| English |
| РАССКАЗЫ (STORIES) |
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| Краткий обзор серии (Series overview) |
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| Часть 1 (Part 1) |
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| Часть 2 (Part 2) |
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| Часть 3 (Part 3) |
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| Часть 4 (Part 4) |
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| Часть 5 (Part 5) |
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| Часть 6 (Part 6) |
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| Эпилог (Epilogue) |
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Blood and Fire
Chapter 1
France, Paris. 2018...
Alex ran down the stairs of a residential building in the guise of a demon. Jumping over the steps, he mentally scolded himself for what had happened.
A week ago, Serik told him that he had managed to find out the location of his former commander. But there were no 100% guarantees. Alex decided to find out everything himself. And he found out...
Two membranous wings appeared on his back. Jumping out onto the street, the demon suddenly spread his wings and soared into the air. A couple of passersby who had witnessed his appearance ran away in fear. Alex had never been so careless, but now it was the least of his worries. Sitting on the parapet, he heard Sasha calling him from below. She was screaming his name with a hoarse voice. Closing her eyes, the demon clenched his teeth. A cloud of thoughts swirled in her head, one of which overshadowed all the others... Her heart did not belong to him. Now she belonged to someone else. And he, without asking, invaded her new, established world in the hope of continuing what had once begun between them. But then what had happened to them a few hours earlier? Just memories that had come rushing in? Or a sudden rush of past passion that made them forget about everything? Love, jealousy, a sense of loss... - weaknesses that are not unique to humans. The phone vibrated in his pocket. Alex took a deep breath and answered:
Alex
- Yes...?
At the other end a cheerful voice sounded:
- Sanya, how did it go? I'm guessing with the address?
Alex turned and looked down from the roof - the girl was gone.
- Hello, are you listening to me? - the interlocutor didn't give up at the other side.
Alex: - Yeah, Seryoga, you're great. This really is her address.
Serik: - Excellent, you buy beer! Or not... Once you're in Paris, take a bottle of French wine.
Alex: - Ok.
Serik: - Wait, stop! Why such a sad voice? Something is wrong?
Alex paused for a few seconds.
- Yes... there was no need to come.
Serik: - In what sense?
Alex: - I completed the mission started a few years ago. Now I'm sure that she was safe and happy.
Serik: - Are you... sure?
Alex: - At least she doesn't need me anymore.
- Oh, that's what you mean..., - this time the interlocutor hesitated with the answer, after which he said carefully, - You must forgive me, but... what did you hope for, having reappeared in her life after so many years?
Alex exhaled sadly:
- I don't know...
Serik: - She is free to arrange her life, without waiting for her hero, sitting in the tower.
The demon did not answer. Serik interrupted the silence:
- I'm sorry, Sanya. If you have no more business left there, come back. Lexa and Jess are worried about you.
Alex turned off the phone, threw it aside, like a boring toy, and sat down on the roof. Heavy thoughts didn't go out of his head. He raised his head to the clear sunny sky:
- Where is the rain, when it is so needed?
Chapter 2
Charles de Gaulle Airport, that same evening...
In the empty waiting room, Alex waited for boarding. Judging by the number of people, it seemed that he was the only one flying on this flight. The jacket that Alex had forgotten in his haste remained in Sasha's apartment. Fortunately, at least his passport and bank cards were still with him. Behind him sat a guy in a cap hiding his eyes. Absorbed in sad thoughts, Alex only stole a glance at him. They sat backs to back. After a couple of minutes the stranger decided to start a dialogue:
- You look like you're not from around here. So you're a tourist? So, how do you like Paris?
Alex answered:
- Sorry, buddy, I'm not in the mood.
Stranger
The stranger didn't seem to hear him:
- And what kind of girls are here... Mmm... Even if you don't like lovely French women, you can always get acquainted with any other beauty. Paris attracts women from all over the world. I just recently found one sweet lady.
Alex: - What do you need?
The stranger: - To thank.
Alex raised his head in surprise.
The stranger: - Thank you for finding her for me... Brother.
That voice... Alex turned, but the stranger was gone. Only the cap lay in a puddle of blood.
Chapter 3
Alex flew into Sasha's apartment. There are signs of struggle all over the place. Drops of blood on the floor and walls, and here and there were signs of fiery flashes. The girl clearly resisted. The phone rang.
Alex: - Yes.
It was Serik again:
- How are you?
Alex: - Bloodian... He's alive. And again he wants to use her for his own purposes, like many years ago.
Serik: - Stop-stop, don't panic.
Alex sat exhausted on the bed:
- I'm late... This is my mistake... It was I who brought Bloodian to her...
Serik: - Don't rush to give up...
Alex: - What are you up to?
Serik: - Your jacket. He is not with you now, am I right?
Alex: - No, but what?
Serik: - The tracking chip was sewed in there.
Alex: - What the hell?!
Serik: - Don't get excited. This was done for your own safety. Apparently, the jacket is now with the girl.
Alex jumped up:
- Where is she?!
Serik: - Just a minute...
The demon was restless while waiting for an answer.
- Damn you and your French..., - Serik cursed, - That's it, I found it! So... Isle of Cite. Your jacket is in the same area.
Alex: - More accurately, it's possible? I don't know Paris so well.
Serik: - Do you know what Notre Dame de Paris looks like?
Chapter 4
Notre Dame Cathedral...
The night fell on the city. The lifeless body of the guard fell into a pool of his own blood that flooded the stone floor of the cathedral.
- This is the last one, - Bloodian said with a rather grin, - No one will stop us any more.
He triumphantly marched through the huge hall, stepping over the dead bodies of guards and clergymen - all those whom he found at this late hour in Notre Dame. In the center of the cathedral, Sasha was sitting on her knees, her head down. Apart from her underwear and a jacket thrown over her naked body, the girl had nothing else on. A pair of chains tied her hands. The ends of the steel bonds stretched to the columns on both sides of the hall. Approaching Sasha, Bloodian tugged at the taut chain:
- Hey! It's time to wake up, sleeping beauty.
Sasha
The girl regained consciousness and opened her eyes:
- You... I thought you were dead then in the cemetery.
Bloodian: - I disappointed you? Honestly, you and my brother almost killed me. After that incident, I had to restore my strength for a very long time. And then spend a lot of time to find you again.
He came almost right up to me and sat down opposite her. Sasha looked at the demon with hostility:
- How is your nose? Doesn't hurt?
Bloodian gently fingered his nose:
- Oh, this... Yeah, I forgot to give you a favor for that incident.
He swung and struck the prisoner with his hand in the face. The girl spat blood and looked angrily at the demon:
- A disgusting geek!
Demon of blood
Bloodian: - It's a pity that you're not a full-fledged demon, but just a pathetic half-breed and you won't survive this night.
Sasha: - Why a pity? Did you really catch my eye?
Bloodian: - I won't hide the fact that you have your own charm.
- Oh, what a pity..., but you're not my type, - the girl smiled feignedly, then suddenly became serious, - What do you want from me?
- Need? - Bloodian made a thoughtful look, - Hmm... let me think... Your fire power.
- The fire power? - the girl asked, confused.
Bloodian: - There are seals created with the help of the elements. And only a strong being with the corresponding element can break them.
Sasha didn't answer.
- It's useless to ask my brother about it, - Bloodian waved it off.
- And you couldn't find anything better than to use the girl's power, - Sasha summed it up for him.
The demon spread his arms, making a sarcastic face:
- Guilty.
Bloodian straightened up and stepped back:
- Well, enough chatter. Let's get down to what we've all gathered here for today.
Stepping over dead bodies, he headed towards the altar:
- Stupid mortals... You've lost your faith. You've even managed to turn places like churches into an amusement park. Because of this, they lost all their divine power and were no longer dangerous to demons.
He stopped. Then he spread his arms, raised his head and closed his eyes:
- Behold the power of the blood demon!
The bodies of the fallen began to ooze blood. Having painted the floor of the cathedral scarlet, it flowed like a living stream from all sides to Bloodian. Filling him with power. Having absorbed enough, the demon opened his eyes and stared at Sasha. His gaze frightened the girl. She tried to free herself, but the chains held tightly.
Bloodian: - Now I have enough strength to make a triumphant return to the Demon World. All that remains is to make the last sacrifice and open the portal.
Fire demon
At that moment a huge stained-glass window of the cathedral exploded into pieces, and a figure of a winged demon emerged from the fire. Bloodian turned around:
- What ...? NO! It cannot be! How did you find us?!
Alexander landed and folded his wings:
- Your bloody stench can be smelled even from the Demon World.
Bloodian fell into a pool of blood and immediately appeared behind the girl. Alexander froze.
- She's good, isn't she? - Bloodian licked his lips and ran his fingers over Sasha's bare stomach, causing her to close her eyes in fear.
Alexander stepped forward with a blazing gaze.
- I'm sure you've already had a chance to taste her, - Bloodian's fingers touched the woman's breast.
Sasha twitched in displeasure. Fire flared in Alex's palms. The blood demon grabbed the girl by the throat:
- You don't want to harm this doll, do you? This time... everything will be my way.
Alexander swung:
- This time... you'll die!
The first fireball flew exactly to Bloodian and Sasha. The blood demon had to let go of the girl to dodge. Having frightened off Bloodian, the fireball disintegrated in the air, without harming the captive. The bloody demon jumped, but at that moment the second fireball overtook him. He didn't have time to expose the shield and received in full.
Bloodian: - Bastard!
Alexander, ignoring the defeated enemy, went to Sasha. Time seemed to slow down. The bound girl smiled faintly at him. Alexander walked, hypnotized by this smile. Suddenly the smile disappeared from the girl's face, and her lips whispered something. His name... When he woke up, he heard her voice:
- Alex! Behind you!
Bloodian waited for a convenient moment. From the bloody floor grew a huge clawed hand with human growth. Alex turned, and at that moment a bloody hand grabbed him.
Bloodian: - This is not the end! The beautiful prince has not yet defeated the villain!
He looked at the girl:
- As for you, Princess...
He walked with a satisfied grin to Sasha. Alexander flared up sharply. The hand began to seethe and twitch convulsively. Wings with a sharp movement severed huge fingers, freeing the owner. Bloodian turned.
- Oh you...!
Alex versus Bloodian
Alex was already there. He ran up and jumped, slamming his feet into Bloodian's chest as he flew. The blood demon flew back to the wall, shattering the centuries-old masonry. But then he turned into a bloody mass, flowed onto the floor and emerged from the puddle as if nothing had happened. A stream of fire rushed towards him. Bloodian jumped back. The fiery stream followed. Leap, one more, the third. Alex's improvised flamethrower burned everything in its path. Bloodian jumped on the wall, pushed himself away from the column and was on the top floor of the cathedral. Alexander interrupted the fire show, flapped his wings and rushed after him. In the hand of Bloodian there was a bloody whip. Alex dived from above, throwing another piece of fire into the enemy. Demon of bood deftly jumped and threw a whip on the neck of Alexander passing by. He twitched in the air. Bloodian, not letting go of the whip, jumped down from the second floor, taking his brother with him. Alexander collapsed on the floor of the cathedral.
Bloodian: - You're so annoying. It's time to finish this protracted show.
He made several gestures with his hands and from the bloody floor, the whip-tentacles stretched out, braiding Alexander. The demon tried to escape, but the cunning vines already wrapped his arms and legs.
- If you don't want to leave, shut up and don't bother me, - Bloodian threw back the scarlet strand of his bangs and walked towards the girl again, - Look how my brother is grieving. Are you really that dear to him?
Sasha jerked, trying in vain to free herself:
- Alex!
Chains holding her, loudly grunted.
Sasha: - ALEX!!!
Bloodian: - It's useless. His blood is boiling with anger, but not enough to save himself.
Sasha stared at the self-satisfied Bloodian:
- You said, "blood is boiling"...?
Bloodian: - And so what?
Sasha smiled slyly:
- And what I know is how to deprive you of power!
Bloodian stared at the girl in amazement. A few meters from them filed a cheerful voice of Alexander:
- Commander... Burn it all to ashes.
The girl's eyes began to shine. Strands of hair danced wildly. A glow appeared and grew stronger around Sasha. For a moment it died down, but the next second the girl's energy was released - it exploded, filling the entire cathedral with thick flames. Walls, benches, confessional, chandeliers, corpses of victims... Blood puddles of heat were curled and baked. Notre Dame was on fire, and in the center there were three.
- Damn..., - Bloodian looked around warily.
The bloody shield, behind which he managed to hide at the moment of the explosion, crumbled. The fetters holding Alexander dried up and crumbled into powder. The demon rose to his feet. Bloodian backed away:
- Alexander...?
Alex versus Bloodian
The bloody shield he had managed to hide behind at the moment of the explosion crumbled. The bonds holding Alexander fell. The demon suddenly jumped to his feet and rushed forward. Bloodian tried to use the whip, but the weapon, like all the other bloody creations, crumbled in his hand. And then he felt himself grabbed by the tail. Alexander soared into the air together with his helpless brother and, spinning him, threw him up to the ceiling. A fireball flew after it, which reached its target. The charred Bloodian waved his arms and legs, trying to find something to cling to. And at that moment a fist crashed into his stomach. The second attack landed on his jaw. A series of blows rained down on Bloodian. In the eye, on the ribs, again in the head, in the body... Finally, the fingers squeezed the throat of the bloody demon. Alexander hovered under the vault of the burning cathedral, holding the exhausted Bloodian on his outstretched arm. Fire flashed in his left palm, but this time it glowed blue-white.
Alexander: - You dreamed of breaking out of this world. So go to the Realm of the Dead.
The eyes of Bloodian opened with fear:
- NOOOOO!!!
The end of Bloodian
Alex abruptly dived down, gaining speed, and with all his might smashed Bloodian into the stone floor of the cathedral. At the moment of impact, the body of the bloody demon flared and disappeared with ashes in a whith flame. It was all over. Alex caught his breath after the intense fight. His gaze accidentally caught on a blood-red stone. The decoration on a gold chain lay in a pile of ash left by his brother. The demon brushed the ash off it. Blood was caked on the red stone. Without further ado, the demon put the pendant in his pocket. He stood up, approached Sasha and tore off the chains that bound her. She looked at her savior with tenderness. Alexander carefully took her in his arms. The girl pressed herself against him.
- Alex... I..., - tears welled up in her eyes.
- Everything is fine... It's all over, - he pressed her to himself and looked around, - We need to leave.
The demon with the girl in his arms flew out through the destroyed stained glass window of the burning cathedral and disappeared into the night sky of Paris.
Chapter 5
The next day in Sasha's apartment....
- What did he just say? - Alex asked, listening to the presenter of morning news.
He took a bite of a stale croissant and a sip of coffee. Sasha left the bathroom, wiping her head:
- He says the fire was localized. The preliminary cause of the fire is arson. At least fourteen people died as a result of the fire.
- ...And one demon, - Alex added wickedly.
Sasha wiped her wet hair and, sitting next to him, buried her forehead in Alex's shoulder:
- How much troubles have we done...
- I would say, in a literal sense "we fired up", - Alex replied.
Both laughed, then fell silent for a few seconds.
- You know... your letter..., - Sasha began cautiously.
Alex put the mug down:
- Forget it. It was stupid. I shouldn't have left like that.
Sasha: - No, it's not your fault. It was me who should have told you everything at once. It's just... you appeared so suddenly. And I...
Alex: - Forgive me... I still couldn't forget you.
She gently ran her fingers over his cheek:
- It wasn't just you...
Alex turned to her.
Sasha: - I couldn't let you go either.
Their lips met in a sweet kiss.
Epilogue
Charles de Gaulle Airport. A few hours later...
Sasha: - Your flight will be announced soon.
- Yeah..., - Alex looked up at the scoreboard, - Brings back memories. Only that time I was seeing you off.
The girl looked into his eyes:
- Well, now you know where to find me. Anyway..., write, call, don't forget.
- Yes, Commander, - Alex replied with a smile.
With tears in her eyes, the girl smiled shyly and hugged the demon tightly:
- Don't forget me.
Alex: - I'll be back. I promise.
- I will miss you, - Sasha answered in a trembling voice and gave the demon a farewell kiss.
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Remark
This text was written in the period from 19 to 25 August 2018, translated to english in 8 September 2018.
I translated by myself. So I apologize for any grammatical errors.
Less than a year after this story was written (April 15, 2019), a massive fire did occur in Notre-Dame de Paris, resulting in the loss (as a result of collapse) of the spire, clock and original roof of the 12th century.
| РАССКАЗЫ (STORIES) |
|---|
| Краткий обзор серии (Series overview) |
|
| Часть 1 (Part 1) |
|
| Часть 2 (Part 2) |
|
| Часть 3 (Part 3) |
|
| Часть 4 (Part 4) |
|
| Часть 5 (Part 5) |
|
| Часть 6 (Part 6) |
|
| Эпилог (Epilogue) |
|