubbish and... in a word, we will. We'll see what and who.

  Mechislav cleverly took me under his arm - and led me to the club doors, maneuvering between people. I followed him. It was as if we were not seen. Vampire magic? It's possible. Otherwise, Mieczyslaw would have been ripped up in the crowd for souvenirs.

  In the hallway, a vampire suddenly stopped abruptly.

  - Julia, I'm asking you once again - no arguments or quarrels tomorrow. Okay?

  I put my eyelashes down.

  - You know, don't provoke it, and I won't fail.

  - I know. I'll be very careful. But you're my last name. And we're gonna have to pretend to be intimate. Whether you like it or not.

  - I don't like it.

  Green eyes sparkled, two emeralds.

  - Yulia, Yulianka... Why are you fighting so hard?! You resist me, you resist yourself, you fight something that can't be stopped... We'll be together anyway. Yes, we will. It's as true as the sun is going to rise tomorrow. You're my last name. It's like the other half. You're a part of me. My soul, my life, my mind, my heart. And equally, I am your soul mate. If we're separated, we'll just die. We can't live without each other anymore, listen to yourself - and you'll understand... Don't you wake up in the middle of the night - and look at the ceiling. Because I'm not around. Because you want to see me, touch me, talk about something - no matter what. We deprive ourselves of the main thing in the world - the opportunity to divide everything, everything that awaits us - into two. The possibility to know that there is a native being near us, who will never cheat, betray, hit in the back, because my back is also your back. And vice versa... Julia, how much longer will you break through your knee and my soul? How much!?