is interesting news,» she said and as if for herself added. «But still, a strong passing wind would not prevent us.
I was in the shade when Francesca came out of the captain’s cabin, rustling chiffon skirts and covering the shoulders with black, silk scarf. She hid something in a tightly compressed fist, but that was not able to consider. Light breeze played with the curls of blond hair. Going to the board, the countess pulled a white handkerchief out of the scarf. Already on a tiny monogram, embroidered in its corner it was clear that the handkerchief belonged not to her. These were Vincent’s initials. So the dark time of their union has not yet ended. Francesca began to untie the first small knot with her fingers. It was difficult. It seems I remembered the elementary initial magic, which she tried to call for help. The first knot is the wind, the second is a hurricane, the third is a strong storm, and after this, in inept hands, witchcraft can cause an elevation anger.
It was necessary to stop her until she did the trouble. The first signs of thunderstorm already appeared in the sky. I tried to direct the wind stream so that it would pull out the handkerchief from the hands of Francesca. It slipped out of her fingers and smoothly fell into water.
How quickly the color of the sea water managed to change from the gentle-blue to dull – blue. Foam waves rhythmically beat about the board of the ship. Salted wet droplets beaded flew on clothes, cheeks, forehead and slightly cooled the unnatural hot heat of my skin. It’s time to grab the victim and fly away. In the sky, the first broken zipper flashed. Sailors engaged in riding surviving sails, do not even notice anyone’s disappearance. During the storm, many die, the vessel itself can spread in wreckage. Everyone will think that the countess fell abroad, and the wind drove the shouts. The highest waves occasionally took a wooden barrier and washed deck.
Francesca looked into muddy water, as if not noticing the whirlwind of flying splashes, only in the very last moment she felt that someone’s shiny claws stretch to her waist, and shuddered with all the body. I felt this trembling, because I had already had time to grab her and tear off the ride and unreliable deck under my feet.
Squeezing tightly my victim, I rushed away. I felt fear and despair of the countess. Francesca did not even try to escape, she was simply numb, as if was just a lamb on the sacrifice, as if she did not suspect, that the flirting with a stranger was dangerous. I wanted to lose her in a muddy green water, so that she did not tell any secrets to anyone, but then I decided that it would be more humanely to commit a sacrifice on land, in one of the secluded corners located at the borders of my and county possessions. Francesca hung in dragon claws, her dress was wet, lush frills absorbed water and doubled the weight of the fragile woman. Her multilateral inquisitive mind rushed to a dangerous path. She had to dye.
The presence of my predecessor was felt in the cave, signs of long-standing life were noticeable – a chest with opals, emeralds and malachite fragments in a niche, a small brazier, a pillar for the victim and shackles. In the depths of the cave glittered precious ore. I laid an insensible Francesca on the floor and chained one of her wrist towards a high post. The inhabitant of the cave, whoever he was, when he wakes up, will take care of the modest offer of his owner. Without feeling the slightest conscience, because Francesca was intensified into this dark matter herself, I returned to the estate with solid intentions to put Vincent beyond the door. I’m already tired of his dirty tricks. Any patience has a limit.
The house was warm and cozy. Soft carpets covering the floor, drove steps. Embroidered blankets and pads decorated furniture, recently woven tapestries were blocked on the walls. There are many crystal on the tables. The most amazing was that my «best friend», which I was going to drive away, didn’t steal anything. For him, such a long manifestation of honesty was a real wonder.
Vincent slept, curling out straight on the rug at the burning fireplace, and his appearance was absolutely innocent, as if it was not he, who helped Francesca in her whims. I did not decide to approach and wake him up. He resembled a homeless child, who was suddenly put to warm up by the fire, and it caused pity. Let him then take the attic if he likes it so much.
«But one more prank and you will find out on the street, my friend,» I added out loud.
Vincent sleepy asked:
«What?»
«Nothing, sleep further,» I have already gathered to leave, but he called me.
«Edwin!»
«Yes,» I turned around.
«Thanks!» said Vincent. «You turned out to be more hospitable as the countess, she never even invited me to spend the night. If you already help her to return to the castle, then tomorrow we can put a visit to her, have a heart-to-hear talk with her. What would you do not decide, I will accept your side… so, from a sense of duty.»
«The countess!» I repeated tiredly, I threw the curls from the forehead, they were still wet from rain and snow. What did I do with the countess? I left her in some cave, alone with those who settled there before me.
«Edwin, are you not well?» In the voice of Vincent, for the first time, flashed a concern. «But it is impossible? Truth? You are the same as me, eternal and inviolable for death and ailments?»
«Sit here, I’ll come back soon,» I said strictly.
«Where are you going?» Vincent muttered displeased and suspiciously.
«Search misfortunes to my head,» I recalled with a gloomy humor. It was impossible to answer that I was heading to the cave, check whether the countess was still alive or no longer. Already at the very entrance to the cave, I ordered its inhabitant to behave quietly and calmly stepped in the darkness, which was illuminated by radiance of precious stones. Francesca has already woke up and tried in vain to free up her wrist. In vain attempts have not led to anything, except that the countess accidentally noticed the bronze scales of who settled here before me, and was afraid of him.
«You can never wake a sleeping predator, otherwise, when you awaken, his anger will certainly fall on you,» I said. The sounds of my voice hit the walls of the cave, but the echo did not follow them, only the oppressive dead silence.
Francesca turned out so abruptly that the chained wrist jumped involuntarily, and the shackle cut the skin to the blood.
«It is you again!» She just exhaled, either with hatred, or with a contempt, and maybe just with reproach.» I tried to turn away not to see the pale face of Francesca. From the smell of her blood began to torment me. The nails on the hand came up and stretched out, and I hid the hand behind my back. There is no need once again to watch the glitter of gold claws, it is too dazzling even for my own eyes. The flakes on golden claw caused inconvenience, this armor appeared on the wrist only in the case when I don’t avoid killing, but there was no one in the cave except for the countess and a huge reptile. For some incomprehensible reason, I didn’t want longer to kill Francesca, because she was still so young and beautiful.
«If I let you go, do you promise to forget about my existence?»
«Forget?» Francesca stumbled as if the phosphoric light came from my skin blinded her eyes.
«Yes, forget,» I immediately picked up the initiative. «Do not remember more about the picture, about the trip to the castle and even about the estate of Caryatid, I still will not be there soon. I will disappear from someone’s life, as I did it more than once and no longer appear.»
«Of course, you will no longer appear
