Ring of Madness

by Royden Labrosse

  These swords fastened chains to the dragon's body, keeping them from falling.

  Charles became his own prisoner.

  I spit in the palm of my hand and headed for the relict reptile.

  - So how's the mood? Working? Oh, I wish I had an autogen now! Listen, are you fireproof?

  There was a scare in the alo-violet eyes.

  - Come on! - calmed me down. - Where does a decent cutter come from?

  And immediately I realized - if I had the strength - I'd have a torch. And an autogen. And even a crowd of helpers. But so far I don't have enough strength even for a decent hammer.

  Do you really have to drag this chain with your hands?

  I looked at her with doubts. You bet you did! She was the size of a good anchor chain. Thickness almost in my two hands.

  But that's no reason to give up!?

  No!

  And anyway, there are swords! And you can use them as a lever! Here we are...

  I grabbed the handle of the sword closest to me and pulled all the fools God had let go.

  * * *

  When I realized I was on the rug, in the living room, I stopped screaming. But I was still flinching from the pain spasms. It hurt like I was skinned off and my nerves were pulled out and peppered. It hurt so bad. What I felt when I was dealing with black nasty slugs or even lifting Peter's curse was like that, flowers. And here...

  Charles was lying around and he didn't look any better than me. Pale green, with his cheeks snapped in an instant and that longing in his eyes...

  - Do you understand now? It couldn't have worked out.

  I stubbornly twisted my shoulders.

  - Charles, you're wrong. We just haven't started working yet! And then... How did you see this place? And yourself?

  The dragon is obviously stuck.

  - Julia... how did you get there?!

  - I was called," I shook my shoulders. - It was an accident. But I liked it there. And... they loved that I came too.

  - You bet! You just don't know where you're going yet!

  - And you're going to tell me now," I suggested. You can't get up anyway until you can. And the time will not pass in vain.

  Charles covered his eyes in the affirmative, and he spoke.

  - Yulia, when you started to feel my aura, it was a little unpleasant. But then... At some point, I just fell into nowhere. There was nothing there. You know... At first there was an absolute emptiness. And a stream of forces that could rub me into powder and not notice. That's what I was really scared of. And then... then I got caught up and carried. Most of all, it was like a huge crystal. It was like you were placed inside and you were swimming there, in the emptiness and chaos of colorful stains. And at some point, you came along. Just like the one in that portrait. A woman. Only your eyes were beastly. You said something, and then you did. And it hurt.

  And then I fell out here.

  On that promising note, the phone rang. I had to get up on all fours and crawl.

  - Yes? - I asked.

  - Julia? Hi, it's Valentin. This is where Mecislav ordered it yesterday. Will you go to the hotel? To Doza's?

  - What the hell?

  - I thought you talked about that! If that priest is there, did Medecidav say you could see him?

  I rolled my eyes.

  - And if it doesn't?

  - Then let's go home.

  - Okay. But Charles is with me.

  - No question about it.

  - And I have a question. Why are we going to get in there?

  - Give the producer the contract for two more performances. And at the same time, you turn your head around.

  - When are you picking me up?

  - In an hour. Can you get it together?

  - Yes, it is.

  * * *

  Death, death, death...

  I can feel her ssso all over the place. How many people are dying in this town. How nice it will be to live in this new world. I used to be made sacrifices. You don't even have to advertise my presence. It's enough for me to be around a dying man, and I'll get his energy. Yeah, I'm not. But a lot of people die in town every day. And this is a small town. I'm pissing off my bearer's piss, it's a lot more piss. A lot more.

  I'm gonna have to go over there. But so far, the third victim.

  People have pissed too hard. I wouldn't need two deaths before.

  Or have I been pissed off?

  I've been in captivity for a long time.

  But soon, soon...

  My bearer promised me a vampire. Sassy. Tasty.

  I'm gonna have to give him a little piss to get him to piss, and I'm gonna get a piss.

  If you get it all, I'll get the body of a vampire.

  It's gonna be absolutely delightful. It's already an adult, sssy, sssdoric body...

  And I'll teach him to go out in the sun. My pussy's enough to piss off a pussy.

  I'd rather have a third victim...

  I wish it was tonight.

  But if you don't get it...

  Well, it's always the best-case scenario. And I'm even dreaming about it! And where to find it...

  I will live!

  Sssvoboda!!!

  * * *

  - That's what I'm going to do there," I sighed as I plunged into another jeep.

  - You - you'll be looking around. And if you see this priest, tell us, Leonidas smiled gently. That's right, Comrade Beria.

  - Okay. And officially, what am I going there for?

  - Mechislav offered the producer a contract for two more performances. If he agrees with the price, you'll sign it.

  - And if you don't agree?

  - Hang in there. Can't you?

  - I can. What you can't learn by talking to Mecislav.

  - Here we go. As a last resort, I'll help. And you walk the halls, see...

  - Where am I going to go?

  I looked at Charles. I remembered Dosa.

  - Stay in the car with Gleb, okay?

  - Why?

  - Or you could sit in a bar. These are not the people you need to talk to right now. Take your word for it. The three of us are gonna go to a hotel, and you're gonna stay outdoors, okay?

  Charles nodded.

  - Okay. If you say so. Your word is the law.

  - No. I'm just asking you. Whether you agree with me or not, it's up to you, I gently corrected.

  Charles tilted his head, just thought about it and asked:

  - Is there an internet cafe here?

  - I don't think so. But you've got an i-no exit in your phone. Ask Gleb, he'll show you what and how. Okay?

  - It's a deal.

  * * *

  The hotel wasn't impressive. As it was a Sovdepov dorm, it stayed. It looked more or less like this. About ten years ago, a standard box from Khrushchev's time was covered with garish coloring in the form of exotic flowers and tropical animals; in the garden, tubs with different vines and palms were installed - and a gilded sign called "Jungle Hotel" was hung above the main entrance.

  [14]

  The soft sign on the end had already been peeled off, and the sign looked like "Wanted the Jungle".

  Literally. Since then, the question of who wanted what, has been chasing the hotel owner. But the one who didn't want to admit his own ignorance didn't change the name. And he hasn't forgotten. The name was easy to remember and heard. What else do you need for a third-rate hotel?

  Inside, the hotel was divided into two wings. One was the big one. In it, in the former dorm rooms, converted into double and triple rooms, visitors now lived. The second one was small. On the ground floor there was a hozblock and a dining room with a bar, and on the second floor there was a conference hall. It was a banquet room. It's a disco room. It's a gym and a billiard room.

  These two wings were joined together in the lobby. There used to be a booth with a harsh janitor. Now a perhydro girl of indefinite age missed the counter. When she saw us, she came to life. She looked at me with a contemptuous look, and for a long time pinned h
er eyes on Valentine. Well, you can understand her. Our toothpick looked absolutely gorgeous. Tall blond, black suit, embossed muscles rolling under a white shirt...

  The girl yanked her blouse, showing an impressive piece of a powerful bust, whipped her hair - and slammed her eyes so that I heard a machine gun line.

  - Good afternoon. Who do you want?

  She only looked at Valentine in the process. So the poor werewolf tried to hide behind me.

  - Chizhova. Mikhail Nikolaevich, - I informed. Where is it...

  - I'd be happy to help you... - A darkly twisted girl, still looking at Valentine. - Or are you going to stay with us?

  - No! - A werewolf twitched.

  - He still has a hunt to live," I barked. - Girl, where can I find Chizhov?!

  - In my room! - a girl yanked at me. At least I got distracted from the werewolf. Valentine quickly hid behind Lenka as well. Wasn't it enough...

  - Room number! Ugh, shit!

  You start talking here...

  - We do not give such information to outsiders," the girl snorting at me arrogantly.

  - So call him and let him know. Or are you sitting here as an ornament!?

  - I'm a receptionist! - There's a girl outraged.

  - If you were Clava Schiffer, you'd have dialed the number and found out what and how. Otherwise, your next job is to collect bottles in the garbage! - Leonidas barked from behind my shoulder and gently put his fist as big as a small melon on a rack.

  It worked.

  The girl twitched and started dialing in a hurry.

  - Mikhail Nikolaevich? You have guests here...

  - – …

  - Who are you?

  - From Lubomirski.

  - They speak from Lubomirski.

  - – …

  - Number 402. It's to the right and up the stairs.

  - We do.

  We turned around and some mini-pig walked up the stairs.

  - Julia, be tough," Leonidas told me as soon as we got away from the look of the blonde. - You can do that. So what do you have to lose?

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  - That came out fast somehow. I didn't get a chance to say anything...

  - The main thing is, don't mess with the producer.

  - I'll do my best.

  * * *

  For exactly one minute, I knocked on the producer's room.

  The door was opened to me by Mischa Saw himself. And immediately I shone a perfect smile.

  - It's so good to see you!

  Scraped me on the handle and tried to drool on the back of my palm. And he looked at me with such admiration that I felt like Clava Schiffer. For three seconds. He would have got the highest score for seduction, but after Mieczysław it didn't work out with any determination. So I just got angry. It was clear. This producer has his singers on everyone. In the hope that the fool (fool) will melt and sign a contract favourable to him.

  Yeah, I got it.

  After Mieczysław's trial, all the other men were simply not seen by me as seducers. Roughly speaking, tractor driver Vanya Petrov is not a rival of the lover hero of Kazanova. By the way - we'll have to ask Mechyslav, what was he doing then? At the time of Kazanova. Okay, don't be distracted, or the producer will be happy before the time.

  I wonder if he's only doing this to me, or to everyone. Men - Dosu with her high qualifications, women - Misha or Lavrika. Although Lavrika is now... sorry about the guy. Even though he's a singing butt, but he's still a man...

  I pulled my hand out of the singer. He's cute, though. You can't say anything. It's a variant of a former hero. Tall, dark hair, beard, eyes piercing blue... and singing about the suffering of the blatnos. Yes, the brutal Criminal Code! The thief must sit, and the killer... must also sit. A shortcoming, however. It's better to hang them in the sun... or they'll suffer! They're suffering cruelly! And how good it would be! No man, no suffering!

  - You don't have to wipe your dentures against me. Anyway, get out of here!

  - Did we even get in there? - We're at Chizhov's, and this?

  - Ask at the watch," I advised, not calling what was downstairs a receptionist as a matter of principle.

  - No, no, no, no. The producer rolled out a bun from behind Misha's back. - You got exactly where you need to go! Good afternoon. It's so good to see you. I thought you were from...

  - Yes. From Lubomirski.

  The producer looked at me with the kind eyes of Chikatilo.

  - So you will represent Mieczyslaw Nikolaevich?

  - I've been fooling around.

  - It's very, very nice. My name is Mikhail Petrovich.

  - Yulia Yevgenyevna. We even saw each other. But you don't seem to remember me.

  - Forget such beauty!? Never!

  I snorted.

  - I already know about my beauty. Well, at least the cars aren't shaking yet. Let's get down to business. I have a contract here for two gigs. One for Dosi and one for Misha. We have the Wolf Fight Club. And we want Dosya to give a concert there tomorrow. And Misha's at the Three Sixes today.

  - Wonderful! Beautiful choice! My wards are very popular with young people...

  The producer would praise his singers for a long time, but I decided not to stay long.

  - I get it. How much?

  For a moment Mikhail Petrovich mixed up, and then called such a price that my eyes went up to my ears. Not even on my forehead. I'll write Pugacheva here for such a sum. With a weighty Galkin look.

  Which is what I said. The producer's in a pose.

  - Well, who's coming to your Scarecrow? Old people in their 50s?

  - Whoever comes will be our business. And the fee will sail away from you. Or are you saying that your monkeys are in such demand? They'll never be remembered in two years.

  - That's not true!

  - Mikhail Petrovich, - Leonid gently intervened. - We all understand, but your price is really too high. We can offer you...

  I wasn't listening anymore, I slipped into second level of vision.

  Not a tail of scales!?

  Mischa and the producer were there at the opening. And they had to get hurt. And instead, there were almost no consequences. Where are the slugs that badly ruined my life and which I had such a hard time taking away from Lesha the werewolf?!

  Where?!

  Of course, the producer had black spots on his aura, but not those... creatures.

  I took a closer look.

  And what's this?

  Both the producer and Mischa Saw had... had some kind of hole in the aura. The flat cocoon that enveloped the man was slightly broken. It was like something just dissolved a piece of the aura and disappeared.

  It's interesting...

  Didn't those slugs do their best?

  And isn't that why the reaction that both the producer and Mischa have is absolute people. All they have out of paranormal is greed. That's the one. Otherwise, they're just a normal person. Except for this piece of aura...

  And if you assume they're slugs, what's the threat to the carrier?

  It's probably nothing pleasant. Less will live. Or he'll get sicker. Or it'll be less resistant to anything. It's bad. But not lethal. Not right away.

  But then why was it so hard for me to get the slugs off Lesha?

  I don't understand anything!

  - Julia, we have to go, - Leonid quietly poked me in the side.

  I said goodbye to everyone here, got up and obediently sank after the werewolves.

  What's the use of this visit? They didn't find the priests. I certainly had more questions than answers. Where do you find those answers and how? That's what I didn't even know when I first approached.

  Alas.

  The receptionist walked us with an angry, jealous gaze.

  * * *

  Leonidas didn't want to come back with us, so he went to the taxi stand. And Valentine and I got in the car. He put Charles and Gleb up under the pretext of "need to talk." And I didn't mind. Drakosha looked at me closely, but he got ou
t of the car. And the guys headed for the ice cream stand. And Valentine and I were staring at each other.

  - Yul didn't you feel anything?

  - No, - honestly, I said. - If anyone's been here, they're not now.

  - – А…

  - If you're on auras, I watched their auras. There are holes. There are stains. But it all heals. It's faster for me. By them, slower. But they'll live.

  - And you took slugs off Alexei and that journalist. Why is that?

  - I don't know. Maybe they'll weaken and die with time. Or maybe they don't. Don't ask me what I'm zero about without a wand.

  The phone call made me twitch.

  - Yeah?

  - Julia Yevgenyevna, good afternoon.

  Rokin's call didn't give me much joy.

  - Are you sure he's kind?

  - Not really.

  - Again!? - I exhaled.

  - No, what are you... It's not a big deal. I'm just calling to say that this symbolism doesn't make any sense. Not a circle, not a triangle, not these cuts. The bloody eagle ritual has long been known. But that's it.

  - Was he really famous, or was it just bullshit? - I checked. - And was this ritual connected to Odin?

  The thing is, I've been going through the literature here, too. The bloody eagle ritual was kind of introduced by the Vikings. But there's only one chronicle. Other chronicles, it was all natural bullshit. And the Vikings didn't want it for free or for a fee. Third, it was a ritual of sacrifice to Odin. Fourth, Odin was worshipped in a different way.

  - Let's say, it happened in the old days and so on, - did not go into details Rokin. - But it clearly had nothing to do with One. But who was worshipped like that, I don't know. We're looking for information.

  I wanted to spit on my phone.

  - What is there to know? I thought you had the richest libraries!

  - Julia, we have really good libraries. Some of the best. But most of them are in the paper version. There are works on converting information into electronic form, but the process is long and hard. So don't expect miracles from us!

  I was embarrassed. How hard it was to work with old books, I knew. Books, too, by the way. Who would entrust me with an antiquity with my needle in my... waist.

  - I'm sorry. And yet you know nothing?

  - It's okay. I'm sorry.