- And how do you imagine that? - Well, I can't be more specific. Somehow we switched to "you."
- I will be silent. And you're the one I wanted to make the deal with.
- About what?
- I help you, you help me. But I'm in a hopeless situation. I don't want to lose this baby. And I can't let my people pay for my sins.
That was clear to me. The standard is not to climb a tree and not to sit on a... ass. There's one thing I don't understand. Why is that? I would ask that question. But Charles was looking at the bear with some interest. Kind of scientific. What's that bug on the pin? So I decided to keep quiet. Bye, then.
The dragon spoke in my place.
- What makes you think this operation is our initiative? Mecislav will know everything as soon as he wakes up. And Julia, as his surname, has no right to enter into such agreements.
- He does.
- And how will that sound? You help us... with what? To serve cannon fodder? And in exchange for what?
- In exchange, Julia promises to help our three women.
- And you get to be one of them. You don't want to work for Mieczysław.
- I don't want to. And none of mine wants to get involved with vampires.
I remembered the Valkyrie's suggestion about Alfonso da Silva, but I kept quiet. But the dragon wouldn't keep quiet. And it was as if I had seen what he could be like when he was free. Powerful. Powerful. Dangerous and unpredictable. Lord. You can't tell otherwise. Lord of the sky.
It's my brother.
And what, the family's definitely not gonna be complaining about this addition.
Scarlet eyes were sparkling. Charles stuck his gaze on the bear, and she couldn't move her gaze away, no matter how hard she tried.
- Summing up everything you want, you brought your men here to the massacre. You don't own magic. Or you own a werewolf as much as you can, which is not enough. But you come here and offer your people's lives in three childish lives. The lives of unborn children. Your people don't know that one seat's already taken, do they?
The bear was silent. Charles has cursed.
- You didn't tell them. And how do you want to beat that? The toss-up? Or something else?
- It's none of your business.
- Really? You're not playing fair, bear.
- Don't trust a bear that walks on two legs," I whispered.
Two glances, blue and purple, turned on me. And I straightened up.
- I, Julia Yevgenyevna Leoverenskaya, surname of the city prince, decided. Thank you, Charles.
- You're welcome.
- You can load up and go home. I'm not going into intelligence with you.
- It's silly," said the bear. I did not give in to provocation.
- Foolish or clever - will decide Mechislav. I suppose you understand that I'll tell him everything.
- I wouldn't recommend it.
We got our eyes on each other. Not for long. One second for five. Then I took my eyes off and snorted.
- You can't order or advise me. And I don't want to talk to you. So you don't want to cooperate with vampires. Not even with all vampires, but with Mieczysław and within reason. But to frame your people for a one-time deal and play them in the dark... disgusting. Go away.
- Think about it, the bear asked again. There was steel in her voice.
Instead of answering, Charles opened the door.
- Lena!
Leonidas appeared on the threshold like a genie from a bottle.
- Show our guest out. And let them... kill... go.
Leonidas took a questionable look at me. I lowered my eyelids, confirming the dragon's order. And the shape-shifter became wide awake. It was an unusually nasty grin.
- If you say so. Lady, can I get you out of here?
The bear got up slowly from the chair.
- Our conversation is not over yet, Julia.
- Ours is finished. You can talk to Mieczysław about the rest," I answered calmly. Who would know what that calmness cost me.
The bear had a crooked smile. And my skin's frozen. She better be making threats. She was swearing. Anything. But she was just watching. And there was a cold of hatred in her eyes.
I realized that she would be my mortal enemy. She already is. But you couldn't back down. And I sat there while all the bears were coming out of the office. I sat until Leonidas came back with a short one:
- They're gone.
And only then did I let myself relax.
Except I tried too hard. My hands turned to jelly, my legs too... if it wasn't for Charles and Leonidas, I'd just have fallen to the floor. But the men picked me up. Charles was holding me on weight, and Leonidas, having assessed my condition, took out a bottle from somewhere and splashed a liquid that smelled like bug into it.
- Zalp! Come on!
The cognac helped. There was less nausea, there was noise in my head, but now the noise was rather pleasant.
I blinked, and I looked at Charles.
- I did the right thing, didn't I?
- Absolutely. They're getting very dark.
- In what? - Shaken by Leonidas.
I didn't have the strength to tell. I had to nod Charles.
The dragon retold our conversation quickly and clearly enough. And added his impressions.
- Too sly bitch. Could be flirty. You should keep an eye on her.
- You should watch. It's a thankless thing to do," Leonidas snapped. - And about Alfonso, did she say anything?
- I wonder how it could have affected a vampire," I said. - Who is she, anyway?
- I will find out," nodded Leonidas, the black one in the notebook. - In a week's time I'll know everything I can about her.
I nodded.
- If we have this week. And also... If she wasn't expecting a baby, she wouldn't have opened so easily.
Charles nodded silently.
Leonid shrugged his shoulders.
- It's better for us. Okay, I'll go call mine.
* * *
And it was dusk outside the window. We've already managed to discuss everything we can.
Washed the bones of bears and tigers.
We took apart Charles's story in detail - and almost made the dragon hysterical, trying to find out if even a little bit more!
And now they just sat there and kept silent looking at the screens. And there was emptiness and silence. And there was only one thought in everyone's head.
Nastia.
* * *
Mechislav opened his eyes and took a breath away. Yeah, vampires especially don't need to breathe. They can do without oxygen at all. But the old habits still remain. And after that nightmare that was recently...
The vampire was embarrassed. Crazy embarrassed.
Caught in an ambush. And Julia had to risk her life to get him out.
It was a shame to be embarrassed in front of my name. For stupidity. For abandonment. For lost self-control. And even for cowardice. After all, if he hadn't, in fact, escaped from an unpleasant conversation with Julia, believing an anonymous call, no killer would have gotten him in town.
It was a shame in front of my people.
They didn't say anything. But they looked with a clear condemnation. Because if he had died and Julia had died... they'd all stay at the mercy of the Vampire Council. Who would have survived. And the mercy of the Council...
It'd be better if they were IPPs. At least they'd kill painlessly.
Everybody understood that very well. And Mecislav was ashamed. If he had been killed, no one would have been spared.
- Slava!
The roar at the door was quite familiar to the vampire.
The sword was thrown from the bed like a vortex. The blockage flew away.
- Ed!
Edward clad his friend and squealed so that Mieczyslaw was only glad that he was undead. He would have strangled himself, how to drink.
- Let go, Siberian bear, you'll flatten...
- Scottish. We have you as Siberian.
Edward loosened his hands and slammed his buddy on the back.
- I'm damn glad to see you alive, Slava.
- I'm glad about it too, - from true joy in the eyes of a friend, Mechislav was embarrassed and immediately moved on to business. - When did you get here?
- Just last night. But I never got a chance to talk to you.
- Yeah, well...
Mecislav's eyes are down. At first he almost got killed. And then death did take the victim. Alfonso da Silva. And when the vampire came home, it was almost dawn. And Edward was always very sensitive to the sun. And he tried to climb deeper an hour before he came home.
- It's good to see you. It's true, we're almost in a military situation here, you know...
- I already know everything.
- By the way, when did you wake up?
- I'm not the one who woke up, and you overslept. Your Fedor didn't tell me to wake you. He said he was personally ripping his arms and legs off.
- And how long have I slept?
- A little bit. It's been an hour since sunset. A little more.
- It's not that scary. Is Julia here yet? I'm going to get dressed now and I want you to meet her.
- We already know each other. Your surname is a rare fighting girl, Edward snorting approvingly.
- It's not taken away. Maybe then it'll get smarter...
- I wouldn't count on it much.
- Have you talked to her yet? - guessed it was a vampire.
The answer was Edward's approving grin.
- Yeah! But she's good for you. I wasn't scared, I was ambushed by your killer...
- Have the guys figured out this bastard? Listen, while I get dressed, call Julia, get her to tell me...
- That's how she sits in the ambush.
Mieczysław turned sharply away from the clothes closet. His green eyes sparkled.
- Where is she!?
- I went hunting for the Priests. I figured she's the only one who could handle it anyway.
- Can she handle it? - Mecislav hissed like a viper.
- She has at least a small chance.
The vampire flashed his eyes.
And then, as he was, naked, he opened the room door and yelled into the corridor:
- Vadim!!!
Ryavk echoed from the stone walls. But instead of Vadim, there was Vladimir.
- And you... -Mecislav began, but was immediately interrupted.
- Vadim went to Yule, right after he woke up. I want to point out that I was against...
- I just want to point out that this isn't helping you. You're gonna yell "I was against it" in the other world. - The vampire's green eyes were full of red sparks.
Vladimir did not flinch.
- It's not my fault. Your family name is beyond my control.
- It wasn't enough yet! - Mechislav finally got angry. - Where's my phone?
- He died yesterday. Here's a new one. - Vladimir gave Mieczyslaw a cell phone. And Mechislav dialed Yulin's number.
The mechanical voice politely informed that the subscriber is unavailable.
And Mechislav dialed Leonid's number. This one will definitely be in the center of events.
* * *
Our waiting was interrupted by a phone call. Leonidas hastily clicked the button.
- Yes, guv.
- Here, Chief.
- Okay, chief. Yulia, the chef asked you to come to his club.
- What!?
- Right. He needs you at the Three Sixes.
Wait! Can't he clean his boots?! Can't you iron his shoelaces?
It'll blow over!
I can make a difference here. Maybe. And there... I didn't see any vampires today! And you know, I don't suffer from it at all!
- The hell it is! - I growled at Leonidas from the bottom of my heart. - I'm not going to move. If this monster shows up here, I'm here and I'm needed. And if it's not here, we'll never make it. And if Mieczysław wants to see me, he'll do it himself!!!
- Yul... The werewolf looked embarrassed. You bet he was. Now he'll say it to Mieczysław - and he'll get a shout. In the best case. At worst... At worst, the security service will have a new chief. And this is not a gut. Neither the time nor the place. A maniac could be dealt with! And that's where Leonid's help is invaluable.
I shone my eyes at him. It came out expressively.
- Give me your phone.
Leonidas obediently gave me his cell phone. I put it to my ear, but I couldn't say anything. Hearing my breath in the speaker, the vampire barked at the end of the wire:
- Leonidas, what the devil!? Where's my last name?!
There was so much power in my voice that I almost sizzled like fat in a frying pan. Get up, assholes! Arkhar is coming! By a miracle, she held back.
- Your werewolves led by your surname are in an ambush on the main radish of the year," I said in an icy tone. - Any complaints?
- Julia?
Mieczysław's voice became like a normal human voice. But I didn't give him a chance to continue.
- Yes! It's me! Always left, forever and red! Actually, what is it! Nastia's been kidnapped, a maniac can show up here any minute, and you're distracting me from the most important operation!? How embarrassing for you! You protrude your eyes, and then you build everyone? There's no one to give you blood!? Do you realize that a pregnant woman is in the clutches of a monster who's killed three people? Or do you care about nothing but your own authority?
- A lot of things worry," said Mieczysław dryly. - Like Godwin and Glorianne.
- If we take Alfonso's killer, they'll clean up. They'll be forced to wipe themselves off," I cut it off. - And don't call me again. You're distracting me.
I watched the monitors with one eye. Was I really wrong?
Oh, my God, not again. If we're wrong, if I'm wrong, if tomorrow we find Nastia and her children dead, can I... can I live with a stone like that on my soul? And I will have four innocent souls on my conscience. Nastia. Kostya. Their children. How much can I take before I break down?
- From what? - The dryness has changed to riding. I didn't pay any attention to it.
- From observation. What the hell did you need me for? You take care of your jackals! How hard can it be to understand that this is about human life!? What vampires can understand, though! Oh, my God," almost a moan came out of me, "how did you all obsess over me with your idiotic games of power, of power, of all this akhinia, which nobody wants for free! Get away from me today! I'm busy!!!
- Sunshine, a vampire suddenly sang in a tender and gentle tone. I would have been alarmed, but I was so excited that I just didn't react in time. - I've already realized that you're busy with an important case and you're in an ambush. And what good are you doing there?
- Maximum! - I proudly put it on the phone. I figured it out! And if it's a priest, I'll do more good here than your whole company put together. At least I can fight his traps!
- I see... - after all, Mecislav is a rare disease. Even that only word he could pronounce so that I trembled. I saw a vampire as if he was licked on his red lips with a slow, deliberately sensual movement of his tongue and smiled thoughtfully. - Fluffy, are you wearing jeans again?
- Yes, - I was so confused, I answered honestly.
- That's a shame.
- Why?
I didn't understand anymore. What does my jeans have to do with the Priest!?
- Because now I'm coming and I'm gonna kick your ass for a long time!!! - There's a vampire on the other end of the wire. - So you're gonna go home lying there with your bare ass!!! Who do you think you are!………???
Then came such a true army expression that I hurried to press the firing button and gave the phone to Leonidas.
- Something seems to have upset him.
A werewolf snorting. You bet he did. With his sharp hearing...
- If you shoot a coma, I'll rip your tail off," I warned you just in case.
- And I - the head, - Charles
added quietly.
Leonid shrugged his shoulders.
- I won't say anything. Are you sure the chief wasn't heard on the other side of the phone?
Mm-hmm.
* * *
Mechislav's stuttered. Well, that's it. You're in trouble, you lousy bastard!!!
But first he dialed Vadim's phone.
- Vadim. I'm listening.
- Sitting in an ambush? - I'm sorry, Mechislav said.
- No. I'm still on my way there. Chief, you just don't know everything yet. This Priest has kidnapped Nastia.
Mechislav scolded so that the phone almost cracked the touch screen.
- I know... and...!! It's... I already... I know!!!! How could this happen?!
- No one knows yet. We have some ideas, but...
- Soon you'll be at their place?
- In 20 minutes.
- Sorry, not in two hours... okay! Send Yulka here immediately. Okay?
- Unless I hit my head and tie it like a sausage.
- You could do that.
- Okay. Chief, what about the others?
- With who? - Deceptively gentle, the vampire specified.
- You don't think I'm gonna knit her and everyone else is just gonna watch her, do you? Tigers, foxes, the same Charles... they won't let her get away with it. And she'll follow her orders. Not mine.
- All right. It's getting more and more interesting. Do you want to live?
- Everybody does. Except... Nastia needs help. And without Julie, we're doomed.
- Do you realize what that maniac can do to her?!
- Same as the others. And she understands. Chief, don't worry, we won't give her a hard time...
Mecislav welded his cell phone into the wall.
- Forgetting! Get the car to the driveway now. Edka, are you with me?
- With you.
Mecislav pulled the camouflage out of the closet.
- Then we'll take the guns and get on the horses! Edka, I've got something here, see what suits you.
The tube could not withstand the boorish treatment and crumbled into a lot of details - small and large. The battery under the heel of an angry vampire gritted. But Mechislav didn't even pay attention to it. He rushed around his office like a wild beast. Talking to Julia was the last straw.
This girl... this cheeky... this...
Fucking hell, how much can you be fucking kidding me!?
She's sitting in an ambush!?
Ring of Madness Page 185