| 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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Calm Before The Storm
Russia, Moscow. 2018...
The night fell on the city. On the empty street, then appearing in the light of the street lamps, then disappearing in the darkness of the night, leisurely walks a man. Occasionally cars flew past, blinding him by the lights of the headlights. He stopped in front of the bar with an illegible name. There was a sign "Closed" in the glass of the door, but it didn't't stop him. He turned the handle and gently pushed the front door. His appearance did not go unnoticed. Above the door a bell rang, announcing the arrival of the visitor.
- Oh, is that you, Alex, - A woman's voice came from the depths of the hall.
Alex
The guy walked across the room, took off his leather jacket on the go and casually threw it on the pool table. He settled himself on a high stool in front of the bar and waited. A moment later, a red-haired girl appeared from behind the counter. She straightened her long bangs and smiled at the guest:
- Hi! So, how was it?
He paused with an answer, translating the subject:
- Give me something drink, Lex.
Lexa took out a bottle of "Jack Daniel's" and showed him:
- Like this?
Alex nodded silently. The girl threw a couple of ice cubes into the glass, poured in the bronze liquid and moved it towards him. The guy drained it in one gulp and exhaled contentedly. His skin color changed to a dark blue, his blond hair turned white, and his horns grew longer.
- That's better.- he said peacefully.
Lexa watched with interest the transformation of man into a demon:
- Was it a heavy day?
The demon lowered his head:
- I'm tired, Lex... I'm so exhausted only to hide my appearance.
Lexa: - I understand you. But in the present times you can't walk around the city in demonic guise.
Lexa
The girl's skin turned dark and took on a blue tint too, the red hair from the roots to the tips turned white, and a pair of small horns emerged on her head. From under the demon's skirt, a graceful long tail cut through. For her transformations was easier then for Alex.
Lexa: - The world has changed, and we have to change with it. The appearance of a demon in public will cause a stir, and we do not need that.
He took a deep breath. Lexa stood in front of him, wrapped her arms around his neck and touched hers lips to his lips. There was silence for a few seconds.
Lexa: - Well done! Because of you didn't give up your business.
Alex: - Do you think so?
She nodded encouragingly and smiled. Then she took Alex's cheeks with her graceful fingers:
- Come on, smile. It's not so bad.
He squeezed out a taut smile.
Lexa: - That's better.
She returned to her business, wiping her glasses and checking the bar.
Alex: - Where are the others?
Lexa: - Jessica is busy in the garage, and Serik is sitting at the computer. Everything is as usual.
Alex: - All right.
Lexa came out from behind the bar counter, went to the billiard table, picked up Alex's abandoned jacket and began to straighten it to hang it.
Lexa: - You're not answered the question.
Alex: - Ah, that... It's all right. Dealt with the resurrected Bloodian.
Lexa wanted to overwhelm Alex with a bunch of questions, but, remembering his mood, she moderated her ardor and simply smiled back. Demon poured himself another glass of whiskey and went to check out the others.
Jessica
The door creaked open and Alex walked into the garage. Jessica was fiddling with a motorcycle, her tail wagging from side to side. She was wearing ripped jeans and a white T-shirt. Although it had once been white, now it was covered in stains of machine oil. The girl's curly red hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the back of her head. Walking past the dismantled cars and engines hanging on chains, Alex squatted down next to her. Taking a sip from his glass, he spoke up:
- Hi, Jess.
- Oh, it's you... Welcome back, - she responded without looking up from her work, - How was your trip?
The demon, not knowing what to answer, just shrugged.
Jessica: - So rested that you were tired? It happens.
Alex once again preferred to avoid detailed explanations. Glancing at the chopper the dragoness was fiddling with, he asked:
- What's the prognosis? Will the patient live?
Jessica tightened the nut and, putting the wrench aside, wiped her hands with a dirty rag:
- I don't know how you rode it before, but now the motorcycle is on its last legs.
Alex: - Can you fix it?
Jessica: - I'll try, but if you want my opinion - better buy a new one. Your Harley is more dead than alive.
Alex: - It's sad to hear.
Jessica: - We can assemble a new one. Take, for example, the basis is that bike.
She pointed to a motorcycle in the corner of the garage.
Jessica: - If you want, can I rearrange some whole details on it from yours?
Alex glanced at the new chopper parked in the corner without much enthusiasm.
Alex: - You can do it?
- Of course! You cannot even doubt! Trust me! - the girl laughed and slapped him hand on shoulder so strong that the demon almost threw out the contents of the glass.
Jessica is the only member of the team who could not take human form, and therefore she tried not to show herself on the street during the day. When she urgently needed to go somewhere, the girl would throw on a mountain of makeup. All for the sake of looking like an ordinary person. The main problem was the dragon wings and tail. They had to be hidden under a cloak or in a specially equipped backpack. Jessica spent her free time in the garage, repairing and disassembling cars, motorcycles and some weapons. At least someone found a hobby to their liking in this crazy modern world. However, she is not the only one...
Serik
Alex pushed the door and walked into the room with a bunch of monitors. The knocking of keyboard keys, the hum of computers and artificial light screens. In the center sat a large guy with purple skin. From his broad back extended two pairs of huge spider legs. With their help he was typing something on several keyboards at once.
- Already returned? - Without stopping the process, he said, - I'm almost done. Give me one minute. Aaaaaand... Done!
Taking on a more familiar human form, he turned around in his chair. Alex tossed him a pendant on a golden chain soiled in a clotted blood.
Alex: - Another trophy for your archive.
Serik began to stare intently at the thing:
- Glorious, nice. I can bargain for it.
Alex: - Can I ask you a question? Who are you dumping all this junk on?
Serik smiled:
- Everybody has a secrets, my friend.
Alex walked around the room, peering at the images on the monitors and sipping the rest of his whiskey.
Serik: - By the way, you got caught again.
Alex: - Really?
Serik: - The blue demon was spotted on at least fifteen cameras.
Alex: - Well, you know your work?
Serik: - Yeah, sudden loss of signal, loss of archive as a result of power surge. Listen, Sanya... It's not difficult for me, I'm always ready to help, but be more careful next time.
- Yeah-yefh, I'll try, - Alex nodded a couple of times somewhere to the side, reluctantly accepting the comments, - But this time it was a special case. There was no time for conspiracy.
Serik sighed:
- And so every time.
- Okay, since everything is fine, I'm going to bed, - once again, changing the subject, the demon turned around and headed for the door.
- Sanya..., - his friend called out to him.
Alex stopped, but did not turn around.
Serik: - I understand how you feel now.
The demon interrupted him:
- Serik, pick me some task that will distract me from unnecessary thoughts.
Serik: - You're welcome. I just happen to have one of those.
A slight grin crossed Alex's face:
- That's great...
After taking the last sip, the demon went to sleep.
Remark
This text was written in 18 February 2018, translated to english in 11 June 2018.
I translated by myself. So I apologize for any grammatical errors.
| 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) |
|