Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

The vampire was almost shaking. Now was not the time for any incident. A couple hours later, Alfonso da Silva arrives. And more than ever, they need to be strong. To be a single unit. Everything's already arranged and fine-tuned. Everyone knows their place in the play to come. And everyone knows what to say and what to keep quiet about. And so, his right hand, his surname, can just fall out of the script. And why?! By the negligence of his subordinate!

  Mecislav himself would not admit that fear lurks under his anger. But not for disrupting the script. To hell with it! In seven hundred years of your life, you'll learn to improvise and twist - or you just won't survive.

  To Julia.

  The vampire was determined not to look for a new surname. And where else would you find Takuya?

  * * *

  Before I could open my eyes, Mechislav shook me with all the vampire stuff. The fools turned out to be a lot - my teeth just kicked.

  - Are you crazy!? - I was outraged.

  - No! You're the one who's crazy! - The vampire was just mad. - Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?!

  - It's okay. Smooth score," I answered. - And put me on the floor. Have a conscience!

  Mechislav expressed himself in the sense that he had me and that conscience in the biblical sense, but he put me down on the floor.

  - Try - can you stand on your own?

  He was rapidly calming down. And I was just as annoyed.

  Standing still was bad. A vampire noticed it, and he gave me a big hug at the waist.

  - Get your hands off me, I'm stuttering.

  - If I take my hands off you will fall. And I don't need a broken nose, especially before Alfonso da Silva arrives.

  - Shit!

  I completely forgot about the fangbanger coming in.

  - Isn't it time we went then? How much time do we have before he arrives? Look, look, now we have to run!

  - It's time," Mechislav decided. - Come on...

  The next moment, I was back in the arms of a vampire.

  - Let go. I'll do it myself.

  - Yulia, we don't have time to play these games," a vampire came at me. - Don't be a child.

  I was offended by the silence. Well, you're welcome. And anyway - the fool himself!

  - Better tell me for now what you saw or felt. You weren't just fainting...

  The vampire carried me down the stairs like a kitten.

  - Do we have time for this? - I snapped at evil.

  - I've got one for that. I'm listening.

  - He who has ears will hear more nonsense, but I didn't snap again. It's about the first thing. Especially when the superiors are on the flight. - I really saw something. I don't know this ritual, but I suspect that all the power was just sucked out of Lavric. Magical, life... all the power you can.

  - And how did you do that?

  I shrugged my shoulders. I mean, I tried to shake them, and I almost hit a vampire's chin.

  - I don't know. One way or another... with some kind of object...

  - What's that?

  - I don't know. I just figured out what happened, but not who did it and how.

  - It's better than nothing. But it's still not enough.

  - Then sit there in the middle of the room and start meditating. Or put your hat on, pick up the phone with violin and look for Watson, - the mood surely slipped to the mark "storm". - Come on, you'll see for yourself what's going on.

  - Okay, fluffy, sorry. - A vampire put me in the back seat of a car and stroked my hair. - It's just that now we have to figure out what's going on. And with Alfonso's expected visit...

  - You'd think that Alfonso alone wasn't enough.

  From the look on Mieczysław's face - even Alfonso was already in abundance.

  - Vadim, leave the werewolves here, see if they can find any trace of the killer, any smell...

  The vampire called Alexander and started giving some orders.

  I sat there and tried to figure out what I didn't like. Other than the murder itself. But my thoughts were confused. Who would want to kill that singer? Other than the ones who are tired of his liver colic?

  But these stars are short-lived. A year, two, and Lavric would have died out on his own. Tea, not Filya Kirkorov. Instead, someone is killing him for sacrifice. Which one is the victim, though?

  And why him, anyway!? If you'd hurt someone better than that, we'd have less trouble! The maniac will still have to be caught, but at least everything was quiet and quiet. That's how our country works. If you hit Lavric, you'll squeal. And if fifty policemen died in the performance of their duty (sorry, already policemen), no one will sneeze with an ear. Although the benefits are much greater than those of Lavrik. Boom! I caught a naughty thought by the tail and looked at Mieczysław.

  - Who would want that freak?

  The vampire shrugged his shoulders.

  - We catch a nutcase, we ask.

  - You didn't get it, I swung away. - Look at this. I'm a psycho...

  - I'm already afraid...

  - I can see that. Ow!

  - What?

  - Mecislav! We're wrong! Crazy is when it's just imaginary. And after all from Lavrik have really pulled force. That is, this is a conscious sacrifice...

  - Okay. Let's call our maniac a priest.

  - Okay. Let me be a priest. And I need a sacrifice. It's urgent. And then what?

  - Are you looking for a victim? - I assumed Vadim came up.

  - Boom! How do I look for her?

  - Well... I don't know.

  - A leading question! - I raised my finger up. Love for Sherlock Holmes had done its black work, and I felt like a venerable detective. - And how do I find a new blouse in the shop?

  - Just looking around?

  - That's right!

  - I mean, you have to look for someone that Lavric has been in contact with.

  - Someone at the hotel?

  - It's possible. Yulia, you should be there. What if you feel this Priest? If he drank power, he must be...

  - I don't know. I have zero experience. It's a minus.

  - This - then - cut me and Vadim Machislav off. - Where's the driver?

  - Here, - Sasha jumped behind the wheel of his fire monster. The vampires did not keep him waiting either.

  - We will find the priest. But first - Alfonso, - summed up the Prince of the City.

  The car was racing through the night.

  Chapter 6.

  He came to us, he came to us... and he brought us problems!

  I sat in the chair and admired the reflection in the mirror. Vadim and Vladimir were running around like gunshots all over the club, correcting a hundred and fifty Very Big Shortcomings, fifty Small Turbulences and twenty-five Trifles, which always occur an hour before the arrival of the Very Important Person and slowly begin to grow like a snowball.

  And then they collapse, burying the whole ceremony underneath them.

  Alfonso was definitely a Very Important Individual. And I was the personal name of the Prince of the City. So while I wasn't bothered by anyone. I was just being tidied up.

  In this "vampire" style.

  My costume wasn't considered solemn enough. My hairstyle broke. And makeup is a disgrace to all the makeup artists on the planet (it was meant that they would be so horrified and go to do harakiri. To me).

  Hair was put in a high hairstyle. From those on which flowers, fruits, feathers and even ship models used to be attached. I mean, they tried to tuck it in. I had to intervene, bark that I was not going to wear a beehive on my head - and remake everything into a simple knot with a pair of released curls. I couldn't argue with the cosmetics. Mecislav asked me to do a barbie if anything. The main thing here is not to overplay. And what kind of barbie - without cosmetics?

  The main and terrible protest I gave away when I saw the dress.

  Why?

  Can you imagine a flesh-colored stocking like that? Fully fitting, and not leaving much room for the imagination. There you go. On top of it is a slightly more extended
version of the stocking, only black and silver lace. And it seems that the dress consists only of lace worn on a bare body. Black stockings with a silver pattern in the form of lilies, black shoes - and a set of heavy silver jewelry are also put here.

  It's also very original. Twisted silver necklace with a black pattern (the same lilies, and such that I wanted to ask - the vampire is not in France pereper them? In the past, such criminals were branded...), one kind of talk about a terrible old age. Like some heavy bracelets, like rings with earrings... almost ripped off their ears, heavy, dirty...

  - Silver? Vampires don't seem to like it, do they? - I asked Tatiana about it.

  - That's right. No, they don't. But Mecislav ordered it. Alfonso's a bastard. And it can be dangerous.

  Thank you, I figured it out myself.

  - So what? Those beads are gonna get stuck in his teeth if something's wrong?

  The werewolf had a nervous snort.

  - No. But they can burn it for a moment, stop it...

  I rolled my eyes. But I decided not to say no. For reasons of progressive paranoia.

  I wonder if a vampire can shove a silver ring down his throat and make him swallow it. What happens then?

  It's okay. I don't think a vampire would keep his mouth open all the time. Unless I surprise him to a saggy jaw. But then he'll change his mind about eating me himself...

  When the girls were done fussing - in the mirror reflected quite a pretty person. Vadim, who flew in, even shook his head:

  - Fluffy, can you make a man out of you too?

  - You can't make a human out of a vampire, but you can make a human out of me," I was offended.

  - From a vampire you can, too. But it would be a dead man...

  - The vampire's not alive either.

  - But he can bite. To all kinds of places.

  I threw my shoe at Vadim. Then I had to jump on one leg and pick it up.

  Then Volodya came by.

  - Curly, you're just charming.

  I sighed.

  - Volodya, have you not finished running yet? Will you keep me company?

  - You'd better go down to the hall," Volodya said. - In case Mechislav doesn't call, or something happens...

  - Alfonso is not coming...

  - We can't count on that. And you are the face of the delegation.

  - Her heels better be.

  And these heels better be going somewhere far away from here right now. But Volodya didn't understand the humor. He splashed his hands and started convincing me that such a charming lady (am I a lady!? Why, it's not for nothing that vampires cry, with us, ice...) can only be a face, because my charm, my charm, my delicate sensitive nature...

  I held out for three minutes and ran away to the common room. It was in the best traditions of communism. I mean, vampireism. Only the poster "Welcome! " wasn't enough.

  Draw or something?

  And so it was just charming.

  A health room, draped in black cloth. Healthy chairs with black fur capes. Candles in massive candlesticks, On a pedestal in the corner of the hall - something like a healthy pelvis on a fryer. Next to them are massive glasses of gold, judging by the look of them.

  - What's that? - I asked Nadia.

  - Blood is heating up for the delegates.

  I didn't have any more questions. That's disgusting.

  On the other hand, let the delegation drink blood from the basin instead of me. Or from someone in front of me. You don't have to take any chances...

  I was afraid to say what to risk. That I'd be sick of disgust... or that I'd want to join in drinking blood?

  Very well remembered...

  - We're all done, Danielle gently pulled my fingers off my head. - Would you like some blood?

  I looked at him. A vampire had blood in the corner of his mouth. Just a little bit, just a few drops, but it was there. And I was attracted to that? Manilo? It excited me! The blood shone wetly in a dim light and poured black. And I couldn't resist... Danielle shuddered a little, but he didn't get away when I slipped the blood off his skin. We kissed with a gentle, almost chaste touch of the lips, and I could smell someone else's blood on the tip of my tongue.

  Our kiss didn't last long. I didn't need sex right now, oh, no. Now I was drawn to the warm, scarlet, sweet liquid that gave life to people and animals. Vadim, as if having read my mind, raised our victim so that I could easily reach his neck. The man was unconscious and four thin red trickles escaped from the bites. I walked my tongue around the powerful neck and felt the taste of pure skin. The smell of expensive cologne hit my nostrils. And I started sucking blood. Shy at first, but then I got bolder and bolder. The taste of fresh blood feels like it's lifted some inhibitions. A new essence was waking up inside of me. And she yearned for blood. She wanted everything that could give her life. Blood means blood, men means men. Whether willingly or not, I was becoming like the woman in the portrait. I was pulling blood into myself, almost without getting dirty. I think it lasted a few minutes. It was only a few minutes, but I suddenly felt the strength. And I detached myself from my sacrifice.

  I remembered. And it was scary. I didn't mean it like that.

  The hall was filled with vampires and werewolves. All dressed up like a parade. Everyone's nervous. Everybody's waiting.

  I would have started to get nervous myself if I gave in to mass psychosis (it's contagious, such a creep), but I just didn't have time. There was a loud voice coming from behind my back.

  - Leoverenskaya! What a meeting!

  Katka. I turned around abruptly and got a look at my ex-girlfriend.

  She hasn't changed a bit since we met last summer. Same chestnut haircut, same black skin on clothes and dead-white complexion...

  - Weren't you expecting me here?

  - No, why not? Couldn't Mieczyslaw have presented his hole to the councilman?

  I didn't expect that reaction from myself either.

  My arm took off, and I punched my ex-girlfriend in the face. Not a slap on the face of hysterical and insulted ladies. It was a serious blow to the jaw, like Valentine was pulling.

  It turned out - and it turned out qualitatively.

  The skating rink would not have felt a blow, but the silver rings played the role of a knuckle. The vampire bounced back with a wiggle. Four flat silver burns smoked on her face. All with different patterns. Artistically, it was...

  - Get this thing out of here and lock it up somewhere," said Vadim, the bride. - The swordsman will throw up her legs himself. Yulia, are you all right?

  I was in full and battle order. Neurosis died before he was born. There was adrenaline walking through my veins. And there was a naked, angry grin on my face.

  Where's Alfonso!?

  I'm gonna rip my jaws out, I'm gonna poke my blinkers out, I'm gonna blow my horns out!

  * * *

  - Brutal," said Nadia, who appeared in the crowd.

  I shaken my head.

  - It'll heal like a dog.

  - I'm not talking about silver," a friend bumped my hand and dragged me into a corner.

  - What about then? - I didn't resist. Save the vampire factory.

  - About you... Julia, are you sure you're all right?

  I wasn't all right. I haven't been okay since the winter Danielle died. I was anything, but...

  - You'd never do that before. You wouldn't hit a man in front of everyone.

  - I wouldn't hit a man even now," I sighed. - Nadia, do you not understand? Except that Katya - or Anna, it does not matter, is guilty of the death of my beloved man ... If we ran into her just somewhere in the street, and she would cheat on me - I would pass by. I'm not a fan of cow scones. It's different here and now. She wasn't the boss of Jule Leoverin, she was the Prince of the City. And she must be punished for it quickly and decisively. Otherwise, Alfonso will find out about our weakness, that it is possible to do this to us... I only defend mine. Those who trust me.

  Nadia shook her head.

  - Are you protecting, or
are you looking for excuses?

  I wasn't looking for excuses. And even less needed was a woman now looking at the light with the eyes of a wild beast. But I didn't have time to say it.

  Alfonso da Silva has arrived.

  We all fell asleep on the street. Watch out for the club yard.

  It looked very solemn.

  Four healthy jeeps and three Mercedes slowly rolled up to the porch one by one. And vampires sprinkled out of them. So they came out with full self-esteem.

  First, six vampires who knew each other vaguely jumped out and surrounded the entire landing site, sparkling eyes on the sides. Then Mechislav came out of one jeep. He looked for me with his eyes and waved his hand. I ran down the stairs to him.

  - Curly, you're charming," the vampire whispered as he touched my neck where my pulse was raging under the carotid artery.

  I exhaled sharply. And how charming was the vampire himself...

  Any man like that would look like a variety dancer. But all the costumes on Mieczysław sat like the king's gown.

  Black pants fit his body like second skin from waist to knee - and the book expanded slightly. Even the silver trim didn't spoil them. The shirt was made of the same lace as my dress. Only I had it on a case, and the vampire had no case. All he had was his honey and gold skin - madly seductive in an unbuttoned shirt collar. And the lace that shines through his veil. So temptingly close. So unattainable...

  And a thick silver chain with an ink medallion hanging on it, just like mine.

  - It doesn't burn? - I whispered.

  - There's spraying on it," the vampire whispered as well. - I love this electroplating... Is that how you care about me, my joy?

  - In your dreams. Just who's gonna treat your burns later?

  - Yulia, - Mechislav looked me right in the eyes. - I'm begging you very much. Don't get out of the shape of a sweet fool. Whatever you see, whatever you hear, it doesn't matter. Smile and keep your eyes open. Alfonso is not Ramirez. Even the North is afraid of him.

  I had a cold run on my back. The North one I remembered. And I strongly suspected that if you put him in the water, you'd pull out the iceberg. What is Alfonso, that Mecislav warns me so?

  - Is that why you didn't send me to meet him?

  - The later you meet, the better. I wouldn't let you in here at all, but I have no choice. Alfonso came here just for you.