((Uh … sorry? Chapter heading means Tell me why you're dark, you pronounce it /Skazhy chom ty temne/ and comes from the song Небо (that means Sky or Heaven and is pronounced /Nebo/ by Чур(/Chur/).))

Chapter 24
Скажи чом ти темне

Regis and Shani stood before the mansion. 'It's beautiful,' she said. Then, apparently, she caught the look on his face. 'What's wrong?'

'Everything.' The vampire suppressed a shiver. 'I can't say. But this place is screaming wrong at me at the top of its lungs. And yet …'

'Thaler will find something.'

He looked at her. 'You've spent a little more time with the Raven. What do you think are the chances of Sirendor letting us run into a knife, knowing what he's doing?'

'Zero.'

'Very well.' He took a deep breath. 'Let's knock.' He grabbed the heavy doorknocker and let it drop from an angle.

They didn't wait long. A harassed looking woman opened. 'What?' she demanded.

'Good evening,' Regis said. 'I assume you are Svitlana? Emiel Regis is the name. We were informed that you could help us by a friend. Varili…'

'Oh, for fucks sake, I told her to stick her opinion where the sun don't shine.'

Regis decided not to respond to that directly. 'My apologies. I wouldn't bother you, but we need shelter. We are eleven people. We're … trying elsewhere, but I think our chances are slim.'

'Sorry. I have no room.'

'I will pay handsomely.'

Svitlana's gaze fell on Shani's missing hands and her eyes widened. 'I knew it! The fucker sent you to zap him!'

Shani shook her head. 'Emiel, let's go. This is getting crazy. We'll find a place.'

Svitlana turned her gaze, now baleful, on Shani's. 'You're just here for rooms, yes?'

'Yes.'

'Not to goad my father into his death?'

'I … what? No!'

'Well, it's a big mansion. You can have your damn rooms.'

Regis's brow was slightly furrowed. 'We didn't come to harm anyone. We'll find our friends and bring them.'

'She can wait here, if she wants.'

Regis made a face. 'No. Actually, she cannot. I will need her to translate for me. They're Balaian, and sometimes I lack to skill to communicate properly. But we'll be back shortly.' He walked Shani away. When they were out of earshot, he glanced back over his shoulder. 'Sorry for the white lie, but there's something seriously creepy going on, and I'm not sure you'd be safe.'

'Said the vampire.'

Regis halted and looked at her. 'Exactly. It takes a lot to make my hackles rise. Something about this place is very bad news. A powerful curse has an aura you can learn to sense. And my senses are screaming right now. Now Varilia wouldn't sent us to someplace she considers dangerous, but I'm telling you there's something horrible going on. And while I intend to find out what it is, I …' He faltered and licked his lips. 'Why do I always get myself into other people's messes, Shani?'

'You're obstinate?'

He gave a soft chuckle. 'Obviously.' He scowled at the mansion once more before walking back to the inn they had stayed in so far. 'When this is all over, remind me not to meddle anymore.'

'Can do.'

Ϡ

'What do you mean, we cannot come back?' Hirad asked.

Thaler looked at him. 'We've been kicked out. Thugs came, threatened the innkeep, and Regis and I got everything out here.'

'Where are Shani and Regis?'

'Checking out one last place that might help. I tried some of the places that rent out rooms. They were all threatened.'

'Jonas is playing dirty,' The Unknown said. 'He must be rather desperate.'

'Indeed. Do you even want to know … Ah, that's Regis there.'

The Raven turned as one. The vampire was jogging towards them, Shani following at a more sedate pace. He pointed behind himself with his thumb. 'Got a place for us. But … ah. The house itself or someone in it is cursed. I advise all of us to get over and done with this preserver business quickly. I don't like curses.'

'Does anyone?' Ilkar asked.

Regis gave him a lingering look. 'You all need to be very, very cautious. Officially, you have been removed because of Will and Thraun's relationship. That could breed hatred.'

'You think the idiots here scare us?' Hirad asked.

'No.' Regis gave him a level look. 'But the Preserver scare the idiots. If not for this, they'd have found another reason. How did your talk with Jonas go, anyway?'

The Raven told the other three on the way. Regis listened silently, occasionally exchanging a glance with Thaler. Their sudden civility was a mark of how dire their situation was. There was still no friendship between the two men, and Hirad was certain there never would be. As they approached the mansion, Erienne's forehead knotted. 'Something wrong?'

The mage looked at him. 'Yes. But I can't say what.'

'Don't let it concern you.' Regis knocked the door. 'You take care of your business. Thaler and I will look into this place.'

'We will?' the spy asked.

'Have something better to do?'

'I'm not a mage.'

'No, but good at spotting things.'

Svitlana opened the door for them and bade them inside. She led them to the left wing of the building and told them to get situated there. They had to cook for themselves, the right part being hers. She said she lived there alone and sometimes entertained guests that wouldn't want to be disturbed by vagrants. 'Nice person,' Hirad said when she'd left them.

'Yeah, a real gem.' Will looked wistfully at the door she'd slammed shut behind her. 'What's on earth? How do we even know of her?'

'Sirendor,' Thaler replied. All eyes turned on him. 'Your friend came to us. He threatened the innkeep and caught us outside, telling us this was his objective to prove his loyalty to the observers. Apparently, Varilia told him to tell us of Svitlana, and she gave him a cryptic message of her being able to offer help.'

'Do you know if he's coming here?'

'He'll try.' There was a knock on the door. 'Why, that was fast.' He opened, revealing Svitlana. Her expression was a lot less unwelcoming than before.

'I … ah … wasn't being exactly civil earlier. Want dinner? I've got too much for myself alone, anyway.'

Ϡ

It was obvious that the woman mainly wanted to find out what they were. It was fair enough, Ilkar found. If he harboured a larger group of strangers, he'd want to know about them, too. It was getting rather late when the door to the kitchen opened and a wizened man came ambling in, picking his way slowly. Svitlana froze in place, while his eyes took them in, squinting to make them out. 'So nice to have guests over.' His voice was feeble and hoarse. Ilkar wondered how old he truly was. His gaze found Shani and his eyes grew wide. Suddenly invigorated, he stumbled towards her. 'Just one … just one touch, young lady, let me …' He reached out, but Svitlana had shot out of her chair and swatted his hand away.

'No, Tatu, don't you do that!'

'Just once, just … one last time, one last.'

'No.' She gave Shani a lingering look. 'Excuse my father. He isn't right in the head. If you could go back to your place. All of you …'

The Unknown rose. 'Of course. Thank you, Svitlana.'

'What,' Erienne asked, 'was that?'

'There's no way he's her father,' Will said. 'Her great-grandfather, if anything.'

Regis stood leaning against the wall with his arms folded. 'Erienne? Opinion?'

The mage shook her head. 'Creepy. I don't believe he'd lost his mind, either.'

'No.' The vampire clicked his tongue. 'This isn't for ton… What now?' There had been another knock, and he opened, glaring outside.

This time it was Sirendor. 'Busy?' he asked.

'No. Do you have anything for us?'

Sirendor made a face. 'I need to leave again. I … have a feeling that I'm going to be a hostage.'

'Which means you're not going anywhere,' Hirad said sharply. 'You're not offering your neck.'

'Hirad …'

'He's right,' the Unknown said. 'This was all good and well so far, but if they realise we're going to betray them …'

'They had me followed, Unknown.'

'We should see if this place is defensible,' Jandyr said.

'No battle here with innocent people that can get in the way.'

'They won't attack us directly, I don't think,' Sirendor said. 'I really think this is easier for you if I go back.'

'No, it's crippling.' Ilkar gestured at them all. 'We cannot make a move if we don't know what that'll do to you.'

'What move, exactly, do you want to make? This is Jonas! You cannot possibly ask The Unknown …'

The Unknown shook his head. 'They aren't asking, but I cannot …' He swallowed. 'I cannot go against everything I believe is right to protect my blood. Sirendor, if you consider yourself prepared to fight with us, you need to stay.'

He stood immobile for a moment. Then he nodded once. 'You're right. I've played the spy long enough.'

Hirad grinned at him. 'Welcome back.'

'We need guards,' Thraun said. 'If you were followed, we need to keep an eye open.'

'I'll do it,' Jandyr said.

Erienne raised a hand. 'Me too.'

'We'll take second watch in, say, three hours,' Thraun said.

'We,' Thaler echoed, shaking his head. 'And you wonder why someone would take offence.'

Will's eyes narrowed. 'Pray do tell, then. Why do you take offence?' Erienne put a hand on his shoulder, but Will shook it off, advancing on the spy. 'Come on. Spit it out. What the fuck is your problem? Are you jealous that you're not getting laid?'

'Will,' Ilkar tried, but the thief made an impatient gesture in his direction.

'My problem,' Thaler said, his voice also rising, 'is that the mere thought of you spreading your legs for that hulk is more than disgusting.'

'Obsessing much?' Will stood in front of him, and even though he was a lot shorter than the older man, he got him to back a step away. 'For your information, most of the time, it's Thraun spreading his legs for me. Or straddling me. Need more mental images to keep you warm? Like how one of my favourite positions is when he's flat on his stomach, and I can see myself sliding in and out.' He had Thaler against the wall right now, standing only inches away from him. 'Want someone to do that to you? I'm sure it can be arranged.'

'Back off, Will. Now.' The Unknown's quiet authority got through the little man's anger and he raised his hands before taking a step backwards. 'Thank you. Thaler, we're not used to people prying into private lives. Mind your own business. Will …' He sighed. 'Direct that anger at the Preservers, would you?'

'Is that how you respond to him threatening to rape me?'

Will snorted. 'As if I'd soil any part of my body by putting it on you. Or in you. But I'm sure we could buy you a prostitute. All you need to do is ask.'

'Will Begman.'

'Yes, Unknown. I'll leave you alone, Thaler. But I sure look forward to never having to see you again.'

'Likewise.'

'Enough. Both of you.' The Unknown took a deep breath. 'Sirendor, do you have any idea if there are records we can get within three days? Records that would tell us about Trina Vesely. I want to be certain we're not barking up the wrong tree.'

'I don't know, but I'm sure that there's a reason why Varilia wanted us to go to Svitlana.'

'Maybe,' Regis said softly, 'Thaler and I should go over there when everyone's asleep and take a good look at the place.' He looked at the spy. 'What do you say, do we have some fun with whatever else our hostess is hiding?'

'Yeah,' Will said quietly, 'imagine that, alone with another guy, pressed close in a dark, deserted place.'

Regis chuckled. 'Ah. Such a shame I'm taken, Thaler. I'll have to disappoint you.'

Shani pursed her lips. 'Oh, as long as I can watch …'

Thaler glowered at them all. 'You're all fucking mad. Meet me at the door in an hour, vampire. If there's anything to be found, we'll get it.'