30

Maria woke up on a two-story bed. Christoph was on the right side and Bjorn on the left, and a cat was sleeping on his chest. — And where are we now?—The vampire asked the cat out loud. Mathias snorted with displeasure. — I have.—Guy was standing against the wall.— I wouldn't say it's nice here, but at least it's safe.— — It's quite nice here. Curtains should be hung... Oh, yes, there are no windows here...—Guy listened, retreating to the corner.— Go to sleep if you still want to...— —I don't think I can sleep right now. I'm always... I constantly think only to stop being afraid. And I'm only afraid that those whom I love so much will suffer...—Maria squeezed the runic pendant on a chain around her neck with her hand. — And your creator. He's not good enough. And I don't mean his beautiful appearance now. After all, Bjorn is really beautiful. Everything is fine in it... Just like your mother...— the look of the ancient vampire suddenly became somehow dreamy. — You just recognized her. Maybe then my mom won't seem like that to you. She used to have friends, but none of them turned out to be faithful to the end. Only Friedrich and there was one wolf, Callum...—Maria sighed.— His family was killed by supporters of clean lines. Where is he himself?— — If fate is kind to him, he will live. Fate...—Guy sighed.— No one has seen her, but for some reason everyone is hoping for her! - — Yes...— The ancient vampire stroked Bjorn's cheek again and went into the corner. — What are you doing there, Guy?—the vampire asked. — I'm listening...—Cornelius closed his eyes.— I learned not to sleep for a long time even when I was badly injured... Life has taught me.— — I have information from Bjorn that you have an immortal weapon available. I really want this weapon. Can you show me a weapon that can kill any immortal?—Maria asked. — I think I can give you a couple of useful devices...—Guy opened the chest.— Now let's see what you have to deal with. Come over here...— Maria went to the huge chest on which Guy was standing earlier, and now jumped down and rummaged in it. — Hand crossbows? No, I don't think you should. For vampires, this weapon is too heavy, it is suitable for werewolves.—Guy interrupted Maria's fleeting thought. — At least, I have never experienced any problems with weights before...—Maria picked up a short sword.— Whoo! I really like it. Beautiful and comfortable.— —It was Bjorn's sword,— Guy chuckled.— if you want, take it. He gave it up a long time ago.— Maria waved her sword in the air. —Where's his scabbard?—the vampire asked. — We'll look for it now...—Guy smiled. Suddenly the ancient vampire shuddered all over and listened: — They're coming... Do you hear?—. — Yes... And I don't understand why they believed those who sent the information?—Maria groped for the knife. — Because they sent the media a werewolf under tranquilizers and a vampire in hibernation! Without samples, they would not have received trust!— The footsteps thundered very close above them and disappeared ... For how long? *** From time to time a strange sound passed through the space, from which the vampires had a very bad headache. This sound cut into the ears, a tremor, as if from impotence, spread through the body. — They?—Maria asked, holding her temples. — Well, who else can be such a pain in the brain?—Guy pulled his hood down over his face. — What are they doing?—Olga asked in a whisper. — I've always tried to find out what it is, but it doesn't come out all the time! Something new is happening all the time...— A large tremor passed through the metal of the bunker, as if from some unknown fever. — Open the trapdoor in the floor, quickly!—Guy urged Maria. The ancient vampire opened some secret doors and took out balloons and masks. — Without this, it will be impossible for the werewolves to breathe, and a bubble with a balloon for a cat!—Guy said. With a thud, the ground came down on top of them and a pair of hands from different sides closed the door.

The iron tile pressed down from all sides, as if it were part of the floor. Maria heard the footsteps begin to echo very loudly in the ground.

Mathias fidgeted in the capsule.

Maria gently stroked the capsule attached to her chest. Through the soil, this human smell filled everything. People (this time it was just people!) we passed by quickly, it seems that they haven't noticed anything yet...

— We get out.—Guy emerged from the ground. —Ugh, what a smell here!—

— You should sleep in the cemetery... Stefan and I have always been there...—

*** When going outside, Mathias was hidden in a titanium chest with a small window. — The further away, the grayer and scarier everything around...—Maria said softly. — The cemetery as it is...—Olga echoed.— As long as the dead don't come out of the ground...— There are autumn trees around, as if someone's crooked fingers are climbing out of the ground. — I want to go back to the box...—Bjorn said anxiously. — Alas, there will be no more boxes for a very long time...— Guy sighed. — vampires didn't put a lot of boxes...— A car drives by, everyone very conveniently managed to duck. — Patrol...—Stefan says softly. — How big is it?—Bjorn asked. — Very big. Sixty people and werewolves instead of watchdogs. We shouldn't be moving yet. We're not in the olfactory zone, so they're just... We are not breathing!—Stefan slid down sharply.— We're not breathing... They're closer...— Having slightly distorted the route, the community of pure bloods again deviated to their path. — Let's run to the mountains. Far away, but only there it will be safer...—Bjorn said softly.— Follow my sign.— The silence now was such that it seemed that the stirring of the air could be heard. Covering the tracks from time to time with dried grass that lies everywhere, the company moved through an absolutely open area. — Shit!—Maria shuddered.— I almost made a noise! — — It's okay.—Bjorn patted her shoulder.— When we get there, I will throw each of you up. It will be scary, but much faster, so I warn you: don't shout! — — And I don't think!—Stefan said resentfully. The dry sound of a bullet clicked and everyone ran. Stones pounded on the feet. Bjorn didn't even have time to realize how he stumbled. The bullet pierced the knee. Maria handed the improvised safe carrier to Olga and ran to help the creator. — Dad!— Stefan ran up and helped to lift his father. He jerked for a second, but immediately ran after him. — What happened?—Maria sat Bjorn down behind a large rock and turned to Stefan. — They're shooting. The bullets are made of silver, but they smell of wool.—Olga said, sniffing the air. — It's probably the bloodhounds... There are many more communities of pure lines than this planet has lived for days. But we can't be sure which bastards we'll run into... We can't know...—Bjorn touched the wound in his leg. The blood was around like a crimson crust.

— Don't touch it, I'm going to pull out the bullet!—Maria slapped his hand.

— Okay, okay, but quickly!—Bjorn exhaled loudly. Strong fingers gripped the stone, crumbs showered fingers.

The lines of cuts on the arm began to overgrow very quickly. The knee cracked when Maria grabbed the bullet. The wound began to smoke. With a soft whine, Bjorn bit his hand.

— Does it really hurt?—Maria asked.

— No, it's nice!—The vampire snapped.— Nothing...—he sighed.— I'm sorry... Now everything will overgrow... without silver, everything will overgrow very quickly...— Sweat broke out on Bjorn's white face.

— Lift you up, Dad?—Stefan asked.

— By myself...— leaning on a stone, the ancient Swede stood up.— I'm going to throw you all up now. The one who will be the last, I will throw with a coil of rope so that he will throw it to me. I can't get up very fast myself.—Bjorn lifted Vegard into his arms.— Oh, hell help me!— With a loud cry, the blond werewolf flew up like a thrown projectile. If warheads could scream, it would probably be similar... Although maybe not ... Hitting his face on a mixture of earth and grass crushed by his paws, Vegard tried to jump to his feet as soon as possible to catch Olga, who was flying like a red comet.

— You're flying beautifully, dear...—Vegard grinned, catching his beloved. — Of course I'm not afraid of heights...— Olga got to her feet, holding a carrier with a cat in her hands.

The sounds of gunfire cut through the air. The last one was Maria and she dropped the rope to Bjorn. The other end of the rope was tied around her waist.

The vampire pulled the rope with all her might.

Bjorn felt the stones slide under his sneakers.

— Maria! Hurry up, they hit your father!—Olga shouted.

The bullet in Vegard's shoulder was stuck firmly, it even felt like it was clinging to the bone.

— Will you be patient? I'll just tie it up for now so you don't bleed out.— Olga cut off a piece of lining from the jacket.

— I've endured more than that!—

— There is a grotto further on, no one will dare to enter there at all.—Guy pointed out.— But there is someone who still dares to enter.Guy pointed out.— But there is someone who still dares.—

— Who is it?—Vegard rubbed the bandage.

— We are.—Cornelius smiled.