Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  - Pin code on the envelope. Mecislav asked me to tell you and Julia that this is a loan. It's for the first time. It's like a lift. Then you'll work it off.

  Charles has clearly relaxed.

  - What, you don't want to be a gigalo? - The last thing Tatiana did was take it. - By the way, this is a gift from the firm.

  She put another bag in our hands, modestly standing at the door, and took off before we came to our senses. The bag contained slippers in the form of green dragons, a kind of series with buttocks. Charles twisted them around in his hands, and suddenly fell to the floor.

  I slammed the door and sat down next to it. The face of the dragon was completely lost.

  - Julia, I can't believe that all this is real, he confessed deafly. - I don't remember much anymore, except Alfonso. I have lost all the good things in my life. And now this... like this... I just can't believe it all. I just can't believe it.

  I ruffled his hair. As a friend. Like my brother once.

  - Don't worry about it. Everything's gonna settle down.

  * * *

  Before going outside, I looked at Charles again. It's okay. It's okay to live. It even looks like a human being. Everybody's wearing jeans right now. He washed his hair with shampoo - I was going to throw it out, but no, it came in handy - and the hair from snow and white became clearly red. It wasn't exactly human eyes that were hidden under the fancy glasses. Well, that's okay. A few strokes left, like gum on the cheek and headphones from the player - and will be quite modern man. And what does not take off the glasses ... so now some people do not take off the hat in the room! Big deal, etiquette! When the label on a bottle of beer isn't dockleen?

  The street made an impression on the werewolf. But he was genuinely trying to stay calm. And only sometimes did he clarify things. About the same ATM.

  - What if he doesn't give back the card?

  - You call a vampire. His money, let him suffer.

  - And the phone...

  Tanya brought her phone, too.

  - We'll deal with the phone later. I'll show you around. In the meantime, learn how to use an ATM.

  - Okay.

  It took about ten minutes. Then Charles got used to it and quite dashingly received the printouts of the account and money for expenses. By the way, there was a pretty decent amount in the account. It would have been enough for a new foreign car. Not a 600 Mercs, but at least a Hyundai Sonata.

  - Now to the store," I decided. - You're going to be working with traction. Yeah?

  Charles nodded obediently. Why? I'm not an exploiter! But you have to feed him!? We have to! Let him carry it!

  The bodyguards wanted to keep us company, but I didn't want to. Let Charles get used to this world for a while. I'd be embarrassed to make gags and ask around in front of complete strangers. And then... ragged, beaten with life - but it's a werewolf. Semi-dragon. And it's hard even for a squad of fighters to deal with it. In about five minutes, we'll win. And then the guys will be there. So there's nothing to tail us with.

  The store had to stay a long time. Because Charles was acting like a child in a candy store. He needed to be important and interesting - everything. From the basement second hand to the salty fish counter.

  I followed him and gave explanations. At the same time, I bought everything I needed.

  The people were boiling and boiling. Sounds like a working day, but still...

  In the pastry shop window, they pushed me in the back, and I hit on Charles.

  - Stand aside, aunt," he said, "and I was kicked even harder. It's understandable, the pastry chef was next to the wine and vodka products. I turned around to send the cheeky one to the right place, but Charles was ahead of me. I was gently lifted up into the air and put aside. And the semidragon picked up by the collar of some bubbly man in a greasy sports suit and sneakers.

  - You pushed a woman.

  The man shook his legs in the air and made an outrageous vow. The meaning of his angry tirade was that he didn't push, it wasn't him, he was pushed, it wasn't a woman, you checked yourself, man, you're clinging to it!!!

  Charles listened to him for thirty seconds, then squeamishly wriggled and turned to me.

  - Wait for me a little bit here, please.

  - Hey, no killing! - I warned you.

  - Put your hands on it! - ...a semi-dragon outraged and took a decisive step to get out of the store. So fast that no one could even react.

  - Hey, man, come on! - the guard decided to intervene after all, so I hit on him. Charles hasn't assimilated yet, he doesn't care how many sheep's horn to roll - one or two. But I don't care whether he's being taken away from department store security or the police. Especially with no I.D., no everything... but with a stunning collection of scars... oh, oh, oh, oh... The security guard was moving, but I got as into it as Juliet in Romeo.

  - What the hell is going on with you!? - I took a vote. - You can't go into the store so you don't get scolded by some cocksucker! And what happens next?

  - Don't talk to me," said the guard. - Where did this guy take you?

  - What kind!? What kind of man!? What the hell are you talking about? - I'm scared. - Did you see that goblin kick me? You've got surveillance footage!? Get the manager on the phone right now and get me footage of me! I'll report him to the police!!!

  - Girl," the guard tried to get out. But where is it? Vampires couldn't get away from me!

  - What did I tell you!? If you let all the hammocks mock poor women like that, my feet will no longer be in your poorhouse!!!

  And thank God! - was read in large print on the guard's face.

  - What if I was pregnant!? Do you know what a placenta tear is!? And the threat of a miscarriage!? And the internal bleeding!? Oh, you don't know!? That's how I'm going to tell you! Details!!!

  I would have told you. We had an anatomy and it was led by an aunt so reinforced concrete that oh-oh-oh. But then Charles came back safely.

  - It's all right," he said in my opinion. You've got a large trash box to the left of the store...

  I snorted. And I got off. The subject of the scandal isn't within sight, neither is public order, so no one will contact.

  - Did you put the mattress machine in there?

  - Why, you couldn't?

  - Of course you can. You even have to. But only when no one can see.

  - It's weird.

  The guard looked at us, spit, turned his finger at the temple and went to stand further at the cash register. What's there to interfere with? There are no victims, no one has a complaint. If there are any complaints, you still can't hear the boor from the garbage can. And what's to get in touch with?

  I picked up Charles under my arm and we went home. We have to show him the police on the way. So he wouldn't have to find out about their relationship with another bastard. The only thing missing with his eyes was a hooligan record. It's not too far from the IPF.

  * * *

  It took us a long time to unpack at home. Before I could get changed and put everything in the fridge, the phone rang.

  - Yeah?

  - Yulia, this is Rokin. We need you urgently.

  - What the hell?

  - I'll pick you up now and explain on the way," Rokin was so... inadequate that he couldn't even hear my voice of outrage.

  What could have happened?

  - A friend is coming with me.

  Didn't hear. He hung up on me. One more damn time, and I glanced at Charles. Half a dragon instantly squeezed into his chair, trying to be as discreet as possible. But then he came to his senses and straightened his shoulders.

  - I'm sorry. The reflex.

  - The IPF will forgive. Would you like to meet the local branch?

  Charles took his eyes out on me.

  - WITH THE IPF!? No.

  - Well, you'll have to. Call security, warn them. And crawl out of the room, I need to change.

  - Cause I haven't seen any naked women. Not even skinless women!

  Charles tried to joke,
hiding the alarm behind the jokes, but I saw well - the idea of meeting with the IPF does not inspire him. Well, where do we go? I'm alone with them and on a hectare... I won't sit down, they'll sneak up behind me, you bastards. You can't give up either. Rokin won't just freak out. He's not the right man. Something really fucked up happened. And it's better to know right away what and how.

  In a word, a fork. You can't go. You can't say no, either. The consequences can be unfortunate. Inviting security with you is who? A werewolf!? I'm in a hurry and falling. I haven't hired any sanovitis by the fireplace to provide mats for all the sanovitis (I mean, those who took the priest's rank). And so the IPF doesn't recognize the werewolf? That's a fairy tale to be told in kindergarten. They're not gonna believe it. The kids are advanced now.

  Who else can I take with me? Ordinary people?

  How much do they have to tell? And, most importantly, how?

  You, friend, are going to guard me against the Church SVU who wants to make me fight against vampires and werewolves. What's the standard guard's reaction to those words? I'd advise the phenazepam. Or at least a valerian.

  And you can go with Charles. First, he's a half-dragon. And there are very few people who can see it. And secondly, he looks like an ordinary man. Only a little more handsome. I'm being modest, though. And I'm being mean. Charles is handsome. Stunningly handsome, with his matte white skin, slightly redish hair and deep reddish violet eyes. And his face wasn't even bitten by Alfonso. He didn't have the spirit. And if our dragon is still fattened and treated...

  - Hey, what are you doing?

  Charles stuffed a folding knife in his jeans pocket (where from?!) and put on bracelets with spikes, like rockers. I bought them to piss off Mieczysław somehow. And I still haven't thrown them out. I put them in the closet, on the shelf. And I found a dragon.

  - I'm arming myself," said the cheeky man.

  - And what the hell? You're gonna put on a jacket anyway. You can't see it from under the jacket.

  - You can see - the dragon climbed into the closet and took out of there... the joy of a metal worker. The jacket made of thick black leather, riveted and sewn with all kinds of crap like rings, chains, rivets, lightning ... from the abundance of metal ruffled the eyes.

  - What the hell is this? Where is it from?

  - They brought it in today. You just haven't noticed the rest," he said.

  - You might not have noticed. Tatyana came off, hit - at least put the platoon on. And why do you need this filth?

  - It's very comfortable. No armor is worn now, and this is a very comfortable thing, the skin is thick, there is a lot of metal, a knife will not penetrate...

  And it's called "I need time to wake up"!? And what happens when he recovers? A volcano eruption?

  For the first time in all time I felt sorry for Mieczysław. If he has as much fun with me...

  The doorbell interrupted my thoughts.

  - Who's there? - Charles opened the door quietly, without waiting for an answer.

  Rokin's numb. He wasn't expecting to run into a rocker at my house like he was off the pages of a motorcycle magazine. And Charles was good. Black jeans were not so tight, but rather obsessively hinted at the most interesting places. I already told you about the jacket. Underneath it, I could see a black T-shirt with the symbol "Aria." And sneeze that now not many people listen to it! Anyway - Trout Kipelov! The redheaded hair was tied into a stylish ponytail. Dark glasses give the man the appearance of this bored Schwarzenegger. And... when and where did this bastard find the gum?! I don't know! I don't think we ever got it at the store! But it was a perfect image!

  - Who are you? - I was surprised at Rokin.

  - Brother in the mind. What do you want, Uncle!?

  I wonder what else that bastard got from the Internet!?

  - Wouldn't you fuck you, brother... Julia! - the barker barked so that the chandelier swayed obviously.

  I realized I was about to be blown out of the hallway. Rokin was clearly on the verge. Charles wasn't going to let anyone down or anything. Well, what was left?

  I slipped out into the hallway and made a loud announcement:

  - Konstantin Sergeyevich, this is my friend. Sasha. He's coming with us.

  And she dived to get dressed. What is there to wear, though? Change my T-shirt to the first clean one and pull on my jeans. Socks, sneakers (on a thick sole that has a pair of metal inserts - lovely!). Now you have to comb your hair a little bit - all of it, here's ALL shredded, as if I had a shirt wedding dancing on my head. From the hallway, meanwhile, echoes of the battle of characters.

  - Sasha? And completely?

  - And it's none of your business.

  - Everything about Julie concerns me.

  - You're not related to her or even a friend. You will.

  My hair was tied to my tail, and I crawled into the hallway.

  - I'm ready.

  - Julia, what is your friend's full name?

  Rokin was looking with obvious suspicion. Well, his right.

  - None of your business," I politely answered. - In fact, you can choose between me or his papers. Sashka, get your passport, we're not going anywhere.

  - You're going, Rokin chose Rokin immediately. - Let's go!

  - Will you at least tell me what happened," I demanded, climbing into my sneakers.

  - Murder," the IPF grimly left.

  Where I was standing, I sat down. I don't think anything like this has happened on the IPF line lately. Didn't they just... Did they find Lavric? That's nonsense! Mecislav, if he hides anything, it's good quality. It would be easier to find an amber room than to find one hidden by a vampire. Lavrika was going to hide exactly what - we only needed a brutal murder of a star in our city! Well, then what was it?

  Well, let's ask!

  - What am I, a forensic scientist? Why would you drag me there? I've got enough of your magazine from the photo to do the same thing! I'm not going!

  Rokin bumped me in the arm. I felt like you were gonna say no, and he'd drag me down.

  - Yulia, you're needed not as a forensic expert, but as an expert psychic.

  Here we are.

  - Why, do you miss your own?

  - They're weak against you.

  - But they clearly have more experience.

  - It's bigger. But this... whatever it is, it won't let them in.

  I raised my eyebrows. It was hard to believe.

  - Okay. Let's go. And... Sasha, you called?

  - Yes.

  - Where? - Rokin got in.

  - As a team," I informed.

  And the dragon slammed the apartment door behind me.

  There was a car waiting for us at the entrance. For a change, the Volga. Humble, dark green, with regular plates... The IPF's funding is clearly worse than vampires. Mm-hmm. And the police have worse funding than MPs and bandits.

  Rokin noticed my look and shook his head.

  - Don't judge by your appearance. This machine will overtake the plane.

  I shrugged my shoulders. And I got in the back seat. Charles is behind me. Rokin sat forward, and we jumped.

  - What happened, can you tell me now? - I was annoyed to ask.

  - Yes. The thing is, a very strange body was found. Clear signs of torture, a ritual performed, but when we try to read what happened there, we can't get anything.

  - You think I can do more?

  - After what you did to Father Alexei, I'm willing to believe anything.

  - Between you and me, your padre's got the wrong thing to do.

  - Julia, the padre is a Catholic...

  - Without you, I know. Are you sure this is gonna work out for me?

  - No. But an ordinary team can't cope, and there's no time to wait for them to come from neighboring areas.

  The reservation was meaningful. Scopes. Not cities. There aren't that many of you, gentlemen of the IPF. And that's good.

  - It's not easier to let the police in there. With forensics and all the other delights of l
ife. Or did your friend torture her with gloves on?

  - Her?

  - And who? Him? It's just that the victim is her, a female.

  Rokin pretended to believe it. But the driver's look in the rearview mirror was sharp and sharp. Like a scalpel. That kind of guy's gonna get suspicious. And by the way...

  - What's your colleague's name?

  - Vasya," the driver bubbled without taking his eyes off the road.

  - Just Vasya?

  - Yes.

  - And how he kicks, our Vasya. And nowhere will the robber run away no... - mercilessly fake, I sang. The driver gave me the look of Jack the Ripper. Charles answered him with the gentle smile of a professional cannibal. The men found common ground. What can I say?

  The rest of the way went in a nice, friendly silence.

  * * *

  The car slowed down at a healthy building. Not even the building. A hangar? I think that's the name of the overgrown garage that's riveted from metal sheets on the frame? And this hangar was clearly not the only one here. I looked around.

  - What's that?

  The street wasn't visible because of the high gray fence. Neither was the sign. As well as explanatory signs (director - right, toilet - left).

  - This used to be a factory," Rokin explained. - The main entrance is from the street. And we drove along the corners. It's shorter and more comfortable. The plant collapsed. Recently, it was bought by a company - will reconstruct the area for shops and rent.

  - – И?

  - There are guards here.

  - Have our thieves been so impoverished that they even attempted this!? - I was surprised.

  From my point of view, any thief who enters our factories is immediately obliged to weep, repent and give them a sum of money for poverty. These words do not apply to officials and politicians. They are not thieves. That's not what they're called.

  - The building materials were brought in," Rokin explained. - Tools ... in a word, everything you need to reconstruct the building. I am not an expert here, but the homeless will not refuse to live. And they hired watchmen. So that they could go around the territory.

  - The watchman thought they were homeless at first?

  - Yeah. I opened the door, looked around, and could barely get out on my feet.