NIGHT, I. Rin [ebook reader with highlight function TXT] 📗

the girl. “She’s there! We have to help her!”

 

“If she is there - we are not able to help her. It is a collective illusion. Too much energy is involved.”

 

Lica burst of tears on the Prince’s shoulder.

 

“Take it easy!” the Vampire said quietly. “May be, it was not Sofia. You have mistaken. There are many traps in the Well of Oppression, so you should watch your back.”

 

Soon “Bloody Lake” was over, and Lica saw beautiful valleys.

 

The Prince gently lowered her down and said:

 

“It is Hell Valley. Next, our paths are going to diverge. I am going to Hell and you are this way. I hope you will be able to meet with one of the Viatores.”

 

“But I’m afraid. What if I fell into someone’s illusion again?” “Impossible! The Hell Valley is a real place in the Well of Oppression. And if you do not leave it outside, you are not in danger. Believe me! Do not respond anybody’s cries or requests for help, take no notice to what you see outside the valleys - and you’ll be perfectly safe. Walk here and there... It’s not the worst place in Hell, believe me. And if you’re lucky enough you may meet at least one of the Viatores – then ask him how to win the evil!”

 

“Okay,” said Lica. “And when are you coming back?”

 

“I will try as soon as possible!” the Prince of Vampires as-sured her.

 

He turned and, making only two steps to the side, disap-peared. The girl had even frozen in surprise.

 

“Wow!” she said finally. “And indeed, it is an illusion. But I have forgotten to ask how these Viatores, look like. Now I do not know who I am looking for.”

 

Angelica turned to the wide valley and set out in search of the Viatores. The Hell Valley was a pretty attractive place. There was light, although she did not understand where this wonderful pink light was coming from. It seemed as if you walking at the sunset. Fresh green grass was shuffling under her feet. She could see a lot of unknown plants but they fit so perfectly in the landscape that Lica did not pay attention to them. The only thing that alarmed Angelica was the complete lack of insects. No buzzing flies, no flying mosquitoes and midges, no butterflies and dragonflies. Even no ants and beetles among the green grass. At first it piqued her, but then she moved on to look for the Viatores.

 

Lica did not know how much time passed, but she was sure that she had been walking for several hours. However, she had not met anybody yet. Nothing disturbed the peace and quiet of this wonderful place. Angelica was so tired that she just fell into the grass exhausted and began to look into the pink sky. Then she felt some movement in the pink gauze. Lica started to look narrowly. It seemed to her that a huge white cloud is moving away from her to the border of Hell Valley.

 

“Wait!” the girl cried. “I can see! I can see you!”

 

She jumped up and ran after the “cloud.” It stopped and suddenly gained a clearer shape. Now Lica could see a figure looked like a man, but he was not less than fifteen meters tall. It was shaky and transparent, but still differentiated from the pink valley.

 

“Hello!” Angelica cried. “Are you a Viatore? I’ve been look-ing for you!”

 

For a few minutes the figure was looking at the girl mutely and Lica could almost physically feel as if someone was rummaging in her brain. Suddenly she heard a soft voice in her mind:

 

“I see... The people in the kingdom need our help. But we just bystanders, and have no right to interfere in the struggle of good and evil. If only does one of the side far outweigh, we will have a right.”

 

“Now it is a case in point!” cried the girl. “The old evil had been released and we are unable to help ourselves! Is it allowable?” The Viatore fell to thinking. Then Lica heard his voice in her  head again:

 

“We will come to the battle and watch it. If it is so, as you are saying, we will have to balance your powers.”

“And do you know how to return the evil back into the abyss?” “Your friend will tell you.”

“Which friend?” Angelica cried, but the Viatore did not say a word.

A moment later he turned into a white cloud and floated away from the Hell Valleys.

“But why?!” screamed the girl in annoyance. “Why didn’t he say anything?”

She tried to catch him up but couldn’t...

 

Tired and annoyed, Lica sat in the grass waiting the Prince of Vampires. He appeared in two hours. The Prince came from nowhere. He looked extremely nervous.

“Prince!” Lica was glad. “How long I have been waiting for you! Frankly, I’m tired of this place. Have you found out anything?”

 

“Yes a little...”

 

The Vampire sat on the grass next to the girl and continued: “The evil is much older than Hell and the Devil. We have delved all magic books, and only in the oldest one we could find a mention about these spirits. To catch them back into the abyss, we need to find another sorcerer.”

 

“What do you mean?” Angelica did not understand.

 

“We must find someone who will be able to seal them in the abyss of his heart. As you know, I am not good for this, because I am heartless.”

The Vampire smiled and continued:

 

“He must be a very powerful sorcerer who is able to cope with the old evil. So I am wondering who it could be. By the way, Angelica, have you met with the Viatore?”

“Yes! I have seen one of them. He wasn’t very talkative.” The Prince’s eyes flashed.

“What did he say? Please, tell me word for word.”

 

“He said that they were only bystanders and were not going to interfere in the fight between good and evil. But when I said that

 

 the evil’s power is bigger, the Viatore promised me to come and balance the enemy forces.”

“Good,” the Prince breathed out. “You were very lucky – you could persuade the Viatore to participate. I admire you more and more.”

And the Vampire impulsively grabbed Angelica’s hand and passionately kissed her.

“Prince,” Lica murmured, “it’s time to go! As a matter of fact, I’d rather quickly get out of here.”

“Let’s go,” the Vampire agreed.

 

He stood up and helped her up as well. After that, the Prince unhanded Lica even for a second. They had set off back.

Angelica dreaded to see that “Bloody Lake” again, but instead, our heroes found themselves in a dirty and cold hospital room. They saw a very thin and haggard old man on the narrow bed; he was crying.

 

“Young lady,” he turned to Lica. “Give me a pain killer! I can’t stand this pain anymore.”

“Just a minute,” said Angelica.

 

She pulled the Vampire to the old man and lightly poked him into the hand with her little finger.

“Done,” she said. “Now you must feel better.”

 

She saw the tension disappeared from the face of the old man.

 

“Thank you,” he muttered.

 

A minute later the old man was asleep.

 

“You’re too sensitive,” said the Prince. “Come on, hurry up.” And he led the way. Next they saw some more someone’s

 

terrible illusions...

 

A maniac was sawing someone into pieces with chainsaw, wolves were ripping someone and someone went mad with loneliness...

Lica could not see this horror any more. She just clung to the Vampire’s arm and silently followed him. The girl did not remember how they got to the exit. She was quite delusional and woke up only in the saddle...

The night in the castle of vampires

 

 

The Lord of Vampires was riding with Angelica and her horse was running after them.

 

“Prince,” she murmured, “what a blessing that you are!” And Lica sobbed on the Vampire’s shoulder.

 

“I understand, Angelica, that today’s adventure has unsettled you,” quietly said the Lord of Vampires. “You need to get some rest. In my castle, you can sleep well, and tomorrow we will go to see the Prince and the King of Goblins.”

 

Lica remembered with horror that she had thrown the amulet, given her by Margo, in the Well of Oppression. But she was got coming and going... However, spending the night in the Fields of Ghosts, with lots of werewolves, wasn’t a good idea either.

 

Meanwhile, the Lord had entered the courtyard of his castle.

 

His servants immediately rushed to meet him.

 

“Prepare her apartments next to my room!” ordered the Prince.

 

“Things are getting worse and worse,” Angelica thought, but said nothing.

 

The Prince dismounted and helped the girl down. Then he gave his hand and led her to the castle.

 

“Lay the table in a small hall immediately!” the Prince continued to give orders. “A fried meat for the girls and as usual – for me!”

 

“Just half an hour everything will be ready!” said a tall, thin vampire.

 

“I see, that you are very tired,” said the Lord of Vampire turning to Lica, “but we have to wait a little, until dinner is cooked and your room is tidy. Nobody has expected a visitor here today.”

 

“Of course,” she nodded.

 

They went into in a small room next to the small hall.

 

“Would you like a glass of red wine,” said the Vampire.

 

“Is it wine?” Angelica asked suspiciously.

 

“Do you really think that I’ll pour you the blood?” the Prince laughed.

He took two glasses and a bottle of wine from the bar and filled each one half.

“Drink, please,” said the Prince, giving her a glass of wine. “You need to relax.”

Lica took a pull, and the heat began to spread throughout her body. “You have blushed,” the Vampire smiled. “How do I love your 

velvet skin!”

 

“Tell me, Prince, why aren’t you married yet?” now brave enough Lica asked.

“I haven’t found the one single yet. Although now I’m not so sure...”

The Vampire put unfinished glass of wine on the table, walked up and down the room, sat in the chair and stared at the girl.

 

“Tell me, Angelica, would you agree to marry me?” “But you’re immortal, and I am not!”

“I can change it,” the Lord of Vampire smiled ironically. “Are you speaking at me; should I become a vampire? But I think if I become similar to all your women - with pale skin, sunken eyes and dull hair - you will go off me very quickly, won’t you, Prince?”

 

The Vampire thought, and then said quietly:

 

“Maybe you’re right.”

 

“And more, if I become a vampire, I will never be able to give you heir, because I will be dead. So if not... you will have a little chance!”

The Prince stared at Lica, but said nothing. At this moment a servant entered and announced that the table was set.

The Lord of Vampire gave Lica his hand, and they went to the dining room. Angelica expected to see raw meat with blood, but she had been mistaken. There was everything that your heart desired. Even a fruit tray was on the table. However, the Prince didn’t touch any food; he was only drinking something from a high goblet. But Lica was so hungry that did not hesitate to eat enough. After dinner, the Lord of Vampire showed the girl her room and said:

 

“My room is next to yours. If you need something, you are welcome!”

“Thank you.”

 

Angelica went to her bedroom and was astonished