Oren

I am Marie Antoinette. Just kidding. Of course, that's not true... in this universe. Right now, I really want to talk about parallel universes. Surely you've heard of them, and if not, here you go. Those who know can just skip this super complex explanation and keep reading.Parallel universes are universes that belong to the Multiverse.A Multiverse is a hypothetical collection of all possible actually existing parallel universes (including the one we are in).If nothing is clear, the main idea is: it's a whole bunch of universes that exist parallel to ours. Explanation over, if you're wondering.So, if all this is really true, it's very interesting to realize that there are countless worlds where all sorts of things happen. And maybe there are worlds very similar to ours, or perhaps there are those that are completely different. Maybe in some of them, magic and all sorts of supernatural beings exist. It's a pity, of course, that we can't know what goes on there. I'm sure that if parallel universes exist, there's a lot to see. Many hypotheses about the existence of the multiverse have been proposed by cosmologists, physicists, philosophers, religious figures, and science fiction writers. I think I belong to the latter group. And honestly, you can take everything I say with a grain of salt because I myself only half believe in these parallel universes.You might be wondering, "Who the hell is she, and what nonsense is she talking about?" But does it really matter? Here, I am just a voice that will tell you a story that may have happened in one of these parallel universes. In that universe where magic, curses, witches, vampires, werewolves, and all sorts of supernatural beings with their own problems are possible. In that universe where anything is possible.A true story? Maybe. An interesting one? Quite. A story that will make your heart beat faster? Oh, yes.********************A long-haired man with a tired, pale face lay on the bed. Next to him, in a chair, sat a girl whose face was exhausted from tears, and her soul was crushed by grief. She held his hand and couldn't believe that everything happening was real, that it was truly happening. He was her father, and she was his beloved daughter. He used to say he loved all his children equally, and he believed it too. But still, he always spent more time with her, teaching her fencing, dueling with swords, going hunting together, which greatly poisoned the souls of his son and younger daughter. But even now, by his side were not his son and not his younger daughter. He never wanted to divide his children into favorites and less loved ones, it just happened that way. What can be changed now?The man was on the brink, at times losing consciousness or suffering from fever. He wouldn't last more than an hour; death had already put him on her urgent to-do list. Two words - Crimson Plague. He wasn't afraid of death; he was ashamed of such a death. As a brave warrior, he believed he should have died in battle, not fallen victim to disease. That was his belief. On his deathbed, he regretted the many things he hadn't done and was ashamed of what he had.-"Anna..." his faint whisper broke the silence.-"Yes, father?"-"I want to entrust you with the most valuable thing I have, the thing we have: our family.-"Stop, everything will be fine."The Crimson Plague, a disease with no cure. Everyone knows this, but when a loved one's life is at stake, denial sets in...-"My dear, there's no need for illusions. Everything is already predetermined by fate."Fate? Ha, had Sagewin of the Santwood clan ever believed in fate in his life? No, of course not. But this time, he had to believe it and even convince others.-"No."-"Yes, please don't interrupt me. It's hard for me to speak. Soon I will be gone, and I want you to..."The man couldn't finish; an emotionless grimace froze on his face. He began to mumble something incomprehensible. Delirium. He was delirious again. In that nightmare he saw, there was no fiction; the man saw what had already happened. His greatest fear. It wasn't monsters or anything like that. In that nightmare, he saw the moment in his life when he discovered his wife's secret. Billean, the love of his life...In his mind, phrases he had once spoken flashed by: "I knew what I was getting into." "I can't let her hate me." And the nightmare ended; the man regained consciousness, but I fear his mind was no longer the same.-"Anna, I want you to do something for me."-"Anything, father."-"Swear to kill Vladislav Coldwane. Swear on blood."Not even a second passed before Anna grabbed the dagger lying on the nearby nightstand, and a line of emerging blood appeared on her palm.-"Li orena mauro Vladislav Coldwane. Li orena kora, ter oren xa pera, sinne liare dar u fahh e lixarei Santwood.""I swear to kill Vladislav Coldwane. I swear on blood, if I do not fulfill my vow, I give my life and renounce the Santwood family." - Translation from Yaorin.Anna didn't even consider refusing the oath; she would do anything her father asked. And if, before his death, he asked her to kill someone, she would, of course, do it. Especially since for her, it was nothing unusual.-"Anna, take care of these sinful lands, the house we call ours, and this great family."The man's face turned pale, and his once gray eyes turned crimson. The Crimson Plague had claimed Sagewin Saintwood in this hard-fought battle.-"Goodbye, father."The girl reached out and closed the dead man's eyes, realizing that the scariest thing in the world had happened just a second ago. That evening, Sagewin Santwood died. That evening, many things died.***********The sun rising over the city known as the Witch's Dominion devilishly blinded the eyes of the common folk who lived there. Though, to tell the truth, there weren't that many humans there. But witches, vampires, and all sorts of magical creatures were in abundance. How did it happen that all the non-immortals haven't been wiped out yet… Excerpt from the chronicle: "…Year 126 since the appearance of the Great Ones, (…) there is no more filth left that required the blood and lives of ordinary people to exist, from the Isle of Cannibals to Darkmoon, from the Witch's Isle to the Isle of a Thousand Souls—none remain. But those who take lives without reason, those who did not accept the gift of the sorcerers from the great city of Miren, still linger…" Monk Cedric Walters from the monastery at the foot of the Immortal Mountains.And when I say "common," I mean the poor folk—don't think that just because you're some sorcerer, you can conjure up mountains of gold… At least, not always.-"How much for the chicken?" -"One silver, Lara." -"I heard the killer is back," -the woman said, pulling a coin from the pocket of her worn cloak. -"So soon?" -"What's there to be surprised about? Has she ever been late? May the Great Ones watch over her." -"May the Great Ones watch over her. This time it's faster than usual."The black-haired woman began wrapping the chicken in cloth. -"Stop babbling and finish up, then come help with the meat," a man shouted from inside the shop. -"Oh, Great Ones, he won't even let me talk in peace. You know, Lara, I'm so tired." -"What, is Crystal's clan becoming more tempting?" -"You don't say." -"You frozen there?" the voice called again. -"What a man, I'm coming, I'm coming. See you, Lara."The brunette handed her acquaintance the chicken bundle and, closing the display, headed inside the shop. -"See you.""The princess is back in the capital," "The killer is back"—these whispers echoed in every corner of the city. People, witches, vampires—it didn't matter; they all talked about her. The people loved her, and she loved the people… and a good drink. She was the one in whose emerald eyes you could see your own death, whose dark hair was softer than the finest Darkmoon silk. She was Anna Mary Black-Santwood. The killer.And so, the Blacks. Who are the Blacks? Honestly, who the hell knows—saints or sinners, madmen or righteous souls? The great dynasty of witches and mages has existed for thousands of years.Neriss Black, the head of the family—some consider her half-mad, but if you think about it, all the Blacks could be branded insane. She executed her husband for treason and then mourned him deeply.Billean Black, Neriss's daughter, once joined a monastery, stayed there for two months, and then came back—who knows what she did there.Anna Mary Black, the heiress—this was where the old lady of the Blacks decided to be clever and bypassed her daughter in favor of her granddaughter. So there was only one princess. And there was plenty to inherit. The Black dynasty was the most influential and wealthy in history. But more on that later.*************The sound of boots echoed through the empty corridor. There probably wasn't a more confident stride in the world than hers. A short green jacket made of expensive fabric was slightly stained with blood, but not a single spot marred her trousers or corset. The woman pushed the massive doors forward and stepped into the sitting room.-"Welcome back, sister." -said the blonde sitting on the couch, setting aside her book. -"Hello, Elena. Where is everyone?" -"William is training with swords, Grandma is in her office, and Mother went somewhere." -"Figures," the girl sighed tiredly and sat down next to her sister. -"I take it the trip went well?" -"You don't say. I was looking for one werewolf, found two." -"And?" -"And now they'll meet in heaven,"- the killer said, glancing at her sword. -"As usual. Oh, did you know there's a ball tonight?" -"Just what I need." -"A ball?" -"To drink myself senseless at the ball. Though why wait, I can drink before and after too." -"Can I join you?" -"Of course." -"So we're going?" -"We're going,"- the brunette said as she got up from the couch. "But first, I need to change—the smell of wolf blood is turning my stomach."*****************-"Where's Crystal?"- Elena asked, taking a sip of wine.Grace Crystal was undoubtedly Anna's best friend, though their friendship was, to put it mildly, interesting and complicated. Grace clearly showed her interest in Anna, and the latter was aware of it. But their relationship remained just a friendship, spiced with a hint of flirtation.They had met in one of the castle corridors—one dealing with troubles in her life, the other seeking company.(Flashback) The girl sat down next to her and, after taking a sip from a flask, handed it to the princess. -"Rough day?" -"Not just rough, it's downright ******." -"Looks like we had the same kind of day. I'm Grace Crystal." -"Anna Black." -"The killer?" -"And you, from the 'Revenge Clan,' right?" -"Yeah," the brunette sighed. -"Leader?" -"Heiress ." -"Hey, want to go for a drink?" -"Best idea I've heard all day."-"When we arrived, she said she needed to meet with a witch in Iris. She's there now." -"Will she join us?" -"I think only at the ball."Soft footsteps echoed in the corridor, and a servant entered the hall. -"Lady Anna, Lady Neriss requests your presence." -"I'm coming," Anna said, rising and heading out, with the servant following behind.After wandering the corridors for a few minutes, the heiress stood before the doors to the study. Knocking on the carved redwood doors, she barely had to wait before they opened.-"Hello, dear," -the woman said, setting aside a piece of parchment and rising to greet her granddaughter. -"Hello, Grandma." -"How are you? How was the trip?" -"As always. I'm fine. The werewolves are in the afterlife."Anna's words made the head of the family smile. -"Very good, dear. I need to tell you something." -"What?" -"Something quite controversial. This morning, I received a letter," the woman sighed.- "From the werewolves."-"From their leader, that… Ashton?" -"Yes. He wrote about some kind of truce." -"What do you mean, 'some kind'?" -"I mean they call it a truce when they wreak havoc and we don't interfere. In short, he wrote that we don't respect their so-called culture, and they want a peculiar peace. They're sending an envoy."-"I have two questions. First: 'Since when did murder, robbery, slavery, and other savagery become culture?' Second: 'Are they out of their damn minds?'" -"As for the first, since the wolves began evolving backward. And the second—you know the answer yourself."-"And what should we do?"-"What do you suggest?"-"I suggest we clearly explain to the dogs what culture is."-"I thought about that too, but there's another option."-"And what is it?"-"We accept their envoy, find out what's on the dogs' minds. If anything...," -the head of the clan paused and tapped her fingers on the table before continuing. -"Then we explain."-"I don't think this will end well, but in any case, it's not for me to decide."-"Why not? You're the heiress, it's exactly your call. You could even chop off the envoy's head the moment you meet him, and I wouldn't say a word."-"So, grandma, you really don't want to listen to the nonsense the dogs will spout?"-"You got me," -the woman smiled once more and winked at her companion. -"Alright, we still have to at least try."-"And when will this negotiator arrive?"-"In about six days, I think."-"That soon?"-"Ashton wrote that this... oh, Great Ones, what's his name again," the woman glanced at the letter on the table to confirm her guess, "Harris, yes, he's currently in Reyne. That's why so soon."-"If he were in the Raven Lands, I would have crossed paths with him earlier."-"And how's that matter going?" the woman asked after a short silence.-"Not great. At the moment, I have no information about the whereabouts of the one I'm supposed to kill."-"And what about the gossips?"The so-called "gossips" were people paid to spy on specific individuals, although their information wasn't always useful. Sometimes, those you paid might end up gossiping about you instead.-"The gossips are just draining money. Their tales provide nothing useful."-"And what are your plans?"-"Honestly, I don't know. The Coldwain family rules on the other side of the world. But the one I'm looking for isn't there. Killing everyone indiscriminately... tempting, but still."-"So you'll wait for luck to strike?"-"Yeah, but the problem is, it's unlikely that a member of the ruling family will travel thousands of miles to the Witch's Domain and say: 'Anna Black, kill me'."-"I wouldn't be so sure in your place. You never know what kind of characters exist."-"Well, then I might get really lucky."-"Those are the ones who practically ask to be stepped on."-"Haha. Grandma, I should visit Verin more often."-"Indeed. Listen, have you even seen him in person?"-"Of course, I see him every day. I just can't find the right moment to stick a sword in his heart."-"I'm serious. I mean, do you even know what he looks like?"-"Grandma, I can't even imagine what he looks like. All I know is his name, and that I have to kill him."-"His name... Alright, dear, tell the old woman how things are in the Raven's Lands."-"Oh, come on, Lady Neriss, old women don't look like you."-"If someone else told me that, I'd think they were flattering me. But from you, it sounds more truthful than the sun shining. So, how's it in the Raven Lands?"-"The same as always. I even think time bypasses that city. Nothing changes. You still can't tell whether it's a raven sitting on a branch or the locals having fun. It has its own atmosphere."-"Got it."-"And where did my much-respected mother decide to go?"-"To commune with nature,"- the woman with curly black hair spread her arms.-"Wow. Must be having a nervous breakdown."The women of the Black family continued their conversation for a long time, discussing various topics. Their conversations were always more intense compared to those between Bilean and Anna.**************The sun was setting beyond the horizon, and guests were gathering in the grand ballroom of the main castle. Here, under the light of crystal chandeliers, dark dealings took place, while exquisite music masterfully concealed grim conversations. That luxurious evening exuded an atmosphere of theatricality and genuine emotions, elegance and rudeness, serenity and tension.Everyone was present at the ball: liars, nobles, sinners, almost saints, the wealthy, and those who barely scraped together enough for a new outfit. Some were obsessed with making sure their attire looked perfect, others were looking for "company" for the night, and some came just to drink themselves into oblivion.There was no official guest list; the entire noble crowd had arrived under the pretext of paying their respects to the ruling family. Speaking of which, while the noble guests exchanged polite bows and conversed, the heiress stood aside, drowning her exhaustion in a goblet of fine capital wine.No, she didn't care about the guests—she was just tired after a long day. She wanted to relax, meet up with her friend, and drink a little (a lot). But dear Crystal, as luck would have it, was taking her sweet time getting to the ball.Although, maybe not entirely alone...-"Wonderful evening, my lady. You are Anna Black, aren't you?"- asked a man who appeared as if out of nowhere.-"Good evening. Yes."- A heavy sigh preceded the response.An awkward silence hung in the air—perhaps there was nothing to ask, or maybe someone was struggling to find the right words. Who knows?-"Do such events tire you?"-"Not exactly. After all, no one forces me to come here. I'm not here to be an eyesore to the noble ladies and gentlemen."-"Then why are you here?"-"What a curious person," -the assassin thought, but she still indulged the man's curiosity.-"To have one too many drinks."-"I see."-"And what is your goal?" Anna asked, looking him straight in the eyes.-"To be honest, I came here out of sheer boredom."He lied. The man knew that if he revealed his true purpose, Black would certainly ask him something he didn't want to answer. Just fifteen minutes ago, his life had been divided into 'before' and 'after.' The brunette was slightly confused but knew one thing for sure. What? I'm afraid I won't answer that. Deep down, you already know. You've already figured it out. Admit it to yourself. But I'm rambling too much about this stranger's motives—let's get back to the most fascinating dialogue in the world.-"I'm sure half the guests here have the same intentions as you."-"And half have the same as yours,"- the man took a sip from his goblet. -"You know, I have a feeling we've met before."-"I don't think so. I've never seen you before."-"I meant... as if I've known you for a thousand years."-"That's unlikely too. I'm only thirty-three."No, Anna Black didn't have a problem with metaphors—she was just excellent at giving cheeky answers.-"Honestly, you look younger."-"I hear that a lot."-"I believe they've just announced a slow dance. May I have the honor?"-"But I'm not in a ball gown. I'm not in a dress at all."-"So what? You're the famous Anna Black, the princess—you can do whatever you please."-"You're forcing me into an act that half the capital will call bad manners."-"Are you refusing?"-"Who said I refuse? I'm the famous Anna Black, after all. If I don't commit outrageous acts, who will?"What was this? A provocation or just plain madness? Black didn't care. It had been too long since she had done something so ridiculous, so very much in the style of the crazy Anna Black. She could create "chaos" across the world, but dancing in trousers and a shirt before the noble society... that was real extreme. The brunette simply smiled lightly and extended her hand to the witch.-"If your simple goal was to compromise me in front of the entire respectable crowd, I must inform you that you won't tarnish my reputation any further than it already is," -the assassin said as she whirled in the dance with him.-"Not at all. I never intended to set you up."-"Then why did you ask?"-"How could I miss the chance to dance with the most beautiful woman at this ball, just because you're not wearing a grand dress?"-"You're an egoist, you know that?"-"I do now."The dance was unusual and beautiful in its own way. They glided across the polished floor as if they'd been preparing for this strange dance their whole lives—so smoothly and gracefully that even the most professional dancers couldn't match them. The exquisite music became an endless ocean—sometimes a storm, sometimes calm—in which they both drowned. Strangers who had never met before merged into one in this mad, improper dance, under the candlelight, amidst the whispers of astonished and not-so-astonished guests.-"If anyone starts whispering, just point at me and say I enchanted you with a spell—and may I burn in hell."-"Oh, so you're a noble egoist," -the woman said with a light laugh.-"I'm glad you've slightly changed your opinion of me."Suddenly, the music died down, bringing an end to that strange dance, that strange feeling.-"Funny," -Black said with her characteristic smirk.-"What?"-"The dance is over, yet you're still holding my hand."-"Indeed, the dance is over, but you're still holding onto my shoulder."-"True."After those words, they both stepped away from each other almost simultaneously—a quick end to a slow, strange dance. It felt as though the dance had been a long story that ended far too quickly, leaving a peculiar aftertaste.-"You dance very well."-"So do you. Not bad.""How long can he stare at me? He's been looking into my soul all evening.""That look... is something wrong?"Interesting—what if one of them could read minds?-"So many eyes on us,"- the first phrase after a minute of silence.-"Oh, this is nothing. Everyone here knows I tend to do something out of the ordinary now and then. I often overhear things about myself—people usually talk behind my back."-"Really? They revere you like an idol. I've personally heard them praising you and asking the Great Ones for your blessing."-"One doesn't exclude the other."-"Grace Crystal, heiress of the Crystal clan,"- a servant called out, introducing the witch in a long black dress as she entered the hall. However, even her dress wasn't as dark as her soul.Hearing her friend's arrival, the brunette turned to glance at the latecomer. But suddenly, a thought struck the assassin—she had been talking and even dancing with a man whose name she didn't even know for the past twenty minutes. And all this time, she hadn't cared about it in the slightest.-"Excuse me, what is your name?" -the princess asked without turning her head, receiving only silence in response.Turning around, Black found that the stranger was gone. Interesting. A man approaches, they talk, they dance, and the moment she asks his name—he vanishes without a trace. Not that Anna cared. The only thing she was really interested in at this ball was gossiping with her best friend and getting drunk. A strange little episode with a dance and a stranger changed nothing and didn't bother her at all.-"Finally! I was starting to think that witch in Iris had eaten you," -the heiress said as soon as her friend approached.-"I could eat anyone myself, you know that," Crystal replied, stretching out for a hug, which Anna, of course, did not refuse.-"What are you staring at?" Crystal snapped at a man who was looking at them disapprovingly. He averted his gaze immediately.-"Grace, take it easy; the servant two meters away is already shaking," Anna remarked.And he had reasons to tremble, not because Crystal was some kind of authority figure or anything, but simply because she was Crystal. You'll understand what that means soon enough.-"I don't get it, why is everyone staring?"-"Well, to put it mildly, you missed something while you were in Iris."-"I see. Hopefully, it wasn't some kind of murder."-"Nope."-"Then it's not much of a loss," -the woman said, taking another sip of wine.-"So, what happened in Iris?"-"Let's just say it was an exchange of experience. We almost killed each other, but that's beside the point."-"I never doubted it for a second."-"Doubted what?"-"That the story would be in the spirit of 'we almost killed each other.'"-"As if it ever goes differently."While the witch from the "Revenge Clan" spoke, whispers were heard nearby—not very quiet ones.-"Ladies, could you speak a little louder? They can't hear you in Darkmoon," -she grumbled."Now I have no one to point fingers at."-thoughts-"Apologies, my lady."-"They're only good for gossiping and judging others," Crystal said.At these words, the assassin raised an eyebrow questioningly and offered a restrained smile.-"Are you implying something?"-"I'm subtly implying it about us."-"You know, we don't judge, we just discuss."-"A colossal difference."-"Exactly."-"Alright, let's go have a drink."Strangely enough, the evening wasn't turning out well—those sideways glances and whispers were making things tense and didn't let them relax. Sure, they could shout at everyone to settle down, but that would only work for fifteen minutes at most. So, the Crystal witch and the killer decided to take their leisure elsewhere.-"To the Carriage?" the brunette asked halfway to the exit.-"Where else? They're always expecting us there."The tavern on Sin Street was definitely the place where Anna Black could unwind. It was owned by an acquaintance of the assassin, Elia Roche, though everyone called her something else.-"Good evening, Carriage."As odd as it sounded, her nickname was "Carriage." Why? A nasty past—she used to rob carriages, or rather, the wealthy nobles traveling in them. For that, she spent five years in prison. But that was all in the past. Now Carriage was the owner of a tavern on Sin Street and lived quite well—relatively speaking.-"And here comes the killer with the stern witch,"- the tavern owner said, wiping mugs.-"Oh Great Ones, how many dirty words are in this song," -Black said, pointing her thumb toward the musicians in the corner as she approached the bar.-"What's wrong with it?"-"They're singing too quietly."-"What will you have, lovely ladies?"-"Straight whiskey,"- the killer replied.-"Ice for me."-"One moment."Thirty seconds later, the order was ready. Black brought the worn glass to her lips and downed it in one go, not a muscle twitching on her face.-"How do you do that?" -the woman asked, shaking her head.Not a single patron of this tavern, from homeless beggars to noble gentlemen, could drink the local whiskey without grimacing. No one except the famous Anna Black, of course. And this dramatic scene, where Black showed no reaction, never ceased to amaze Carriage.-"It's like you've had a drink of water."-"One word—experience," the witch replied to the question.-"Another round?"-"Of course."-"Crystal?"-"Hold on, I'm not that fast....like in everything else.."-"So, how's the matter with the one you're supposed to kill going? Have you learned anything—where he is, what he even is?"- Carriage asked as she poured more whiskey.-"I have no clue." Anna took another sip. "I don't even know what he looks like, let alone where to find him. All I have is a name and an oath."-"Not much to go on."-"Honestly, I don't even know what to do. I made an oath, but I'm unable to fulfill it."-"What are you talking about? Of course, you can. Or have you forgotten your nickname?"-"I haven't, but I feel like I'm letting my father down with my inaction. It was his last wish, so..."-"I think you're forgetting that you might die if you don't fulfill your oath."Crystal shot a look that clearly said, "Some help you are, Carriage."-"Look, you can find anyone, anywhere. You'll find this Coldwayne too, I'm sure of it."-"You say that like I'm panicking. I'm fine. Yes, I'm at a standstill because Coldwayne is good at hiding, but sooner or later, I'll get him."-"How was the ball?"A sudden change of subject, but an effective one.-"On a scale from one to ten? A three."-"Why so low?"-"Didn't get drunk enough,"- Crystal concluded.-"What stopped you?"-"In short? A tense atmosphere."-"What kind of atmosphere could possibly stop you from drowning your sorrows?"-"Yeah, well... it just didn't work out."-"Hmm. Well, another round?" Carriage glanced at the empty glasses.-"Naturally."As Black watched Elia refill the glasses with their nearly faded patterns, a memory surfaced—an incident from that same unfortunate ball.-"There was something... strange. No, more like... puzzling," Anna mused, choosing her words carefully.-"What?"-"If I sum it up—some guy approached me, we talked, we danced... and then he vanished like a phantom. And he said some nonsense about us knowing each other for a thousand years."-"Maybe he was flirting with you. Subtly," Carriage suggested.-"Carriage, have you lost your mind? Do you think I can't tell nonsense from flirting?"-"Maybe it was an attempt at flirting that came out... badly," Carriage trailed off as Anna gave her a sharp look.-"Why didn't I see him?"-"You had just walked into the ballroom, I turned my head towards you, and in the next second—poof, he was gone."-"Hold on—you danced with him?"-"It took you that long to figure it out, Grace?"-"You were in..."-"Yes."-"And you..."-"Yes."-"So that's why everyone was staring at you."-"Exactly. But who cares? I'm from the ruling family—I can do whatever I want."-"I know. Besides, it's been a while since you were the center of palace gossip."-"Since yesterday, probably," Carriage quipped.-"Exactly."-"And who was he, anyway? Did he give you his name?"-"I have no idea."A second passed, and the corners of the red-haired witch's lips twitched.-"I have a feeling..." Carriage began, barely suppressing a grin.-"No, no, no," -Anna's nervous laugh made the stern witch widen her eyes.-"Yes, yes, yes," Carriage countered.-"No way. That can't be."-"..."Words were unnecessary.-"I'm telling you, it wasn't him."-"And why are you so sure?" Carriage clearly had something in mind.-"I don't know... I just think it's not him."-"We have a way to check. Re Litta."-"Alright, alright, let's check."-"Let's do it," Grace agreed quietly, resting her chin on her hand.-"Tonight, did I dance at the ball with Vladislav Coldwaine?" Anna moved her fingers slightly, and the Re Litta symbol started forming in the air. New lines and patterns emerged one after another until finally, the answer appeared—Orei.-"Congratulations," Crystal said with a smile.-"Thanks."Black couldn't believe that the man from the ball was the very person she was sworn to kill. Not that she particularly cared about him—but he had been so close, and apparently, he knew about the oath. He could have killed her right there at the ball. So why didn't he? Too many people around? Or maybe he wanted to see what she was capable of?Her thoughts swung from one extreme to the other, but she knew one thing for certain—she would fulfill her duty, her bloody oath.-"And now?"-"Now I'll find him and fulfill my oath," the witch said emotionlessly. "Since he's in the capital, it won't be too hard. A couple of spells and that's it."-"You mentioned he's a vampire, right? Which means he can fly. What if he's already left the Witch's Domain?"-"Use Re Litta again and find out."-"Is Vladislav Coldwaine still in the Witch's Domain?"A new Re Litta symbol replaced the vanished one. Orei.-"Luck is on your side."-"I'll start searching tomorrow."-"What if he flies away?"-"He won't. He didn't leave tonight, something's keeping him here."**********************The sunlight filled the entire room, golden rays gently touching the witch's face. A knock on the door stirred her from her sleep.-"My lady, breakfast is ready. Would you like it brought to your chambers?"-"Hmm? No, Charlie, I'll come down," came the sleepy voice.-"Time to get up."The woman pushed the blanket aside and sat up—briefly. Two seconds later, she fell back onto the bed and closed her eyes. Why was the bed always so irresistibly inviting in the morning? No matter how hard she tried to force herself up, the assassin only managed to open her eyes and glance at the tall wooden clock across the room.-"Breakfast at eight in the morning? This has to be a conspiracy against my sleep."Another knock sounded.-"Oh, I know—I'm in hell, and this is my punishment. Who is it?"-"Anna, are you coming? Something interesting's happening at breakfast."-"Oh, it's you, dear brother. And what's so interesting about breakfast, William?"-"A werewolf has arrived."-"Hah! Now that's intriguing. And what do you need me for? Can't you guys kill him yourselves?"-"Mother wants you there. There's a sudden shortage of Blacks. There aren't enough of us to face one werewolf."-"Fine, I'm getting dressed. Tell me what's happening in the meantime."-"Such exaggerated courtesy. No fights yet, but grandma's patience is running thin. This Harris guy started rambling about 'mutual assistance and peace,' about 'werewolf culture.' I barely held myself back from..."-"Don't worry, the fight will happen soon enough," Anna said, opening the door and interrupting her brother.-"Let's go. The circus awaits us."-"Yeah, talking to werewolves politely is definitely a circus. No other way to put it."-"I see you're armed and ready," William noted, eyeing her sword.-"Of course, I am. With a guest like that at our door."That was the last thing the woman said before heading to the dining hall with her brother.Werewolves. Anna hated werewolves—though she was not alone in that sentiment. A vast number of people considered them a dark stain in the history of Rozmund. They robbed and killed, raped and kidnapped, shattered lives, and harbored an intense hatred for those who did not bow at their feet.Monsters—who embraced their wolfish nature as a sacred gift, declaring themselves above all races and believing themselves to be gods.Uncultured savages—that's how they could best be described. They lived as if in another world, one they had created on their so-called own lands, where savagery triumphed over reason.They were among those who "did not accept the gift of the sorcerers from the great city of Miren." Murder was their only means of proving their worth. And they only killed those who were clearly weaker and unable to fight back. They had truly earned their title—Monsters.-"Good morning, everyone."- Black didn't even glance at the man.The woman went to the window and lit a cigarette.-"Good morning,"- responded the Blacks... and the werewolf.The Blacks, every single one of them, despised and loathed werewolves—and they had their reasons. But today, Neriss wanted to hear out one of the mutts, to find out what they truly wanted. To think that they would change is foolish, even a five year old wouldn't believe it. Or maybe it's also some kind of sophisticated bullying by the head of a powerful family? Deciphering Neriss's motives in real-time was always difficult, as she could change her decisions in an instant. She rarely shared her plans with anyone, save for a few advisors—whose advice she usually ignored.Well, she did share a thing or two with Anna.But Neriss's political decisions were always winning ones. The mighty queen of one of the two kingdoms was not only ruthless but also wise; otherwise, neither the nobles nor the common folk would respect her or follow her.And now, she wore her pleasant mask, ready to uncover the werewolves' motives.This conversation promised to be interesting—very interesting.-"So, shall we continue? What kind of truce are we talking about?" -Neriss asked.-"You want to discuss this now?" The arrogance in his voice was hard to miss.-"Is that a problem for you?" The heiress turned away from the window, her tone indifferent.-"I assumed it would be a more formal affair. Meeting with your husband would be a great honor."Someone smirked lightly, someone else covered their face with their hand. But in the minds of every Black in the room, one shared thought echoed—Idiot.-"Excuse me, with whom?"-"Your husband."-"And what's wrong with speaking to me?" -The corners of Neriss's lips twitched, and a spark of amusement flickered in her eyes.-"With all due respect, I had hoped for a serious discussion with the head of the house... and the king."Two options—either he was born yesterday, or he was astonishingly stupid. Most likely, the werewolves had sent whichever mutt happened to be closest to the capital, clearly not one who knew the history of the ruling family and the kingdom.-"You know, if you'd met me earlier, I would have arranged for you to meet my grandfather. But now I'm afraid instead of a dead king-consort, you'll have to settle for talking to the queen. And also the head of the family. -the killer said hastily, exhaling smoke.-"I apologize. I didn't know. My condolences."-"Don't bother. My husband was a traitor and a worthless scoundrel," the head of the family replied with a raised eyebrow and a smile."Scoundrel"—a fitting term for this conversation.-"You know, perhaps now is not the right time for this discussion."-"When, then?"-"Tonight. You will be summoned. For now, Charlene will show you to your chambers."A maid dressed in black appeared at the doorway. Taking the hint, the werewolf finally left.-"Bastard,"- Anna remarked matter-of-factly.-"He's no envoy—that much is clear. Just a simple spy," Bilean voiced what everyone was thinking.-"Indeed, there's no truce. Just mind games. Anna."-"Yes?"-"Give him a little scare tonight, like only you can, but don't overdo it. He knows things we need to find out, so let him stay for now. And tell the servants to keep a close watch on him."-"Of course, Grandma."-"Have the gossips provided any answers?"-"Yes. And I can now answer the question you didn't ask out loud. Tomorrow, I will kill Vladislav Coldwaine."The servants had informed Harris that the meeting would take place in the drawing room—in a casual setting, so to speak.After his words that morning, no one took him seriously anymore. Five minutes of listening to wolf nonsense in the drawing room was the most anyone was willing to tolerate. Holding a council meeting for a mutt? That was never going to happen.And now, for dramatic effect, Crystal would also be present—because why not? After all, Monica Crystal was one of the seven chief advisors, and Grace was her heiress.Black's mind was filled with intrusive thoughts—thoughts that the werewolves were playing their own game, weaving conspiracies behind their backs. It was time to discuss this with the so-called envoy.Crystal and the two Blacks sat in the drawing room, waiting for Harris—ready for the show to begin.-'I should ask him his surname; after all, he never introduced himself.'-'Really? I thought a nickname would suffice.'-'I'm just curious, maybe I've met someone from his family before.- Black received only a smile in response.'And there he was, finally arriving—the star of the evening, the highlight of the program, the light of the eyes... oh, whatever.-'Good evening.'- said Neriss Black.-'Good evening.'-'Excuse me, but could you tell me your surname? Yesterday you didn't introduce yourself.'-'Of course, my surname is Shade.'-'Harris Shade, then. So, let's begin. What was the truce mentioned in the letter?'-'We want to end this struggle between us so that you respect our culture.'-'But your... your clan does terrible things to ordinary people, and even among yourselves, you commit acts unacceptable in a civilized world. I don't know what the rulers of the other kingdom think about this, but I do not condone it. And I won't allow it on my land.'-'Yes, our clan commits certain acts that may seem wild to you, but it's our nature. These are our customs and laws. You cannot take that away from us.'"Laws of the beasts."-'So, you're from a clan of savages?' -Crystal was, first of all, right as never before, and secondly, she voiced what was on the minds of all normal people in the room.-'And you're from a clan of offended women?' – It seemed irrelevant to the discussion, but it clearly hit a nerve with the werewolf.The killer really wanted to punch this mutt; their personal quarrels were one thing, but he had no right to say anything about Crystal.-'No, I'm from a clan of strong women.'- Crystal's calm and peaceful response greatly irritated Harris and somewhat surprised Anna. She had thought Grace would tear his throat out, though, in truth, Anna herself wanted that more.-'Listen, you're here on sufferance, don't allow yourself to be rude. '-Neriss's voice was firm and convincing enough for the werewolf. - 'Let's continue. And what does your "culture" have to do with us? You speak of your clan, but why don't you stay on your land instead of bringing this savagery to our cities?'-'You see, some werewolves have moved here to live, but their rights are being violated.'-'They break the law and are punished for it; what rights violations are you talking about?'-'But our traditions...'- the werewolf started his usual tune but was abruptly interrupted.-'Your traditions belong on your land, in your cities. Here, on this land and in these cities, there are only our laws. I think we have nothing more to discuss today; perhaps you'll need to send letters to your rulers. For that, contact Charlene. Once you're ready to discuss serious matters, let me know. '- Having said all she wanted, the woman rose from the chair in which she had been sitting all this time and walked towards the door, exchanging glances with her granddaughter and winking subtly.As soon as the head of the house closed the door behind her, Anna turned her gaze to the slightly irritated mutt. It was time to talk about conspiracies.-'Do you see this sword, Harris? - The werewolf only blinked.- This sword used to belong to my father, Sagevin Saintwood. Cursed steel, that's what it's called. The sword made of cursed steel, a sword that demands the blood of its master's enemies. It's one of a kind; the moon guardians ordered it forged by the best blacksmiths of the Isle of a Thousand Souls specifically for my father, as gratitude for saving them.The woman ran three fingers along the fuller of the sword and continued.-'It will kill anyone, of course, if the one wielding it knows how to use it. My father called it "Cursed Justice;" I prefer to shorten it to just "Justice." Keep in mind, little wolf, if you dare to weave conspiracies behind our backs, this sword in my hands will be the last thing you see in your life.'-'I'm not used to fearing a piece of iron.'Of course, Harris didn't realize the full power of "Justice," which meant the assassin would have to explain.The woman instantly sprang into action, drawing the sword from its sheath and pointing it at the werewolf. He immediately recoiled and froze. Moving even a finger became the most challenging task for him at that moment. The cursed steel showed its superiority.-'And I'm not used to warning.'-'I never intended to plot against you. I just came for negotiations.'-'I'm very glad to hear that. But if you ever change your mind, I'm always nearby.'-'Shall we go, Anna?'-'Let's go.' -The woman slid the sword back into its sheath and followed her friend.-'You don't believe him, do you?' -Crystal asked as they exited the hall.-'Of course not. How can you trust dogs? Just because he says something doesn't mean we should believe it.'-'Good. What about the old vows?'-'I'll fulfill my duty tomorrow. It must have been very important to my father since he asked for it on his deathbed; it's a great honor for me to carry out his last will.'It sounded strange. Strange. The only word that associated with the one Black was supposed to kill. He could have killed her but didn't; rather, he could have tried. Tearei would have brought her back to life if Coldwaine had even managed to kill her. Something about him intrigued her, but she couldn't quite grasp what. However, all these thoughts were unimportant; the most important thing was and always would be the vow. Her life and, above all, her honor depended on it.-'So, you've decided for tomorrow.'-'Tomorrow.'