37

Mathias writhed on the velvet pillows, happy that it was warm now.

Maria stroked the fluffy belly of her beloved cat.

Having laid out their belongings in the castle and paid in advance for the hotel room, the whole company safely left there.

Gustavsson's castle was not so big, but it retained its splendor.

Maria remembers a lot of things here...

— I don't like him, this Michael.— Christophe sat down next to his beloved.— Although this is only the first glance...—

— We are against human rules, my love, but after that you began to like it.—the vampire smiled. The pearly ones sparkled fangs.

— I know... There is no need to judge books by their covers, even if they are the most disgusting...—

Coming out on the balcony, Maria waved her sword.

The palm ached and caught fire when the weapon materialized.

An open elevator drove by, Michael was on it.

— And what do you want to do with it?— the albino pressed the lever and the elevator stopped with a loud creak.

— I don't know. Why is he to me? Why not Mom? I'm not a warrior... Not in the sense of a warrior...—The vampire raised her weapon.

— It should be yours.—

— Why me? There are a lot of others in the world... There are more than a hundred people who deserve all this more than me...—Maria sighed.

— I'm going to cook some food. There is nothing to portray a hungry philosopher here...— Michael pressed and his lift shot up rapidly.

Maria wanted to shout that they had everything with them, but decided to at least be polite here...

***

Christophe noticed that the coffin they had installed by the bed had opened, although there was no one there.

Finnish guy walked over and looked at the lid.

—Oh, those old coffins...—he sighed.

He refused to be present in the living room next to Gustavsson on principle.

Even just looking at him was unpleasant.

That sloping forehead, the lashes of dyed hair gathered in a ponytail, and the main nightmare - wetly shining bright red eyes...

— Well done for not joining us.—Bjorn appeared on the threshold like a silent moth.

—Is it that bad?—Christophe grinned, working with the broken hinge of the coffin lid.

He made a couple of attempts to fix the loop, but it seems easier to just unscrew it...

—Even though he's vegan, the food is pretty good. The main disadvantage is his company... He is unpleasant just by looking at him... And the coffin he provided us with looks uncomfortable... Probably, sleeping here will not be very comfortable either... —Bjorn sat up in bed.— Did you call our people? Obviously, we'll need more company. Olga wants to destroy all the crowns...—

— Yes, her thoughts are always large-scale!— Christophe shuddered - he felt for the first time in his life how much he raised his voice.— We need to check how dangerous the other crowns are... I know practically nothing about the others... I used to have a map of all the kingdoms, but Wentworth burned it when he captured me...—

The reminder of Karsten made Bjorn wince. Many things remained so clear in memory, as if it had happened only yesterday...

— But what about Queen Williamina? Maybe we should go to her?—Bjorn asked suddenly.

— Queens Belinda and Williamina, as well as Kings Gabriel and Mateusz, will definitely not stick their noses into the affairs of a werewolf. The northern and southern vampire kingdoms probably don't know what we're trying to do at all...—Christophe said.— Wow! I've straightened the loop after all! -

— And you're well—versed in vampire affairs...—Bjorn crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes.

***

Maria knocked off several stones with a sword.

The smell of burning earth spread throughout the bunker.

— And how long will I beat stones and pieces of earth in different directions?—she asked.— I'm starting to get tired of training.—

—Even vampires can get tired...— either asked, or Michael confirmed.

— No, it pisses me off...—the vampire sighed.— I thought it would be interesting...—

-— This is interesting and should not be. —Sometimes I really think that your mother would be a better fit...Gustavsson said thoughtfully.

— Well, no!After swiping her sword across the grindstone, Maria jumped up and hit the training dummy.

The plastic was engulfed in flames.

— Wow...—Gustavsson whistled.—That's what I've always expected from you... What happened before...—

The albino pressed a button into the panel and the dummies floated along the long winding rails.

***

Training gets more and more tiring every day.

Maria barely reached the coffin.

— Will you cover me with ice when you get up?— she muttered indistinctly, burying her face in the velvet lining of the coffin.— Hey, Bjorn?—

Noticing the strange disregard of the creator, Maria stood up and looked at Martensson.

He traced scarlet patterns in the air with his fingertips and continuously looked somewhere into the void. These patterns melted and scattered sparks.

— Bjorn!— Maria jumped out of the coffin and, running up, grabbed the creator by the shoulders.

— The world will burn if the crowns don't fall...—The blond vampire said in a hollow voice.

***

— Crowns? Crowns will fall... Things are getting so weird...—Stefan drawled thoughtfully.

— And it's a lot weirder than Bjorn usually can be...—Maria sighed.— Should I tell my mother about this?—

— No, it's not worth it...Stefan scattered colorful candies on the table.—Maybe we can sort this out on our own.—

— If we don't figure it out, then at least we'll delay part of the problem...—Maria sighed.

— What problem?—

The mother's voice that rang out at the door like an electric shock went through the two of them through the body and, if Maria learned to hide her fear during the time she spent in dangerous situations, then everything was obvious for Stefan.

Emotions were always visible on his face.

— Bjorn snores, that's our main problem.— Maria lied to Olga without batting an eye.— It is almost impossible to sleep in one coffin because of this...—

— Can someone who doesn't breathe snore?—Olga asked.

— And it doesn't happen that way.— the daughter smiled.—Stefan generally talks in his sleep. Hey, Steph, I don't mean anything bad, but it's true!—

Someone's raspy breathing suddenly rustled in the silence.

— Oh, shit...—Maria froze in place.— I'm afraid to think what it might be...—

- I call them scavengers.— a pale Michael appeared on the threshold. Mathias was hovering at his feet.— It's better for vampires not to fall into their claws, it will be very bad...—

— I still don't understand who you are.— Maria banged her pen on the table - she killed a bug.

— As for the smell, he smells like a completely ordinary, slightly sick person.Stefan said. He pushed his chair a little to the side and took out another one for Olga.

Having sorted out the cooking, the woman put a chicken leg and some fried eggs in Mathias' bowl.

— Christophe!— seeing Finn in the doorway, Olga put another plate on the table.—You and Vegard sleep the most here. By the way, where is my beloved husband?—

— Collects flowers in the courtyard.—

— Flowers? It doesn't seem like him... Well yes. OK. Sit down. Bjorn, you sit down too. Even if everything human disappears, you need to try to at least keep something in yourself...—

Even vampires liked the food that Olga cooked.

We ate in absolute silence, everyone was thinking about what still needed to be done.

— Are you ready for this?—Olga asked her daughter.

— I think I will succeed. After all, I started owning it. I've blown a thousand mannequins to pieces. The crown is much smaller, maybe it will be easier than a dummy.—

Maria looked at the sign, which probably took up a place on her hand for a long time.

After breakfast, the company split up to have a good workout.

It is unknown who will descend here ...

***

Bjorn looked at the red sparks that streamed between his fingers.

— The bloody witch... The blood witch had the same thing. Do you think I'm the same now?—The Swede asked.

—Believe me, honey, everything points to that...—Maria sat down next to him.—You've fought the blood witch several times and even defeated her in the end. Is there anything special about her?—

— Special? Well, I don't know... Only she could always rule vampires, well, not kings. Power is not in crowns, scepters and thrones... It's all just trinkets. Power always rests on might... And she always held on.—

Bjorn raised his hands and the scarlet calves flew in all directions in a bloody salute.

Maria bowed jokingly.

Bjorn has changed. It was both noticeable and imperceptible...

Something strange... Something dark has settled so deeply in those bright eyes...

—If that's really the case,—Bjorn began quietly.— then our defense is getting stronger to a level that cannot be described...—