- I do not understand. Then you rush here from England for the sake of Alina, whisper her name in such a voice, to goosebumps, tell that without her the world will drown in blood. Now: “it would be for someone to shoot,” I mimicked him. Do you have multiple personalities or what?

- Beloklykova was supposed to help ... in something, - Lyo turned on, drinking from Mark's bottle. “Now… it won’t.”

“Help,” I looked back at Leo. She told me otherwise. That Mark is her fan-fan. Maybe misunderstood? She will help, but she will stay with her boyfriend. You talk to her, explain.

“I don’t want to,” Mark muttered. I can manage without her help.

“But you can help,” Lyo perked up again, reached for my hand, but cut himself off. - Nothing complicated. All you have to do is… well… believe what we’re about to tell you.

“Yeah, yeah,” Mark chuckled. - Take it easy. It didn't work out what to do. We will root for others and hope that the new leader will be more adequate.

Do you have some kind of sect? I arched my brow. - Will you talk about the true gods and what needs to be done so that cats and dogs live in peace? Usually, the grandmothers of God's dandelions do this.

- We will not.

“Let’s tell,” Leo insisted. “Think for yourself, if she agrees, you won’t have to ... all those horrors won’t happen.” Yes, you know the situation. You must participate! For a moment, fear was guessed on his face, but he pulled himself together and smiled. - I think Alina is good. Better than Beloklykova.

“Did you understand that after she punched you in the face?”

“No, guys,” I held up my palms. - Help in the sense of cheering up, can tell how cool you are. But, I beamed. Listen, I know how to help! Let me talk to Alina. I'll tell you that you're better than that guy. Maybe I’ll scare you that she, consider, gave me to two unfamiliar men. And that's it.

Mark turned around and raised his finger, turning into a terrible maniac:

I don't want to talk about this girl. She made a choice, and her fate is no longer interesting to me, - the maniac was replaced by a polite smile. “Or did you decide right now to grant my wish?”

“Pf, good try to avoid losing.” I shook my head. - Okay, since I got involved in this, I will help with what is needed there. Do you need to take something away or I don’t know what kind of repair? Keep in mind, I do not glue wallpaper very much.

Le beamed, but Mark furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head.

- Too dangerous. Now we will take you home and you will live your life on.

His brother straightened up indignantly and wanted to say something, but, looking at me, cut off his thoughts and drooped. We had just reached the mysteriously illuminated house. In my haste, I didn't pay any attention to him. Timbered, obviously very old, but well maintained. The roof was overgrown with moss, in the far part even a bush grew. The porch is clean, a small veranda was decorated with beautiful columns with carved patterns. The area around the hut is trampled and covered with fallen needles. Paradise for an introvert. If only the terrible beasts didn’t howl through the forests - in general, beauty.

Mark made his way to the door, past the bowls of burning poles that I had so violently rejected as I ran. It is very warm next to them, one cannot but admit. Something night today is not at all some kind of summer.

“Now I’ll ask for something that will cause a tantrum,” Mark sighed, warming his palms by the fire.

I'm hysterical, what do you think? – I was indignant, too, going to the bowl. It's cold, damn it! Now that the danger had passed and I seemed to have calmed down, the cool wind bit my open forearms and froze my skin.

“Now we’ll believe it,” Mark lowered his chin and said. - Close your eyes.

I choked on such impudence.

- Do you think I am fool? I'll close it, and you bam and on the head?

- Why stupid? She said she was hysterical. And believe me, if I wanted to, I wouldn't care if your eyes were closed or not.

- Would you like something? She lifted her chin defiantly.

“Alinochka,” Le intervened. - Consider that, well ... Mark, - he thought. “Something like radioactive spirits,” the prince and I raised our eyebrows at the same time, but Le continued. - Yes, and they can make you dizzy and therefore ...

- Okay. Thank you for your creativity, - Mark grabbed my hand so sharply that I flinched. - He doesn't want to, he doesn't have to.

Lyo pursed his lips, but also stepped towards Mark, put his hand on his shoulder, and at that moment it was as if the ground had been knocked out from under my feet.

I flew in the dark, surrounded by growls smeared across the blackness. Like a faulty cassette that slows it down and makes the voices, if they are voices, scarier. But they all moved away. The darkness was replaced by a pinkish glow, as if by the first rays of dawn.

Another push, and I am surprised to find myself in the forest. But... in his. I understood right away. The night is over! The summer sun shone through the crowns. Noon seems to have passed. What... What kind of mystic is this?! Am I completely gone? What year is it now?!

The legs did not hold, but the fall was avoided. I was unexpectedly gently held by Mark.

"Shut your eyes for a bit," he spoke almost affectionately now. - It's easier, really. Are you at home. I mean, in my forest, everything is in order.

She didn't understand why, but she obeyed. When I opened it, my eyes stopped spinning, and the ability to stand on my own returned to my body. Is it getting warmer or is it throwing me into a fever? WTF?! The bright familiar forest has not disappeared anywhere. The scary beasts did not roar. There was also no hut. But... we...

So, Alina, calm down. There must be some rational explanation for all this... But it seems that you are too dumb to formulate it. Maybe Mark still hit me on the head? Is it worth getting mad at him for the sake of it? Mmmm... Damn, I don't want to get out of the prince's strong embrace...

“Thank you.” I shook my head. We are not by the stream, but I recognized the place. Here, even the road. On it from the capital companies always come for picnics. The place is beautiful, it's a pity it only gradually turns into a dump. On the trampled area now stood a funky black SUV.

“We will take you home,” Mark sighed, releasing me from his arms and heading towards this handsome man.

Fuck yourself. Is that his?! Like a prince, and even on such a horse!

Chapter 6

- This is the car. Damn, I heard that sects are profitable, but so be it!

I walked over to a hefty black SUV, polished to reflect everything in a mirror. And is he not afraid to throw it in the middle of the forest? Taking a closer look at herself, she winced. Hair in different directions. There was dirt on his cheeks, his pants turned into a battered doormat.

- Oh, gentlemen for me too. They didn’t say anything about my chic sandy mustache - I couldn’t help it and laughed. - Yes, everything is strange, day turns into night, howling, horror animals, everything is so scary, but damn it. Vidocq I have, of course - I turned to them and pointed to the upper lip. Or are you jealous that you don't have one?

“Of course,” Mark nodded, walking around the car and opening the trunk. This alarmed, but the prince showed up with a first-aid kit and threw it to Lyo. - Wash the car from the sand anyway, so at least there will be no blood. I will say that I drove old women. So that they don’t think that I ate them, come on without blood.

- And so no one will be surprised that you drove grannies, right? Apparently, for you, this is in the order of things. Maybe among them we will look for the only one to replace Alina? I sneered, wiping my face with a napkin that Le held out.

– I am very principled. The older the woman, the lower the chance that I will be the one who is alone for life. However, if she is still waiting for the prince on horseback, then ... not too. I'm not good with horses.

- How not okay. There you have it - a black one, - I slapped my palm on the hood and a stunning yellow-red print remained on the polished surface. - Oh, I'm sorry. I giggled nervously. - And on such a horse you can stuff a pack of wives. And what? You have experience, - continued to carry me to no one knows where.

- No, no, - Mark, pretending to be romantic, put his hand to his chest. - Waiting for my fate.

- How is it not? They shoved me out at once, - I giggled. - Or you looked after me for Le. And what? He’s a cutie,” I laughed and poked him in the stomach with my elbow. - They even got into a fight.

- I? - so sincerely surprised that it became funny. - No I can not. I hear that you...

“You think so,” Mark interrupted. - Go. So far, Alina has not been lost.

“You can’t,” I narrowed my eyes, looking at Le and narrowed my eyes. Or you don't want to.

It suddenly occurred to me that since Mark was in love or whatever was going on in his head, Le was fine too. Not as healthy, of course, but cute. Why not take a chance?

“But, Mark, we must try,” Le insisted cautiously and looked at me hopefully. I don't want to scare you, but this is important. If Mark fails to participate, there is a high chance that he, as well as many others, will simply be killed.

“Enough,” the prince grimaced, but did not object and laugh it off, looking thoughtfully at his brother.