Читать книгу Two for tragedy. Volume 1 - Анна Морион - Страница 3

CHAPTER 3

I passed the physics with flying colours: it was easy to tell what I had learnt long ago and knew like a proper name. And, although at this period of my life studying was a burden to me, being a part of modern universities was interesting to me at all times, and I was curious to see how education, its system, was changing, how every year new and new, unrepeatable faces appeared. At one time my hobby was people-watching, but this activity soon became nothing but a source of frustration and contempt for me.

Once again studying at Charles University, this time I chose the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics and was in my fifth year. Another year and a half and, having completed my studies in Prague, I would leave to study in Moscow. Admittedly, I had never been there. Russia always seemed to me a wild place, but nowadays the situation in this huge state has changed for the better, and I decided to visit its vast expanses and learn in practice what Russian higher education is. I had a lot of plans ahead of me. For example, to taste what Russian blood tastes like. It was raining this morning, and thanks to this beautiful weather, today I had a chance to change my mackintosh for my favourite leather jacket. As I headed towards the entrance of the faculty building, I fell into a crowd of young sophomore girls and immediately felt their eyes on me. They didn't even try to hide the fact that they were staring at me. Many mortal females were staring at me, deceived by my appearance. From the outside, it might have seemed that their attention flattered me, but in fact, I felt nothing but dislike. The girls were seduced by my good looks, but they had no idea what was behind the shell. And since mortals will never know that we exist, this human stupidity can even look somewhat amusing. Humans are entertaining creatures in their own right. But empty.

While the weather was perfect for a vampire, I decided to take a walk around Prague. On foot. I rarely got the chance to walk around the city, as rain was a rarity this year, and overcast weather seemed to have given way to sunny days. I did not attend the university on too bright days, and now I had a large number of absences to my credit, for which no one dared reproach me. In addition to being one of the best students, I was a regular contributor to the accounts of my alma mater with large sums of euros. Commerce was to my heart for two reasons: firstly, I made my own schedule of classes, and I had no problems with my studies. The second reason was more trivial: my mother always said that grants should be left to the smart but unfit mortals. Besides, to take a grant away from a green human chick would be a real insult to my dignity.

As soon as I left the university I ran into a fellow student, Royce MacRessos, an ambitious American who occasionally annoyed me by trying to talk to me. Royce extended his hand to me, but I never shook hands with anyone, because my palms were inhuman, and I knew what people thought about shaking hands with us: we had icy hands. So I pretended to be frozen, hid my hands in my pockets, and frowned and muttered:

– It's dog cold outside, Royce.

The American glanced at his hand and, after a brief hesitation, tucked it into the warm pocket of his billowing jacket.

– Hi, Morgan! How did you pass? – he asked cheerfully.

– Yeah, the usual," I said, trying to keep it casual. Royce was starting to get on my nerves, but he didn't seem to realise it

– As usual is great, isn't it? I never doubted you, mate! – Royce said with an enthusiastic smile.

When I heard what a flattering word this overly friendly mortal called me, I felt a little surprised. In my worldview, the title "friend" had to be earned, not bestowed on strangers.

– How are you? – I asked politely, trying to keep up an unwanted conversation because of my damned sense of tact and thinking that people could be too intrusive. Royce McRessor is one of those people.

My interlocutor smiled his white-toothed American smile.

– Top marks! – he exclaimed, while I was plotting how to get rid of his presence.

– Congratulations on that. – This time I couldn't hide the irritation in my voice, but Royce was so happy that he didn't seem to notice my sarcasm. Or didn't want to. – I'm in a hurry.

I walked around him and headed for the car park, but suddenly remembering my planned walk through the city, I changed direction and headed for the exit of the university courtyard.

– Morgan! – I heard behind me.

I sighed unhappily, but turned around.

– I'll see you at the next exam! – Royce waved at me and walked to the car park.

Finally. Cut loose.

While I was reluctantly exchanging phrases with the annoying American, a small but frequent rain fell from the sky, and a small group of girls came out of the university. I wanted to continue on my way and leave the place safely, but suddenly I saw an intriguing familiar face among the identical smarmy faces, which, as it turned out, was etched in my memory. It was her. Yesterday's stranger from the Nusle Bridge was coming down the steps, buttoning her black coat as she went. Once buttoned, the girl raised her head, looked up at the grey rainy sky and smiled softly. And I interrupted my path and watched her like a stalker watching his victim.

The girl took out an umbrella (also black in colour) from her bag and, opening it, walked across the courtyard towards the exit. As she passed me, she lowered her gaze, as if not wanting to meet mine, and sighed irritably. I realised that I was staring at her, so I looked away, pretending it was an accident. The delicious scent of yesterday's stranger's blood overpowered the blood scents of everyone in the university courtyard.

"I'm acting like the ultimate fool. No, like an idiot!" – I thought angrily, and the urge to walk around the city suddenly vanished.

What's that girl doing here? If she's at the same school as me, how come I've never met her before? Why did she intrigue me so much?

I suddenly realised that I was standing in the middle of a half-empty courtyard, staring after that girl.

– What the hell is wrong with me? – I cursed out loud and headed for the car park, marvelling at my unusual behaviour on the way.

The fast ride calmed me down, but I thought about the strange stranger all the way to the castle. Why did I remember her? Her, among all these mortals? Could it be that her unusual appearance is so striking that I involuntarily pay attention to her? It would be interesting to hear her voice… What? Nonsense. I abruptly dismissed the thought and resolved to forget and never bring her up again. She's just a mortal. One of seven and a half billion on Earth. Nothing exceptional about her.

Suddenly I remembered what a pathetic idiot I had looked like in the university courtyard, and it made me smile derisively. I laughed at myself.

Before long, I was at the castle. As it turned out, there was a surprise waiting for me there.

– Put on some decent clothes and come down to the hall! We're waiting for you! – My mother greeted me as soon as I arrived at the castle. This request made me realise that my plan of seclusion had been shattered.

Our castle was once again visited by guests: the huge garage of our cloister was filled with expensive foreign cars that were unfamiliar to me. They were our friends. Naturally, someone of ours, for we had no mortal friends.

Having changed into black jeans and a burgundy-coloured classic shirt, I went down to the big fireplace hall, which became the centre of attention of a hundred of ours. It turned out that the numerous Polish Mroczek clan had arrived. Among the guests was Mariska, Markus's lover. The two of them stood by the fireplace and talked quietly. I was happy to see my brother happy and admired them until the sweet couple noticed me.

– Well, you're here at last! We've been waiting for you! – laughed softly at my brother.

I walked towards them, but on the way I was surprised to find among the familiar faces two unfamiliar beauties. They did not belong to the Mroczeks, for all the members of that large family were golden-haired, and these strangers had dark hair.

– Mariszka, it's good to see you. – I gallantly kissed her beautiful thin hand.

She smiled indulgently.

– Isn't it time for us to switch to "you"? We've known each other so long that it makes me laugh when one of the Morgans addresses me as if she were seeing me for the first time," Mariszka said, her beautiful grey-blue eyes sparkling merrily.

– Whatever you say," I said with a smile. – Markus is in good hands now.

– You're wrong: Mariszka is in my hands! – my brother merrily parried, putting his arm round his beloved's waist.

– You scoundrel, always thinking only of himself! Cedric, your brother is an incorrigible possessive! – Mariszka said just as cheerfully at Markus's remark.

We laughed. But suddenly I noticed that Mariska was looking at the two strangers with a fleeting glance.

This caused me to smile slightly. I knew why she had brought them – to marry one of them to me, and I was unpleasantly surprised by these attempts to interfere in my life.

– These are my friends from Russia: Emma and Samantha," Mariszka introduced her. I greeted the girls delicately, saying all the appropriate words about the joy of our acquaintance and so on, but I did not kiss their hands. I felt unpleasant that they had agreed to take part in this adventure, and I let them know that I had figured out their plans, ignoring their beautiful, outstretched hands to me.

The guests tried, with mild surprise, to pretend as if they had no claim to a kiss at all, but they failed rather badly. I knew that in their hearts they were thinking that I was behaving badly to the ladies. But that was to my advantage.

– Cedric, we hear you're going to Russia? – Emma asked me, smiling sweetly.

I noted with annoyance that they must already know almost everything about me. Apparently, Mariszka or my mother had had an entertaining conversation with them about my humble persona.

– I'm going to," I answered coldly enough.

– If you have any uncertainties about Russia, you can ask us: we have lived there quite a long time and know a great deal about the Russian character. Russians are very different from other mortals," Samantha put in.

– How so? – Markus chuckled.

– All Russians are optimists. All of them. But words cannot express everything about the mysterious Russian soul: you need to spend many years on its research, but even then you will not understand it.

– And the blood of Russians? Does it have characteristics inherent only to it? – I asked, still relaxing a little. Talking about the country I had dreamed of travelling to had taken my fancy, and for a while I let my guard down.

– Naturally, but again, I can't tell you what it is – you just have to try it," Samantha smiled at me.

– How did you get to Russia? – Markus asked. Apparently he, like me, was seeing them for the first time, and I was relieved that he wasn't in cahoots with them.

– We're American, but we moved to Russia seven years ago," Emma told him. – It was Samantha who talked me into it, and I must say I have never regretted it.

– And how did you like Russia? – I asked.

– It's a wonderful place to live a modest and quiet life. We live in St Petersburg, but we have been to many cities. – Samantha smiled dreamily and sighed. – A paradise for vampires, believe me!

– How many of them are there? – The conversation was getting to my liking.

– One clan, but quite impressive and numerous. They live in Novgorod and almost never leave the country. It's the Kravitsky clan. Their head – Anton Kravitsky is considered to be a descendant of the Russian prince Alexei Kravitsky, but we know that he himself is.

– How do the Russians feel about us? – Mariszka asked.

– Oh, they love us! Books and films about us sell out instantly! – Emma said, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed that she was looking at me with interest, as if to see if I was listening to her beautiful melodious voice.

But I wasn't looking at either of the girls; I was watching the fire in the fireplace as it danced and twisted. And I noted with satisfaction that my coldness had repelled the unwanted strangers.

– We travel the world and live on our own. But this time Mariszka, an old friend of ours, invited us to Prague, for a couple of days, and we couldn't refuse her. – Emma smiled at Mariszka, and Mariszka smiled at her.

– Well, welcome to Prague," I said dryly, feeling a wave of irritation again. – Markus, can I talk to you for a minute?

Markus apologised to the ladies (I ignored their parting words), and we moved to another wing of the castle where no one could overhear us. When we reached the balcony, I leaned against the stone railing and gave my brother a hard, displeased look. I knew now for sure that Markus was aware of the girls and was playing along with them, helping their awkwardly transparent attempts to captivate me.

– And what's all this circus for? – I asked sternly.

Markus raised his eyebrows in surprise, as if he didn't know what he was talking about. But he was always a bad actor.

– Why are the girls here? – I said impatiently. – Don't play the fool! I don't like anyone prying into my life, and you know that as well as anyone!

– By the way, they didn't come just to meet you! Soon Mariszka will be your relative," Markus said, standing next to me and chuckling.

The meaning of his words came to me only after a few seconds. And I couldn't believe my ears.

– You're getting married? – From surprise, I temporarily forgot about my anger. – How long have you two been dating?

– A month.

– You mean a month was enough time for you to know everything about her? – I asked ironically.

– But I feel like we've known each other forever… Well, damn right we have! But I don't want to hear your pesky arguments about how stupid love is.

I shook my head, unable to hide a wide smile.

– You won't hear them. I'm happy for you! I just didn't expect it to happen so soon.

– Thank you, but you don't look happy," my brother said, clapping me on the shoulder.

– My mood is ruined by you know what," I explained, so that Markus wouldn't take my bad mood personally. I was glad, but the news that Markus was getting married didn't sit right with me; I was used to him and me being bachelors forever.

– By the way, our mother wanted to invite Emma and Samantha," Markus said.

I grinned sarcastically: my mother had tried to interfere in my life, but it had been futile. My life belongs to me alone, and I will not allow her to interfere in it.

– And Mariszka became her ally," I said sullenly. – Well, to hell with it.

I did not want to return to the crowd of guests: I did not like noise and bustle, and this evening I felt a strong need for solitude. So I left the balcony and headed quickly to my room.

– Where are you going? – Markus caught up with me in a flash.

– I want to rest," I said through gritted teeth. – I'd had the worst day ever. I'll see you tomorrow. And give Mariszka my sincere congratulations.

I left the castle in the evening to get to the Nusle Bridge. It had indeed been a lousy day. The storm of emotions had exhausted me, and the only thing I needed at that moment was silence and solitude.