Me, Dracula s niece? Don t make fun of my slippers

PROLOGUE
On a dank February day, or rather, in the first days of February, a carriage crawled along a dirty, muddy road. She was heading to a place under the mysterious name "B" and carried in her womb one single passenger - a very young girl. The girl came from the famous family of counts "D" and bore a beautiful Slavic name - Olga. It was evening. The sky was either raining or snowing. The girl did not seem to notice the vile landscape that flickered outside the window. She was cheerful and excited, there was even something unnatural in her excitement! The carriage went uphill. And although it was almost empty, the horses suddenly became so exhausted that it seemed just a little bit more, and the carriage would roll down, dragging the horses behind it. The coachman, who suddenly fell into an incomprehensible, sleepy state, with an incredible effort shook off his stupor and whipped the horses. The carriage jerked, and the girl, who had fallen asleep at the same time as the coachman, woke up. The fatal rise was left behind, and the houses of some settlement became visible. Olga laughed and clapped her hands, while the coachman shook his head sullenly. And the more the girl rejoiced, the more worried the old coachman.
The carriage had not yet had time to stop, and the girl had already jumped out and landed right in the mud. This seemed to cool Olga's ardor a little. Shoes, designed for balls, and the thinnest silk stockings, were hopelessly damaged. The girl stood almost knee-deep in mud. For a while it seemed that Olga was about to cry, when suddenly she made a jerk out of the mud that reluctantly let go of her, and splashed towards the largest house, not counting the church, in this village, to the tavern. There were a few steps left to the door of the tavern, when suddenly, this same door swung open and a girl ran out, almost the same age as the arrival. She held a bible in her hands. Seeing Olga, she was at first numb, then trembled and yelled, pointing to the dirt-covered legs of the newcomer.
- That's her! Don't you see? Mizko,” she turned to the coachman, “why did you bring her?
“You know, I’m a forced man,” the coachman began to justify himself, but the arriving guest, who was tired of being spoken of in the third person, intervened in the conversation.
“I’m cold and tired, miss,” she turned to the girl with the bible, “could you step aside?!
But seeing that the noisy person did not think to move, Olga pushed the aborigine aside and entered the longed-for doors. Mizko first followed Olga, but then hesitated at the door, attracted by the incomprehensible change in the behavior of a local girl. After Olga touched the native, the girl froze in place and fell silent.
"Eleanor," the coachman touched the girl's shoulder, "what's the matter with you?" Watch out, fool!
Everything matches, but it's not her! So much the worse for her! Warn her Mizko, because I ... - the girl wanted to say something else, but suddenly she choked and fell face down into the mud. Mizko, and the people who came running to help, tried to bring Eleanor to her senses, the girl soon woke up, but did not say a word more. But back to Olga. After drying off, changing clothes and having a snack, she got ready for the road. To Mizko's exhortations and persuasion that it was already late, she reacted simply: she left the tavern and got into the carriage. Mizko had no choice but to interrupt his dinner and go back on the road.
GOAL
It took no more than an hour and then the main gate of the castle appeared. They were tightly closed, although the girl had taken care to notify her distant relative of her arrival in advance. Leaving the carriage, Olga went to the gate and pulled the bars. In vain. Everything pointed to the fact that no one was waiting for Olga here. Determination left the girl, she plaintively and bewildered looked at Mizko.
“I told him…” she began to speak, but she fell silent so as not to burst into tears.
“Let’s go back,” Mizko suggested hesitantly, “I have relatives living there.” Sheltered for the night, and then ...
“No,” the young countess interrupted him, “I won’t just leave here until I find out about the fate of my mother,” but then the moonbeam fell on the gate that the girl had not noticed before, and Olga rushed to her.
The gate opened at the very first touch of the girl and Olga, ignoring the grumbling of Mizko, who did not keep up with her, rushed to her cherished goal. However, already near the castle itself, she remembered the rules of decency and switched from running to walking.
Mizko's cry made Olga raise her head and look at the castle. Despite the distance traveled in such a short time, the castle did not come a mile closer. Rather more distant. Lightning flashed, and in its painful light it became clear that someone from the castle was watching the arrivals. However, as soon as Olga turned her head, the shutters slammed shut, and the surroundings became even darker than before. It was evident that Olga was tired, but, nevertheless, stubbornly continued to walk forward towards the castle. Finally, stumbling several times over roots invisible in the darkness, she gave up and turned back towards the carriage. Already anticipating peace and dreaming only of a carriage footrest, she, for the last time, in parting, cast a glance at the castle, and once againstunned. The castle was nearby, two steps away. Turning to please Mizko with this news, she saw that he was in a deep faint. A bright light that suddenly hit her eyes made Olga close her eyes. The front entrance lit up with the light of torches, and the doors hospitably swung open. The girl took a step forward and immediately glanced uncertainly at the coachman. She had only to cast a glance at Mizko, when two noiselessly appeared next to him and, taking Mizko by the arms, dragged after Olga.
The man who met Olga at the door of the castle was handsome as a god, but he was not the man to whom Olga was going. This was not the man who was supposed to answer Olga's questions. The stranger's blue eyes and blond hair were a big surprise in this land of swarthy, brown-eyed, and black-haired people. The pallor of a man might seem painful to someone, but not to a young girl who suddenly saw her dream of flesh. For a few moments, she even forgot about the purpose of her visit, but then she remembered, as soon as the man took her hand in his icy palms.
“If I’m not mistaken,” the man said solemnly, “is Countess Olga in front of me?”
- Yes, yes - it's me, - the girl tried to pull out her instantly chilled palm, - I'm Olga!
- Countess, Olga Beautiful, from the family of counts "D"? the blond man insistently clarified, squeezing Olga's fingers even more tightly.
Let go of my fingers, it hurts! Olga shouted without answering the clarification.
“Ah, fingers,” the man seemed to have only now noticed that his fingers were intertwined with Olga’s, “you are absolutely right!” Those fingers! They are so perfect and fragile, however, like all countesses from the “D” family. If you look at this portrait...
"And if you don't let go of my hand..."
- What then?
- Then ... Then, I'll complain! - Olga suddenly thought she was falling asleep. The room swirled around her, but Olga's legs did not give way, she still stood straight. — I will complain to Him!
“But, Countess, pardon me, I just wanted to pay my respects!” The man’s tone instantly changed, became begging, almost whiny, “Forgive me if I offended you involuntarily. He is away now and left me. But if you decide that I am he ...
- Do not make me laugh! Did you think that I would confuse you with Him? His portrait hung over my cradle all my infancy, then moved to the nursery and, finally, to the classroom. And if you really are so well-mannered, then it's time to introduce yourself! Well, how are you, manager, butler, head gardener... Do you have a name?
“Yes, of course,” the man bowed. When he straightened up, it became clear how terribly pale his face was. - This is my omission. Let me introduce myself, my name is Vlad...
- Oh, don't make me laugh! Olga began, but the man did not let her finish.
I am Vlad Jr. I am not a gardener or a cook, I am an illegitimate son.
His son.
“But, how can it be… We didn’t know anything. No, it can't be! Our family tree ... It hangs in the living room, in the most prominent place. For 16 years now, no changes have been made to it. And you ... After all, you can’t give you sixteen years!
“I’m twenty,” Vlad Jr. answered melancholy and distantly.
I don't care about you or your age! You didn't meet me and you almost broke my fingers.
It was the will of the Count. I was not ordered to meet you. A countess from the "D" family should not be left alone with a bastard. A hotel room has been prepared for you, it is a few kilometers away. Please excuse me!
- No, wait! After all, you are half Count "D" too, aren't you?
- Only half.
- But…
- I beg you, go to the carriage. Every minute alone with me increases the danger.
- What danger?
- Go to the carriage!
"And you won't take me to her?"
“Please excuse me, Countess!
Go to the carriage.
“Can I at least see the castle?” - Guessing the time, Olga pleadingly drawled, - I have been told so much about him since childhood!
“As you wish,” the man replied, still detached, surrendering, “I warned you!”
“And you will be my tour guide?” Olga whispered with bated breath.
- I am at your service!
The tour lasted at least two hours, but it seemed to Olga that no more than twenty minutes had passed. Her heart was beating, and her eyes stubbornly searched for the eyes of a man walking beside her.
But Vlad Jr.'s gaze was fixed on the objects he was talking about: paintings, sculptures, furniture, that is, anywhere but Olga. Where did that slightly cheeky and courageous young man who met her when she crossed the threshold of the castle go? The man who walked with her and "mumbled" like a real tour guide now looked more like a monk than like the brilliant Count "D", albeit an illegitimate one.
When they reached the residential half of the castle, the count, with visible relief, announced that the tour was over and escorted her to the exit.
“Could you at least feed me!” - the girl tried to play for time again and suddenly she really felt a brutal hunger.
“The laid table is waiting for you at the hotel,” Vlad Jr. answered a little irritably and already impatiently.
The massive doors of the castle slammed shut. Fogthat prevailed on the street was so thick that Olga could hardly see the carriage standing outside the gate. She was escorted to her by the same two men in dark clothes who had dragged the fainting Mizko a few hours ago. Having come to the conclusion that Vlad, the eldest, was not so hot with the servants, Olga had already raised her leg in order to get into the carriage, when suddenly something seemed to push her in the back. She felt the gaze.
He burned right through her! Olga turned round. The young count stood in the opening of the open front door and looked straight at Olga. His look ... However, Olga did not understand what was more in his look, sympathy or hatred. The lock door slammed shut, and a few seconds later the carriage door slammed shut. And our traveler set off again.
INSTEAD OF A LOCK, A ROOM IN A HOTEL
This time Olga did not even have time to get tired, and the journey was already over, and the little and funny hostess of the hotel was fussing around Olga. And very curious. But this did not bother Olga at all. She also had a lot of questions. And soon, clean and well-fed, Olga listened to the talkative Madame Jeanne, the hostess of the hotel.
Three days have passed. Every day, the girl sent a messenger to the castle with a letter in which there was one single question, and each time she received an answer with the word "no". Three more days passed, and now Madame Jeanne came running, with the news that at the door of the hotel the count's carriage was waiting and waiting for Olga. Olga rushed about the room, pulling out and throwing one dress after another in annoyance. Unfortunately, she was not able to capture her entire wardrobe from home. And during the trip, the style of many dresses, as she suspected, was very outdated. Of course, it’s not Paris here, no one will squint their eyes and whisper behind Olga’s back, but still ... In addition, during the trip she lost a lot of weight and, it seems, even more stretched out. Most of the dresses hung on her like on a hanger, and became short.
Of course, you can call a local dressmaker if there is one in this hole, but time, time ...
After examining the dresses again, she suddenly remembered in what form Vlad Jr. had seen her, snorted and took the dress, which, although it lay in the farthest corner of the bed, was ideally suited to her eye color. The horses harnessed to the count's carriage had been neighing impatiently for a long time! Their dissatisfied snorting, and the jingle of the harness, came even here, into the room. Finally, Olga decided that no tricks would do any good to the thin and angular girl looking at her from the mirror, and resolutely left the room, throwing a farewell glance at herself in the mirror. She took hold of the doorknob, but then let it go and returned to the mirror. A second ago, she saw Vlad Jr. in the mirror. His eyes met hers for only a second, but what a look it was! Then something frightened him and he, casting a farewell glance full of prayer, disappeared.
All this lasted only a second. When Olga ran up to the mirror again, only her own, agitated reflection looked at her. Olga sat down in front of the mirror. But a minute, two, three passed, and nothing else changed in the mirror. Madame Jeanne knocked on the door and reminded her that Monsieur Graf did not like it when guests were delayed. In annoyance, Olga turned the mirror glass to the wall and went out. Ah, if she had waited another half a minute...
FIRST MEETING WITH THE COUNT
This time the castle seemed even gloomier to Olga. Maybe because her path was not illuminated by the light of torches, or maybe because she was met at the door not by a young man, but by his father, Count Vlad "D", but Olga was uncomfortable and hard to be in these frozen walls.
Vlad Tepesh looked the same as in the portrait that accompanied her throughout her childhood. He hasn't aged one iota. But Olga did not expect anything else. From childhood, she knew that time had no power over Him. Dinner time was approaching, and after mutual greetings and a short conversation, Olga was ushered into the dining room. The same two men in black served at the table. The choice of dishes and the presentation were beyond praise. A month earlier, this circumstance would have occupied all her attention, but today Olga did not even taste the dishes. If asked about what was served at the table, she would find it difficult to answer, all her attention was occupied by the door leading to the dining room. Olga kept waiting for the door to open any moment and... But the minutes passed, and the door still remained closed. Finally, the Count drew attention to her restless behavior.
Are you waiting for someone? he asked sympathetically.
- No, I ... - Olga was confused.
- If you are waiting for Count Vlad Jr., then he is not in the castle!
- But why? Where is he?
“He is punished,” the castle owner’s voice turned icy and cut off further questions.
The rest of the dinner passed in enforced silence. By nature, Olga was a cheerful and cheerful girl, sometimes even quite bold. But, there were moments when she wanted to hide behind someone's skirt and when such a skirt or such a person was not around, then ... Then her large and beautiful eyes widened even more, their expression became plaintive, and her speech quickened. And now, when the count asked a direct question, the girl looked around, looking for the man whowho would answer for her, but the hall was empty. The servants left half an hour ago, obeying the sign of the master. Olga pretended not to hear the question, she was interested in a ray of sunlight that penetrated through the stained-glass windows and painted the room in which they had just dined in bizarre and almost fabulous tones. There was a pause, but Count Dracula repeated the question again:
- Do you like my son?
Olga was completely at a loss, but the count did not take his inquiring gaze away from her, and the girl was forced to answer
“But, sir,” the girl murmured in a barely audible voice, but Dracula interrupted her.
- Uncle Vlad!
- What? Olga did not understand
- Call me uncle. And please answer the question I asked you. I don't think you heard him when you looked at the stained glass window. Can you repeat it?
- Not.
“Well, then I'm waiting for an answer,” Vlad Tepesh repeated with almost sadistic persistence.
No, of course I didn't like it! I… You see, count… uncle… I… I was tired from the road then, you were not there, and he…” Olga said and hated herself, her voice, her cowardice.
“I thought that my son had no manners,” the owner of the castle smiled sarcastically, “and that is why I punished him.
“No, that’s not what I wanted to say,” Olga was painfully ashamed, and therefore her speech accelerated to impossibility, “I just didn’t know that he ...
Olga stumbled and, completely embarrassed, fell silent. The count was also silent, perfectly guessing that his great (In the sixth knee) niece could not finish. The silence dragged on. Finally he spoke.
Your rooms are on the second floor. Unfortunately, I don't have maids in the castle. But don't worry, you will find your rooms easily. These are the only rooms whose doors are wide open. The doors of the other rooms are bricked up. And as for the maids and companions... And where is your friend? Mary, I think? I dare to remind you that the main condition for your arrival here, two months ahead of schedule, was your arrival together with your girlfriend. And you notified me that you were leaving, according to the agreement, not alone. So where is your girlfriend?
- She got sick. She has a fever, - Olga's fear reached such an extent that a challenge sounded in her voice, - and I am not a little girl and I can quite manage my evening dress myself.
"In that case, you're on your way back now!"
- But how ... No, I can’t just pick up and leave!
The Countess is leaving. - Ignoring Olga's words, the count spoke authoritatively, addressing the servants who appeared from nowhere. - Prepare the carriage.
- OK then. The doctor said that as soon as Maria felt better, he would notify me and ... May I go up to my rooms now?
There was a pause. The rebellion was nipped in the bud.
“There is no need to pawn the carriage,” the count said in an even voice, “Countess, you can go upstairs.”
And paying no more attention to Olga, Dracula turned and went to that wing of the castle, where Vlad Jr. did not want to take his relative during a short excursion.
Olga did not belong to the category of languid and sickly girls for whom the 19th century was so famous, she could not, like a girl from the 18th century, spend the whole day at the hoop, or embroidering the shroud. What can I say, to sit for an hour without communication for the girl was flour. And so, having put her things in their places, washed and rested, Olga got bored. There was no TV in the room, cell phone…
Oh, there was another story with the mobile phone! When the invitation came from the count, it specifically stipulated that all the novelties of civilization were to be left at home. Particular emphasis was placed on the mobile phone. Olga did not even try to ignore the count's demand, knowing his ability to see through the thoughts of his relatives. Moreover, she even left her watch at home, although this was not mentioned in the letter. After another half an hour, she carefully opened the door. The corridor was empty, at least up to the point where it curved sharply. Suddenly the door burst out of Olga's hands and slammed shut with a loud creak and thud. Olga screamed in surprise. As soon as the echo of her cry subsided, a woman's laughter was heard. Olga wanted to return to the room, but it turned out that there was no handle on the outside of the door. She scratched and tried to open the door at least with the tips of her nails, but nothing worked. Two adjoining rooms were open, but they were of little interest to Olga. These were the rooms reserved for her, which meant they were as sterile and empty as the first room. The girl tried to find at least a crack to peek into those doors that were further down the corridor and were closed. Not only were there no handles on these doors either, but the space between the jamb and the door was indeed bricked up with something bright red and hard to the touch. And such a picture was observed until the very turn of the corridor. And it was worth turning the corridor ...
Well, of course, around the corner was an elderly relative of Olga, who did not look like one.
- Do you have a gift? - the question with which he met Olga stunned the girl.
- Why do you think so? - slowly coming to her senses, asked inturn question Olga
“Mistress Jeanne, the hostess of the inn, is here for you. I thought that you felt it from a distance, that is, you had the gift of clairvoyance. Is it really true?
SHE HELD AND DID NOT LIE
For a moment, Olga had a desire to answer in the affirmative, but she suppressed it.
“No,” the girl said, looking at her great-uncle with eyes wide with fear.
“It’s a pity,” the count’s lips twisted in a sad smile, “but I wanted to forgive the younger count and return home in honor of such an event.
Dracula looked at Olga expectantly, the girl wanted to answer something, but suddenly stopped, realizing that the count really wants her to lie and not just wants, but internally, as it were, pushes her to this lie. And Olga realized one more thing. If she lies, the count will not punish her for it. But, despite the expectation and hope in the count's eyes, Olga repeated:
- Not.
The kind light went out in the count's eyes and was replaced by suspicion.
"In that case, where were you going?"
- I ... You see, the door to my room slammed shut and I ... - the Countess began her exculpatory speech
- Sorry, sorry! Please note that you only have two rooms left.
And without explaining anything else, the count with a mysterious smile turned around and left.
Olga's first impulse was to run after Him and clarify... But after taking a few steps, the girl stopped. Too much would have to be asked and clarified, and there was absolutely no guarantee that the count would want to answer, and then Olga would feel humiliated. And she did not like this state terribly.
And so, after waiting until the count was completely out of sight, she went down the stairs to where Madame Jeanne was waiting for her. Entering the living room, Olga immediately noticed that Zhanna was pretty excited and scared. The woman answered evasively to the girl’s questions, handed Olga a letter from Maria, and some kind of bundle, and asked permission to leave, explaining that urgent matters awaited her, Mrs. Jeanne. Olga tried to bring Zhanna into conversation and return the trusting relationship that was between them when Olga lived in a hotel, but the girl did not succeed. Jeanne was frightened and kept looking sideways at the front door. Having achieved nothing, Olga allowed the frightened woman to leave. Quickly skimming through Maria's letter, in which she said that she was already almost healthy and would arrive at Castle D in the near future, Olga pushed the letter aside and picked up the mysterious bundle. The bundle was sealed and topped with a seal. Burning with impatience, the girl tried to break the seal. She succeeded the first time, but she failed to complete her work. Her hand twitched as if a current had passed through it, and the bundle fell to the floor. It seemed to Olga that the bundle fell for an eternity, although, of course, only a few seconds had passed. As the package fell to the floor, a blue flame snaked around it, turning to white, and finally flaring red, it went out. Cautiously, bending down and picking up the bundle, the girl was relieved to see that the multi-colored fire had not left any traces on the bundle. But she rejoiced early. The fire still left its mark, albeit invisible. When Olga wanted to continue her manipulations with the seal, it turned out that the seal no longer yielded to her tender fingers. However, the paper cutter and scissors did not yield to printing either. Angry, the girl took the bundle and began to hit it on the edge of the table, trying to at least open the seal in this way, but it was all in vain. Annoyed, she threw the bundle on the floor, left the drawing room and moved towards where Madame Jeanne had disappeared. However, she did not have time to take even a few steps, when suddenly, from where her path lay, two servants suddenly appeared. One of them, with a slight movement of his hand, let Olga know that she should follow them.

The Countess followed. They walked for a long time, when they began to go down the stairs, Olga drew attention to the walls painted in bright colors, the colors were of such a violent color that her eyes watered. It was so unusual for a gloomy castle. The painting told about the battles of a knight in white armor. In the picture, he fought with a black dragon, spewing deadly flames from its mouth. Suddenly, the girl's attention was attracted by the sweet smell of lavender coming from the room, the half-open door of which was decorated with bright colors, the color of a magnificent picture on the wall.
Entering the room, she saw that a bright red carpet was lying on the floor. Looking back, she noticed that the stairs were not as long as she had first thought, and that the count's strange servants were no longer around. Only somewhere in the distance the echoes of their speech were heard. Olga was distracted from her thoughts by a voice in which she was surprised to recognize Jeanne. Sitting in an armchair, Olga again felt the smell of lavender, and it became sharp, which the countess did not like very much. She grimaced.
— Honey, you don't like my perfume? Jeanne asked.
- Well, yes ... No ... Well, just the smell of lavender and the smell of tobacco do not go well together! - Olga answered with a little hesitation.
Hearing this, Madame Jeanne put out her cigarette.
- Yes, the count knows how to receive guests! - having said this, Jeanne prshe stared at the still life depicted in the picture.
- Yes, only relatives can be received without special honors!
— Excuse me, Olga, did you say something?
“No… Ah… Excuse me, why did you come back?” And what about your mood?
“Oh, I got completely distracted. I gave away the bundle and the letter, but I forgot about this thing! When I was leaving, I met Mr. Count, he ordered to set the table for me. When they brought coffee, for some reason I suddenly remembered ... You forgot the brooch in the room!
Jeanne held out a silver brooch studded with dozens of multicolored stones. The Countess took it. She wanted to say that the brooch was not hers, but the stones seemed to be bewitched, and for the first time in her life she forced herself to lie.
“It’s a gift… Thank you so much for returning it!”
- Well, good. Excuse me, but I'm in a hurry.
Countess Olga said goodbye to Madame Jeanne and retired to her chambers, to one of the remaining rooms. For a long time she could not sleep, she was tormented by the fact that she had lied. When sleep nevertheless overcame the countess, her peace was broken by a cry. The scream seemed to come from somewhere below. This scream made her go out into the corridor. She wandered around the castle in complete darkness, walked along long corridors, descended mysterious stairs, and all this time assured herself that the scream was nothing but a nightmare. After wandering for some time, the countess returned. But it turned out that the second room is now also inaccessible to her. But Olga, before falling asleep, put the brooch under the pillow. She sat down under the door and decided not to sleep until the morning came and the count explained to her all this devilry with doors. In addition, she was tormented by fear of the third room. The servants who came to call for breakfast found Olga in the corridor. She slept sweetly on the floor in front of the second door. Angry, dirty and sleepy, she entered the dining room. She really wanted to ask the senior count a few questions, but there was no one in the dining room except for her and the servants. No explanation for his absence, either written or oral, the count left. After breakfast, Olga felt very sleepy. But she was afraid even to think of three strange rooms. Something urgently needed to be done. Anything interesting. And then the girl remembered that half of the castle, where the younger count did not let her. Returning to the dining room, she found that the servants were busy cleaning. And assuming that there is no one else in the castle, now is the time to stick your curious nose where you are not asked! So that she would not be suspected of anything, Olga initially went in the other direction.
Then, looking around, and making sure that no one was following her, she turned in the right direction. While she was doing all these maneuvers, no more than two minutes passed, what was her surprise when she discovered that one of the servants was already standing at the coveted half of the castle. Pretending not to notice the presence of the servant, Olga tried to enter the door, but the servant, without saying a word, blocked the door with himself. The girl, languishing with rage, had to leave without a salty slurp. Rage was replaced by depression. I really wanted to sleep. The cold and unfriendly castle was perceived by her as an enemy that must be defeated. If not by force, then by cunning. But later, when she sleeps. At least somewhere. The girl remembered that in the living room, where she had received Madame Jeanne for the first time, there were several soft sofas. "Three," memory prompted helpfully. -What? - Asked sleeping consciousness.
"Three sofas, three rooms. - Memory explained"
One sofa was near the table. It was on him that the girl wanted to lie. Rather, she lay down on him, but immediately got up. On the floor, between the table and the sofa, was an object. Out of the corner of her eye, Olga saw this object when she lay down on the sofa, but when she got up abruptly, there was no object on the floor. The girl lay down again. From the prone position, it was clear that something was lying on the floor, but it was not possible to see what kind of object it was. Olga remembered that somewhere there should be a bundle, which she threw on the floor. There was no bundle. Nor was the letter she left on the table. Out of indignation, the Countess's sleep was taken off as if by magic.
The living room was full of all sorts of cupboards, lockers, secretaries and so on. Olga began to pull out all the drawers in a row and open the doors. The furniture was old and solid, the drawers were heavy, and all the other pieces of furniture matched the drawers. And so Olga quickly got tired. And she didn't care again. But she overcame herself and decided to look into the carved wardrobe. Dragons were carved on this cabinet. Apparently the carver set out not to leave a single piece of the cabinet empty. Pulling out the middle drawer, Olga pulled too hard, and the drawer fell to the floor. He fell with such a thud that the whole castle seemed to shake. The girl rushed to lift the box and suddenly saw the object that did not let her fall asleep. It was a long white tooth. Rather, a medallion in the form of a tooth. The girl immediately forgot about the box. The tooth was white, long and sharp. So sharp that they could probably carve pictures on wood. The dragon carver must have used something like this tooth. However, Olga did not check her guess. It was clear that for someone this tooth served as a medallion. The long chain was its integral part. As soon as the medallion was in the palm of the countess, something clicked, and the tooth opened. Inside the medallion lay a portrait of a woman and a carefully folded piece of paper. The portrait was strangely similar to Olga herself, but still it was not her portrait. However, Olga did not look at him for a long time. She was interested in the note. Olga, save me! You are the only one I can turn to for help! You are my only friend."
The signature: "" D "younger" was barely visible, but still the girl was able to read it. There was a knock on the door. Olga quickly hid everything she found in her pocket, and the door was still closed. The girl thought that maybe she would have time to put the box back in place, but then she waved her hand and went to the door, absolutely happy. The inseparable couple of servants silently looked at Olga, and she looked at them. Finally, the game of staring apparently got tired, and one of the servants beckoned Olga to follow him. Olga wanted to be indignant! What is an appeal? But then she changed her mind. Life was wonderful, and it was not worth bothering with trifles. And why had the castle seemed hostile and cold to her recently? The servants were leading her in the direction where, a few hours earlier, she had tried to stealthily sneak. The windows in this half of the castle were painted over with something dark and shiny and, in addition, curtains, tapestries, and some other fabric, the name of which Olga did not know. The servants carried torches with them, but they did not give enough light. Walked for a very long time. The girl could not even imagine that this half of the castle would be so long. But after a few minutes, she realized what it was. They went underground. The transition was so smooth that Olga did not even notice in the semi-darkness when they went down underground. Finally, the floor of the dungeon began to rise smoothly, Olga turned wearily to the servants, but they were not around.
 Panic squeezed the girl's throat with her cold hand, but fortunately, the door opened right in front of her, light flooded into the dungeon, forcing the girl to cover her blinded eyes on the floor.
STRANGE ROOM
When she opened her eyes, everything was still the same. No one hurried out of the half-open door to meet her. Olga became terrified. She even wanted to turn back, but, looking back at the dark corridor that lay behind her, she took a few timid steps forward. There was no one in the room. It was a clean, cheerful room. If it were not for the paintings that were covered with beautiful tulle curtains and that hung everywhere, on every wall, one would think that it is located somewhere outside the castle, so this room was not like all the others in the castle. Sunbeams flooded the room. Olga sat down on the sofa near the fireplace and waited. But no one was in a hurry to go into the room and explain why she, Olga, had been brought here and how it should all end. As time went. Finally, the girl calmed down so much that she decided to go up to one of the paintings and lifted the curtain. She was in the picture, Olga, although the clothes were different, not hers. Not believing her eyes, the Countess went to another portrait and tore off the veil from it. Third, fourth, fifth. The portraits remained naked and defenseless in the sunlight. Sunlight ruthlessly highlighted all the cracks and scuffs in the portraits. Some of the portraits were very old. However, it was she, Olga, who was depicted on each of them. The clothes changed from portrait to portrait, but the girl remained the same. Olga wanted to get a mirror out of her purse to look at herself and compare, but remembered that the purse had remained in the first room, in the room where she now had no access. In general, all these secrets and omissions began to annoy the girl in earnest. To clear her conscience, she tore the covers from all the other portraits. Alas, there was only her image everywhere. The portraits were depicted, but did not explain anything. No, of course, Olga was flattered that this entire art gallery was devoted only to her, but the girl really wanted to understand what it all meant. Moreover, as far as Olga remembered, with the exception of early infancy, she had never been painted. Take pictures, yes, as much as you like, because she was still a countess from the “D” family, but draw. ... Suddenly Olga realized herself, because she had another portrait of her in her pocket, however, in miniature. She wondered if there was a similar portrait hanging on the wall. But when she carefully examined the mini-portrait from the locket, she was satisfied with the fact that there was no portrait in a similar suit in the whole room. Why it was so important to her, Olga could not even explain to herself yet! In the mini-portrait, the girl was wearing a strange white fur coat that left one shoulder open, and the same white fluffy pants. The fur on the clothes was so white and fluffy that I wanted to touch it and stick my hand into it. The coat shone blue. Olga stroked the portrait and sighed with regret. She never had such an outfit, as, indeed, those outfits in which there werebeautiful beauties in portraits. As time went. Olga had seen enough of the wall portraits, but nothing had changed around. And it was clear to the fool that Olga had to draw some conclusion from all this, she had to understand something. But the girl was tired of riddles and therefore did not even puzzle herself in search of clues and conclusions. Instead, she pulled out the note so that she could read it over in peace. Thank God nothing happened to the note! The text remained as concise as ever. Countess Olga re-read it perhaps five times, and then brought the note to her lips and kissed it. But as soon as her lips touched the precious lines, the text immediately disappeared. The shocked Olga looked at the blank sheet of paper and could not believe her eyes. Well, that was too much! Here, obviously, the matter could not have done without Count "D" senior. Suddenly, it seemed to the girl that the room began to shrink around her, and the beauties in the paintings, smiling ominously, shook their fingers at her. The countess shook her head, driving away ridiculous fears from herself, and suddenly she saw a door that had not been noticed before. She was about to open it, but remembered that it was early spring outside, and her outer clothes were still there, in the first room. Walking around the room, she nevertheless decided that the dampness of spring was better than the gloomy closeness of the castle, and took a few steps towards the door. The door opened easily, and, thank God, out into the street. But Olga's joy immediately vanished when she felt the spring wind throw ice pellets into her face. Olga closed her eyes and took a step forward. But she immediately had to open her eyes, because the wind tossed the skirts of her dress. Olga wistfully remembered her jeans, which would be very useful to her now. But ... One of the conditions of the count was that the girl was forbidden to walk around the castle in modern clothes, and upon arrival at the castle, a dress was waiting for Olga. The dress was very beautiful, but absolutely uncomfortable. The beauties depicted in some of the paintings in the room flaunted in such dresses. Of course, the dress was made especially for the countess, and not pulled out of a dusty chest, but still ... While Olga was annoyed at the count's order and tried to smooth her skirt, the sound of wheels was heard in the distance. The sound came very quickly. A moment, and something big and dark stopped in front of Olga. What it is, Olga could not see right away because of the blizzard that had begun. Olga staggered back into the room, but stumbled upon a bush that grabbed at her skirt. Deciding to sacrifice her skirt, she rushed, but the bush held the airy fabric unnecessarily tightly. Only scissors could help here, but ... While the girl was fighting with a bush, a horse neighing was heard from the place where something dark had stopped. The girl immediately calmed down. And as soon as she stopped convulsively tearing off her skirt from the bush, the skirt immediately unhooked itself. As soon as the panic passed, Olga saw that the darkness had transformed into horses and a carriage. It was getting very cold, and the countess realized that it was time to go back to the room. But, before she had time to take a step, she saw that the carriage door opened, then a hand stuck out from there and beckoned Olga. Olga felt frightened again, she stopped and stood up as if rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do.
THEY MET AGAIN
Two minutes passed. The hand is gone. The carriage door closed, and then opened again, and from there came out, looking around anxiously, Count Jr. He again beckoned Olga to him, but, seeing that the girl was not going to move, he approached her and, looking around anxiously, said:
Hello, Countess! Did you receive my note?
- Yes. There was also a portrait, and I wanted to ask ...
All questions later. Now it's time to save yourself, not me, but you!
- But why?
"Get in the carriage, I'll explain everything to you on the way!"
- But…
“Countess, we don’t have time to talk at all!”
- I'm not going anywhere.
- But, listen, Olga ...
“I won’t go anywhere if you talk to me like your father, in omissions!”
"Can't we explain ourselves in the carriage?"
“I already told you everything and in general ...
- Good. But remember I warned you! Listen. You have only half an hour of earthly life left.
- What does it mean?
“Maybe you could get into the carriage after all?”
“But, you know, I can’t leave without knowing what happened to my mom!”
“The same thing happened to her, what will happen to you in half an hour!”
“After visiting your castle, I hated riddles for life! But still, I can't leave. In a few days, Maria, my friend, is to come here. I can't leave her here alone!
“If you are out of sight of my father, then she will not be in any danger!” I will explain everything to you on the way. Please let's go! See, over there, in the distance, a gray cloud? He is coming home! Go!
Seeing that Olga did not dare to move, the count led, almost dragged her to the carriage. As soon as the door slammed, the carriage immediately set off, speeding up and speeding up its speed. There was silence in the carriage for several minutes, then Olga asked:
“Are you determined to overtake the cloud?”
— No, my task is easier. I want to take you to the nearest train station. You need to go to RomeHe can't get you there!
— And how are you?
- And I'm going with you. I'll always be with you now, if you don't mind!
- I object. And if you don't explain yourself now, I'll jump out of the carriage.
“But, I have so much to tell you, I don’t even know where to start!”
“Start with my mom. And don't spare me. She is dead?
- No, she's alive. And will live forever. In any case, until the paint on the picture peels off and crumbles!
“Are you saying that my mother is now a portrait?” No, it can't be!
- Your happiness that you did not endure until the due date. You still have two months left. Actually, it's only been a month. On the day you turned 17, an artist from old Uncle D, who lives in Transylvania, would come to you. Everything would be furnished as a gift. Who is the most famous artist in Europe now? Come on, remind me, I'm not very good at painting!
— Philip A.
“Here, he would come to you.” You and your family would not suspect anything bad. Just like the artist himself. If you haven't seen it yet, I'll tell you. All the paintings that hang in the Sun Room are painted not just by famous artists, but by great ones! Count "D" senior never regrets gold. He knows that he will get immeasurably more from the paintings.
“Wait, wait, what about the medallion?”
“It has my mom on it. And although I know that this is not her true appearance, I still love her the way she is depicted on it.
"Not her true form?" How to understand it? Is she my mother's secret sister? And you are my cousin?
Don't rush, I'll tell you everything step by step. We are not relatives, Well ... if only by the senior count. My mother was a friend, not a sister.
Can friends be so similar?
“I thought you already understood everything!”
- You shouldn't have thought so. I told you I don't like riddles!
Do detectives like to read?
I don't like to read at all. Now, if only according to the school curriculum. Yes, and then in an abbreviated version on the Internet. And even better…
“Olga, beware,” the count suddenly shouted, “hold on tight!” He caught up with us!
The glass shattered into dust and the wind entered the carriage, and a sharp, stormy rain with snow.
The count immediately passed out, and the girl continued to resist. She pulled the blanket over her head and tried to breathe through it. But everything was useless. And when the wind suddenly blew with tripled force, Olga suffocated and lost consciousness.
AGAIN IN THE STRANGE ROOM
She woke up in the Sun Room. The couch on which she was lying was pushed into the middle of the room, and Madame Jeanne was sitting next to her on a chair. Seeing that Olga came to her senses, she was delighted.
- That's good! How are you feeling? Is it possible to scare the people who love you so much? Your uncle generally slept off his face and aged a hundred years!
- What happened to me? What does uncle say about this?
- You went undressed into the forest and got lost there. It's good that your uncle just returned and told Hans and Hans to look for you.
"Where's the Count Jr.?"
- Who are you talking about?
- About Vlad Jr.! His son!
“I've never heard of such a thing.
- Well, how does the count have a son ?!
- There was a son, you want to say! His son died in infancy and rests in the family vault!
- As in infancy? And who was I with yesterday... And who met me when I first arrived at the castle?
- No one met. The count was away, and according to his instructions, Mizko took you straight to my hotel. That's how dangerous it is for a young girl to walk alone in a March blizzard. You've got everything mixed up in your head. Well, if you are already so good that you are asking questions, I will go with your permission! I haven't looked at home in three days. In the hotel, the guests must have already lost me!
Why three days?
“Because you lay unconscious for three days. Well, shall I go?
“Go, no…Wait!”
- I am listening to you!
- I want to repent!
- Confess. In what? But, by the way ... To invite a priest to you?
— No, I want to repent before you!
- I do not understand…
- I deceived you! I said the brooch belongs to me. And this is not true!
- What brooch?
- Well, such, silver, all in precious stones!
As soon as the girl uttered the last words, a rumble went through the castle, the door opened through which Olga tried to escape, and a picture fell from the wall. And in general, the room subtly changed. Light in it, or something, diminished. But the strangest changes took place with Madame Jeanne. She has aged thirty years. Her hair turned gray, her skin wrinkled, her body dried and hunched over. All these changes lasted about three minutes at most, and then everything returned to its place, everything except the picture. Before Olga stood the former Madame Jeanne, the sunlight lay on the floor and on the pictures, and the door was closed. Olga might have thought that she had dreamed it all. However, the painting on the floor reminded her that everything had actually happened.
What are we talking about, honey? asked Madame Jeanne absently. And then she answered herself. “Oh, I remember, I remember. About the brochure. Well, you are a joker! This is my brooch, I never take it off. She got me from my grandmother. By the way, you probably don't know, but my grandmother was a distant RhodesMr. Count's wife, so he welcomes me! So, we are relatives, my dear!
With these words, Madame Jeanne, no longer listening to the girl's calls, turned and went. But, not to the door, but to the underground passage, through which Olga got into this room for the first time.
For a while the young countess lay silent, and then her voice sounded in the empty room.
“And I am not your relative. Vlad Tepesh is my great-uncle, and my great-great-grandfather was Radu Handsome.
HORROR
There was a challenge in Olga's voice, and she spoke deliberately loudly, but no one wanted to accept the challenge. Time passed, but it was still sunny and clear in the room, as if it was the end of July outside the windows. Fifteen minutes passed. Olga lay and thought, and her thoughts were not pleasant. The girl understood that now they would not let her out of the castle and was grateful to Vlad Jr. for the fact that he managed to tell her at least something and clarify it. A lot remained shrouded in mystery, but this did not bother the girl at all now. She longed to go up to the fallen picture and turn it over, and she was also tormented by the thought that poor Maria must have already set off. But, Mary was still far away, and the picture was nearby. Finally, Olga jerked herself out of bed, but immediately collapsed back with a groan. Three days in bed were not in vain. I felt dizzy, every vein hurt, and I really wanted to ... eat. Almost crawling, the girl got off the bed and, swaying, went in the direction of the picture. When she reached the painting, she thought for a few seconds, and then simply sat down on the floor. And only after that she turned the picture. Previously, the picture depicted a pastoral. A beautiful shepherdess stood against the backdrop of a forest clearing, and around her clean and impossibly curly-haired lambs were grazing.
The shepherdess, in a pink dress with frills and a wreath on her head, was a match for her lambs, just as clean and decorative. After the fall of the picture, the sheep and the glade remained in place, only the shepherdess disappeared. Only the silhouette remained, as if the shepherdess had been carefully cut out of the picture. Olga spent quite a lot of energy lifting the painting and leaning it against the wall. And only after that, she drew attention to some kind of husk left in the place where the picture lay earlier. The girl took the husk and crushed it with her fingers, and then it dawned on her! She realized what a husk it was! The husk is all that is left of the beautiful shepherdess. And all that would have been left of Olga if Vlad hadn't warned her. However, the countess reminded herself that the danger had not yet passed and would not pass if she sat mindlessly and waited for who knows what. But Olga the Beautiful could not gather strength and shake off the colored husk from her hands, remembering that it had once been a living girl. Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
Are you celebrating your victory? Oh well. However, you don't have long. Oh, not for long. You have chosen the place for yourself. This is where your picture will hang. Nothing has changed in this room for a long time. Centuries fly by, but my paintings are still light and warm.
Olga raised her head and saw Count "D" senior. The changes were monstrous. All that was left of the man who had spoken to the Countess a few days ago was his voice. It was worse than what happened, for a short time, to Madame Jeanne. However, as in the case of the hostess of the hotel, the ruler Vlad Tepesh surprisingly quickly came to his senses. He went around all the paintings, touching each one affectionately, and staggered only in the place where instead of a painting there was an empty space. And then the owner of the castle approached Olga, the same man who once begged her to lie with his eyes.
— Where is my mother? What did you do to her? - Ignoring the words of the count, the girl asked.
"Didn't my son tell you?" the Count was surprised.
- Not. The Countess wanted to lie, but then she remembered how lies are used in this castle. - No, why not, - she corrected herself right there - he told. Only I didn't quite understand it. I don't like riddles. I disliked them from the moment my mother disappeared, and my old uncle answered all my questions in riddles.
“And you weren’t surprised that there were so few women in your house. That is, almost none.
- I do not understand.
- What you are incomprehensible. Where are your aunts, grandmothers, cousins? Besides your mother, were any of them in your house when you were growing up?
- Not. Nobody. But somehow I didn't think about it.
Well, think about it now. You have a lot of time ahead of you, almost an eternity.
- I still don't understand you.
- You'll understand soon. You have one room left. Your things are already in it. Remember, you have one room left. Everything will happen when... Everything will happen if, and when, you lose this last room as well.
"What if I don't want to leave this room?" Or if I run through this door into the street?
- Try it! the Count said mockingly.
Frustrated, Olga rushed to the door and tried to open it, but it turned out to be impossible. The door was painted. Painted like everything else in this room.
The girl did not even insist that it was through this door that she tried to escape a few days ago. She just quietly walked away from the doorand sat down on the couch, on which she spent so many days unconscious, and tried to control herself, deciding that her tears and hysteria would only benefit her so-called uncle. Looking into the space above the paintings, she decided not to say another word. But the count, who apparently was in no hurry this time, read this determination on her face and said quite seriously, and even kindly.
— Not worth it. Still shut up. You have centuries ahead of you. It’s better to tell me where my son has disappeared, and don’t think that ... - the count broke off, seeing the surprise on Olga’s face, which, however, was immediately replaced by undisguised joy, - so this is how things are! Smart, boy, smart. If a person knows nothing, then torture is powerless. Well, let's see how long he can live away from the castle. I think he seriously imagined himself a man. Yes, and you too!
"But isn't he human?" How is it different from others? Olga asked, however, not hoping for an answer. But the Count was in a good mood today, and readily answered.
- Of course, not a person, and you, dear great-niece, to some extent, too. The title imposes certain duties. Well, tell me what your devoted uncle gave you before bed, instead of milk. Shut up? That's the same.
“But it didn't last long. As soon as I began to understand at least something, I resolutely refused. And no one could force me.
- Suppose. But you knew very well who I was. Whose title do you bear. And never once tried to give up the title.
But I thought they were all legends. After all, it was impossible to imagine that you are actually alive. Man cannot live for six centuries. And although my uncle told me that you are quite alive, I believed and did not believe. I knew you were a brave warrior. Fought for independence. My uncle told me stories about your exploits. My uncle is very kind. Only once did I see him angry. I was twelve years old when I came across Bram Stoker's Dracula. When my uncle saw her, he threw her into the fire. And then all night he reassured me and told me that it was all fiction. This Stoker hasn't even seen your castle, let alone you. And in general, you are not a bloodsucker and have never dealt with black magic. My uncle told me a lot about you that night.
“Well, in that case,” the count began, but the girl interrupted him.
- And when I asked that if you are so good and are not connected with evil spirits, why do you live so long, the uncle replied that it was gratitude. And I asked again, who is it you so thanked? And the uncle answered: the one whose name is not pronounced aloud.
- Yes, no, - the count tried to wedged into Olga's monologue, but immediately waved his hand, Olga did not want to hear any clarifications and objections, she even stopped paying attention to the interlocutor. The dam of silence had broken, and the girl now looked like a possessed woman. She probably would have talked for a long time if Hans and Hans had not appeared in the room. Seeing them, the girl immediately fell silent. And Hans went up to Vlad Tepesh and said something in his ear. The count sighed with visible relief and said.
Your friend has arrived. Well, everything falls into place. Maybe you won't go to your room now, I'll invite Maria here, and we'll finish everything right now? Frankly, it's time for me to replenish my strength! Do you agree?
- I do not understand you.
Yes, I forgot that you don't like riddles. Well, a week earlier, a week later ...
Maria's room, next to yours, still remaining, room. Come, I will accompany you. And don't expect to escape from the castle. You will be closely monitored. You are now of special value!
MARIA
When Olga saw Maria, she could not help but burst into tears. In fact, the Countess cried very rarely, but Maria was for her like greetings from her past life, so happy and so inaccessible now. The Count grimaced. He forgot over the past centuries that there is such an unpleasant phenomenon as female tears. Bowing to the visitor, he said:
- You were expected here. Countess Olga's tears are proof of this. As you probably already guessed, I am Count "D". And this is my castle. Now you are being led away so that you can rest from the road, and in the evening, at dinner, you will tell me what's new in the world. I confess, I'm a homebody, and news gets here for a long time, since there is no electricity here.
The count wanted to take his leave, but there was no such thing. Maria was not one of those girls who agreed with the interlocutor silently, only with a nod of her head.
Why don't you have electricity? And why didn't you send a car for me? Olga knows I'm not capricious, but to send a carriage instead of a car was already too much. I met someone on the plane, and imagine the faces of my fellow travelers when not a luxury car, but a carriage drove up to the airport. The horses snorted and hoofed, and I stood and burned with shame. After all, I told my fellow travelers that I was going to the house of Count D himself.
I would never have got into the carriage if your strange servants had not called out to me. And then I insisted thatspend the night in a hotel and sent your servants and coachman away for the night! I was ashamed!
Of course, I can’t boast of such a pedigree as Olga’s, but I won’t allow myself to be offended either. And Olga, too, will not let anyone offend. Mr. Count, she, of course, told you how we met her! When we were in first grade...
“Mistress Maria,” the Count interrupted her impatiently, “I earnestly ask you to go upstairs and put yourself in order. We will have time to talk about your childhood.
And without waiting for Mary's reaction, the count turned and left, or rather, almost ran away. As soon as the count disappeared around the corner of the corridor, the mask of an eccentric and capricious guest immediately flew off Mary. Before Olga was again her beloved friend, almost a sister. Olga wanted to show Maria the way, but she stopped her with an impatient gesture and, pressing her finger to her mouth, spoke softly.
- Do not rush. Let's talk here! I know everything.
- What do you know? I didn't get to tell you anything.
- But Vladek Jr. did it! He told me everything, though in a terrible hurry. He was afraid that his darling-daddy was about to come out on the trail.
- What are you talking about? I do not believe you! Have you spoken to him?
- Girlfriend, come to your senses! If you don’t believe me, then in general, write, it’s gone!
- Maria, thank you! Now I know for sure that he was saved!
- Saved, but not yet safe!
"Something tells me we can't stay here too long!"
- Well, what's the matter? Come on, you show me my room.
“I’ll not only show you the room, but also…”
The girls went up the stairs, and soon it was quite quiet. It seemed that nothing would break the silence that had reigned in this castle for so many years, but this impression turned out to be deceptive. Some annoying sound came from the luggage, which the servants had not yet lifted into Maria's room. It was a mobile phone that the cunning Maria decided to smuggle into the castle, but forgot in her luggage. And now his nasal sound disturbed the walls of the castle, which until now had not heard anything like it.
Somewhere in the distance, a door creaked, and hard claws clattered across the floor, another door creaked, but now it was much closer and three white dogs entered the room.
One of the dogs remained near the door, as if guarding the entrance, the other two slinked towards the source of the noise. Initially, the dogs apparently wanted to deal with the source of the noise. One dog did just that. It is not known how, but she pulled out a mobile phone and held it in her paws, but the other, sniffing the luggage and the traces left by the girls, suddenly became worried. The excitement of the dog reached such a stage that the other two joined it. Exchanging glances, all three of them silently went up the stairs and disappeared in the direction in which the countess and her friend had gone five minutes earlier. All this happened in a very timely manner. As soon as the dogs disappeared, Hans and Hans went to the things. Unaware of the dog's alarms and discoveries, they picked up the luggage and carried it to Maria's room, that is, just in the direction the dogs had gone. Will the dogs have time to give the forgetful girl her thing? How will the servants react if they see a forbidden phone in Maria's hands? I don’t know all this yet, because it’s time to get out of the cold and gloomy castle for a while and breathe in fresh air.
VLADEK
Maybe for someone it is easy and natural to inhale the fresh air with a full chest, but not for the runaway son of Count D. The threat, about which the elder count hinted to Olga, began to come true. That evening, Vlad Jr. was very far from the Carpathian Mountains and felt completely safe. Nothing foreshadowed trouble, when suddenly the young man felt that he did not have enough air. Very lacking.
So lacking that the young man began to darken in his eyes. His ears were blocked, and then blood pulsated with terrible force. Already falling, he heard the forgotten voice of his mother and the caustic laughter of his father. Mom asked: “Son, forgive him and save him! After all, they are approaching, pestilence and war are already on the threshold! ”, And the father laughed and could not stop. However, the fainting lasted only a few moments, and Vladek immediately came to his senses. But as soon as he tried to rise, he again felt an acute shortage of air. This time he heard not his mother's voice, but his father's. Caring and gentle. "Do not resist! You need fresh blood! If you do not immediately go out into the street and out of this house, then the attacks will be repeated incessantly until you die! The ominous prediction would certainly have come true, and quite soon, if the one whom the Count Jr. had been waiting for so much had not entered the door.
With the last of his strength, Vlad rushed and almost fell into the arms of old uncle Olga.
When he woke up, he saw that the old uncle was kneeling near the bed and holding a glass with the very contents that he gave little Olga to drink when she was left an orphan. There was awe and admiration on the uncle's face. It seemed that the uncle was able to stand with a glass by the bed all night until Vladek woke up. When the younger Count opened his eyes, he wanted to jump up and run away. He decided that he understood why the unclethere is such reverence on his face. He thought that it was not him, Vladek, who was important for the uncle, but the fact that he was the son of that Vlad. The young man rushed out of bed and wanted to run out into the street in what he was, but the uncle caught Vlad by the scruff of the neck and put him back into bed.
- What are you, barchuk, so with the old uncle then? Do you think that if I'm old, I don't have the strength?
Where are you to miss Olga! That's who the fidget was! Once she imagined that since she had Slavic roots, she had to go to Russia. I barely managed to catch her at the last moment at the airport! Where are you!
"Here, let me go!" If I'm not as good as the Countess and not as great as my father, then you shouldn't welcome me into your house!
"So you're fooling around because of your father?" Oh, barchuk, barchuk! You didn't understand anything. I looked at you and saw in you my unfortunate sister, who, according to your father, turned out to be unworthy even of a place in the picture. Only for the medallion her image fit! We weren’t of noble blood, but who asked him… Well, okay, it’s too early for you to think about it!
- So you are my real uncle, that is, uncle?
— And you thought! I would become because of your father's son ... If you were not my own ...
The uncle spoke the last words through tears. The uncle was crying, but still very resolutely forced Vladek to open his mouth and drink the contents of the glass to the end!
“When he lured the dove countess out of here, my Maria had to go with her too. He did not regret, old asp, and Olga's newborn. He was angry as a beast that Countess Olushka gave birth, but they didn’t tell him! That's the navel of the earth! And what did he have to say! Whether he is a father to a countess or a grandfather, and so ... Just think, a distant, very distant relative! Oh, and he raged! And then he ordered them to come!
- So what? Go?
- Where to go, let's go. They cried, they killed. Especially the countess, as she felt, it was clear that she would not see her daughter again, but ordered and let's go!
- As ordered?
- And as you always orders!
“But I am a son, and she is distant relatives!”
- Far, near - what's the difference !? Blood, there is blood!
- Poor Olga, and I talked to her like that!
- How?
- Above!
- But why?
“I thought that her mother was to blame for the trouble that happened to my mother. Well, you know yourself ... And yet, I envied her!
- Well, why is that?
She had you! Did you love her! I have felt unwanted since childhood. He kept pointing out that I was illegitimate, as if it was my fault! And in general, he despised me!
- Well, it's you, probably too much! You are still his son!
— Nothing too much! I didn't want to drink real blood, drink like him, like his Hans and Hans! That's who he always set me as an example! And he said, if only one of them were his son! And there is also the hostess of the hotel, madam ...
"Son, don't talk about her!" What I don't want to hear about is her! Calm down and have another glass! It's not the stuff he made you drink. It's grape, real grape, with just a little bit of what you hate so much! There's my blood! She is harmless! The blood of any other person would turn you into a beast, but this drop, on the contrary, protects! Well, I shouldn't have said it! You, my boy, hold back, otherwise I will have to prepare a new drink for you, and in order to prepare it, you will need to prick your finger. This procedure is already not pleasant, but even at my age ... Well, okay, I won’t, I won’t!
- I'm sick!
“Try to think of something else. For example, that you can now breathe freely, and for this you absolutely do not need to attack people! You're a man! Olga from childhood took this drink as a medicine and ...
- Please, don’t talk about Olga, when I think about what is happening to her there now, it becomes even more nauseating. But I could have warned her, I could have told her what dangers she was exposed to by staying in the castle, but I didn’t!
- But why?
“All pride, my painful pride!” And only when she left for the hotel, I woke up, but it was too late!
“Did he really think that this girl could be treated the same way as the others?” After all, her father ... My God, well, of course, he doesn’t know where he came from! The countess, of course, did not tell him anything! Just out of fear, she didn’t tell, and Olga herself doesn’t know who her father is. I was supposed to tell her about it on her seventeenth birthday, that is, the day after tomorrow, and her father ...
"Uncle, what are you talking about?" And what about her father? Do you know that Olga has a girlfriend Maria?
- Yes, the same fidget as Olga, and even a flirtatious! And what…
- Just as in the case of the countess and my mother, he demanded that Olga bring a friend with her. And the girlfriend's name is Maria, like my mother.
- Well, it doesn’t matter, the girlfriend could be called whatever, anyway, he can’t cope with my girl ...
- Wait, uncle! Before you came, I heard my mother's voice, he begged me to save him, because they are coming! Who are they? And where are they going? Maybe you know?
“Look, how she loved him!” Even after everything he did to her, he cares about him!
- Uncle, but you did not answer me, from what should I save Vlad Tepesh?
— Fromdeath, of course, what do you think, God is not tired of enduring the fact that souls die out of time? How many souls your father destroyed, he probably doesn’t even remember! And what kind of death is prepared for Tepesh in reality, only God and one more person knows!
- What a man, tell me uncle!
“But you won’t know this yet!” Let's go, take a walk around the city, check whether the drink worked well, whether it worked reliably!
- But, uncle!
"Come on, let's go, you need some fresh air." At the same time, I will introduce you to Maria, Olga's friend.
NO EVENTS IN THE CASTLE
Meanwhile, in the castle of Count D, strange events continued to occur, from Olga's point of view. Rather, it was strange that there were no events as such. Nothing happened for several days. Count "D" disappeared from the castle again. Disappeared not alone, but together with Hans and Hans. The girls did not feel any discomfort from this. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were always on the table at the right time. The door to the pantry opened easily if the girls suddenly wanted to eat at the wrong time. And in all other respects, the girls did fine without servants. However, they did not immediately notice that they were alone. When the conversations were over, they decided to act, and then they discovered that they did not need to talk in a whisper and make their way stealthily from one wing of the castle to another. The whole castle was at their disposal. In the dark passages and tunnels, torches lit up by themselves, as soon as the girls approached. They also visited the Sun Room. When Olga showed her friend an empty space between the paintings, Maria, without thinking twice, took out lipstick from her cosmetic bag and wrote a swear word on this very empty space. The young countess also showed the door, which turned into a drawing. When her extreme friend wanted to get lipstick again, Olga gently stopped her, whispering something in Maria's ear. After that, the young hooligan looked at the image for several minutes, and thought hard about something, which, however, did not prevent her from spitting on the drawing at the moment when Olga had already turned away, intending to leave the room. Maria was already leaving the room when she felt a draft pull up her legs. The surprised girl turned around and almost screamed, the painted door became real again, and through its cracks the humid April wind blew fiercely. The girl was even more surprised when she saw that the beautiful picture copies of her friend came to life and called her, Maria, to silence, pressing her fingers to her bright lips. A shocked Maria nodded and stormed out of the room as she heard her friend calling her.
Maria, where are you? Let's go quickly, I found another branch from the tunnel! I haven't been here yet!
- Wait, Olga, don't hurry! As we walked, I looked around very carefully, and did not see any branches!
Do you think this is a trap?
“I haven’t had time to think about anything yet, I just ask you not to rush. What did your dear uncle say about the last room?
No, you don't understand! He was talking about the room in which I now live! And next to her...
“You didn’t understand! Maybe it's him on purpose, and you ...
"You're teaching me again!" And this despite the fact that I'm almost seventeen, and you will be only in a month!
And in general, as for the door ...
“Yes, I saw you coddling with that door!” Keep it to the end! You almost kiss her and stroke her! And you leave on tiptoe! And I'm telling you that he said it on purpose, no matter what you think about the other doors!
"Well, you don't know anything!" You didn't see how I spent the night under the door!
- So what! I sleep on the porch every other night, you know my mother, and father to boot! How do dogs start! Remember last year, on the eve of your birthday. Even though it was April, it was still so cold! I came to you and you...
Olga, have you forgotten, it's your birthday tomorrow! Well, stupid, rejoice, why are you frozen like an image in your paintings? What happened to you?
It's all because of my birthday! My uncle asked me so much not to leave until my birthday, he almost cried, begging me! And when I found out that the count demanded that you ride with me, he got really angry and promised to board up all the doors and windows and ...
“Well, why are you telling me all this?” As if all this happened before my eyes! Even though you are one month older than me, but you cannot be left alone for a long time, you immediately become stupid!
- And you…
It is not known how long the girls would have bickered if somewhere far away, either on the street, or at the far end of the castle, the barking of dogs was not heard! Then the dogs quieted down and voices of people were heard, not even voices, but some kind of rumble, as if a huge number of people were talking at the same time! Then the dogs barked again, so angry and furious that the voices instantly died down, and the dogs kept barking and barking!
- What is it? Maria asked. “Where did the dogs come from in the castle?”
Well, what are you up to?
- I'm afraid!
- What? Dogs, right?
- I do not know! I just got scared, the dogs...
“Oh, I get it, you’re just kidding!” You're scaring me! Well, well, if you lack impressions, let's play scary stories! And as for the dogs ... Here, dear, you won’t deceive me, but I remember how you courted everyone homelessnyh dogs, everything was looking for absolutely white, with a mark on the abdomen in the form of a red drop! You see, I even remember that, and you're rubbing me here...
- Maria, well, understand me for once in your life! I'm afraid of everything together. Birthday, pictures, doors, predictions! One, by the way, is starting to come true! The uncle was talking about a dog that should appear on the eve of my birthday. Therefore, if you were attentive, you should have noticed that I start peering at dogs just before my birthday!
- Went!
- Where are you taking me? We haven't explored the hallway yet!
"He's not going anywhere!" Come on, let's see who's howling! I'm starting to get bored too!
- I'm not going anywhere. You do not understand.
“Well, what else do I not understand?
Tomorrow I will be seventeen years old!
- I understand this. Here's what I really don't understand, what are you suggesting we do now? Sing, dance, bang your head against the wall! Well?
“I…I don't know.
- Here you go. Again the barking ceased and some people were talking. How many votes! And not to make out, not a single word.
“Maria, let’s try to escape from the castle!” Maybe this time I'll succeed!
- Where are you taking me? I hope you are not going to run away from the castle without outerwear and only in this dress?
“But… Can’t you feel how time is pushing us in the back?”
- Who is pushing?
We don't have time to go back for clothes!
“If you want, you can, of course, run like that. I won't leave my things! Especially jeans. I've been saving up for them for so long! It's Levis! It's always been so easy for you!
- Okay, girlfriend. Let's go get things! Anyway, we're already too late! Just don't ask me where. I still won't answer! And don't ask me anything else!
Maria wanted to object, but, looking at Olga's tightly compressed lips, she preferred to keep her thoughts to herself. So, in silence, they went up to their rooms. Olga gathered herself instantly. Or rather, she had nothing to collect, her bags were still unpacked. There were four bags. They were light, but uncomfortable, and therefore there is nothing surprising in the fact that when leaving with bags, Olga did not hold the door, and the door began to close catastrophically quickly. In desperation, the girl screamed, but the cry immediately died on her lips. Just when the inevitable was about to happen, something large and white rushed to the threshold and stopped the door! When, having abandoned the preparations, Maria ran out to the scream, she saw an incredible picture. Olga was sitting on the floor and, buried in an abandoned bag, was crying from the stress she had experienced, and next to her was a huge snow-white dog with a red mark on her side, a little further away were two more dogs wagging their tails faithfully.
THE ESCAPE
After a while, quiet steps were heard, these girls, looking around and trying to walk as quietly as possible, began to descend down the central staircase. Maria and Olga, in order to make it more convenient to carry, divided the luggage. The dogs, so timely in front of the girls, were not going to leave them. On the contrary, two dogs stood on the side of Olga and Maria, and the third dog, which had a mark, walked in front. It seemed that the dogs were aware of the danger that lay in wait for the girls in this castle, so the girls, after descending the stairs, had no choice but to follow their rescuers at a fast pace. As the girls and dogs approached the front doors of the castle, two dark figures suddenly appeared in front of them. These, as you understand, were the same servants, Hans and Hans, who were ready to give their lives for their master. The expression on the faces of the servants did not bode well. However, when their eyes fell on the dogs, the servants backed away. However, one of the men quickly came to his senses and even tried to say something to Olga.
“Mistress,” whispered Hans insinuatingly, looking sideways at the dogs, “you mustn’t leave in such a hurry!” Mr. Dracula should be back any minute, he has an interesting offer for you. You may not have realized yet, but you have nowhere to run. Perhaps your door slammed shut?
- If so, - the second man, Hans, broke into the conversation, - then you really have nowhere to run. Wherever you go, He will find you.
Maria, who had not dealt with these men until that moment, was a little confused, but Olga, who was angry with all the inhabitants of this castle, was not going to be silent.
“I dare to upset you,” she hissed, barely restraining herself from fury, “but the door is open. I put one of the bags under it, so that the door could not slam shut. And, therefore, me and my girlfriend are free. Please step aside!
The men tried to object, one of them even extended his hand to Olga, but was stopped by a warning growl from one of the dogs.
Finally the girls were free!
It remained only to master the path from the front doors of the castle to the gate, but the girls did not even notice how they passed this barrier. The dogs were running faster and the girls could hardly keep up with them. Finally, the gates slammed shut behind them. After that, something fell with a terrible ringing, and then the air was pierced by the cries of hundreds of female voices! Or was it the wind?
Olga looked back only when she ran away fromcastle at a reasonable distance.
And... she rubbed her eyes.
There was no castle. Beyond the gate, which hung on one hinge, rose the ruins.
The dogs barked, Maria pulled her friend by the hand, but Olga threw her friend's hand away.
 "No," she screamed, trying to outshout the wind, which was gaining strength every minute. I need to see what has become of this room! There are portraits, portraits of the unfortunate relatives of my family! There's a portrait of my mother!
 - Olga, - Maria tried to bring her friend to her senses, but she did not hear her, - we need to run. Your uncle will return, he will not stop trying to subdue you.
However, Olga suddenly pulled her hand away and rushed to the gate, which, as you remember, was on the other side of the castle.
The girl ran for a long time, she did not even imagine that the castle and the area around it were so huge.
Maria and the dogs ran after her.
Panting, she pushed the gate, and the gate just fell flat on the ground.
Olga took a step, but, however, did not dare to go inside the courtyard, behind the gate. Yes, this was not necessary.
There was no door in the portrait room. There was not a great distance from the gate to the opening of the room, and Olga saw very distinctly everything that had become of the room. There was no room, there were ruins that probably stood under this sky for a very long time in this form. Time, rain, snow, dirt, wind, did their job, and it simply did not make sense to look for traces of the past in this room. However, Olga probably still would have made up her mind and covered the distance from the gate to the room, but the wind suddenly increased to such an extent that it began to throw small stones right in the face of the girls. The dogs howled. Olga came to her senses and backed away.
Soon the girls were already walking along the road, the dogs slowly trotted behind them.
 - Maria, - Olga turned to her friend, - did you say that you saw a bus stop when you were riding a carriage?
 - Yes. - Maria turned her head, - she must be around here somewhere. Yes, here she is.

The bus driver did not want to let dogs into the cabin, and therefore the girls had to wait for another bus.
When the next bus arrived, Olga moved forward, and Maria hesitated, she was looking for dogs.
“Girls,” the driver, young, black-haired, black-eyed and cheerful, turned to his friends smiling, “something fell out of your bag.
-What? -Olga looked around, -what is it???
- Yes, here, - the driver leaned out of the window, - three toys! Dogs? Are you taking kids?
 - Yes, - Maria picked up and brushed off the dirt from the fur of the dogs, - we are taking our nephews! Tell me, is it a long drive to Bucharest?
The bus started moving.
Olga looked out the window at the passing landscape and turned away.
She had seen enough of these landscapes even when the coachman Mizko drove her in a carriage. As you remember, the count was a man of strict rules and habits, and ordered in a letter that Olga get to the castle only in a carriage, but it turns out that all this wet, slippery path could be easily and quickly overcome by bus.
Finally, Olga got tired of being silent, and she asked the question that had tormented her from the moment Maria appeared in the castle
- Girlfriend, but why did you drive to me for so long? The count was angry and rude, I was scared, but you still didn’t appear! After all, it wasn’t only your illness that delayed you, am I right?
- Yes, your uncle told me to wait for time, and then... Then, I couldn't get to you! Planes are now flying around.
-Why?
So it's war!
-What? What kind of war?
-God! You... You don't know anything?
-What? What I do not know?
-In February, the war between Russia and Ukraine began!
-What?
-Yes. You didn’t have the opportunity to enter the Internet in the castle, and of course there was no talk of newspapers?
-Why are you asking? You know everything yourself!
-Yes, sorry. But... That's the way it is!
The sky is divided, just like the earth, and therefore the path that I could overcome in a day took two weeks.
Besides...
-What?
- All the time during the trip I was inspected for a long time and asked, I have a Russian surname, do you know that my grandmother ordered my mother to leave her maiden name when marrying?
Yes, you said something about it!
-Several generations of women from my family, or rather, it seems, eight, obeyed these rules, and that's why I have a Russian surname in my identity card, which is passed down the female line.
- Oh, yes, I remember! You told me this complicated story already.
-Yes. Well, well ... Do you understand now why I could not appear before your eyes for so long?
-Yes. Everything is clear to me now. But, war... How scary!
-Yes. It's very scary! I'll turn on the phone now, I smuggled it into the castle in my bag, if you want, watch the news!
-Not!
-What are you? Why are you screaming?
- Uncle spoke!
-What did he say?
-That book! He told me to read it, and I laughed.
-What are you talking about? About that book that smells like mold?
-Yes! The uncle said that it encoded the conditions under which Dracula, his Hans and Hans could be reborn!
-What is it? What are you talking about?
- A pestilence should break out on earth and a war should begin!
-What?
-For two years, people have been killed by pestilence, this flu, whose name is coronavirus, and now the war has begun! Uncle... The book was right!
-Olga, everything, calm down! You are pale and cherish! We are safe! As soon as we get to Bucharest, II'll take a taxi and we'll go to the hotel, I spent the night in it before going to the castle, and I left the room behind me. And then...
“Girls,” the driver’s voice into the microphone sounded unusually loud, “we are approaching!” Did you ask to be warned?
“Yes!” The friends shouted the answer in unison and laughed.
Five minutes later, the bus stopped, the girls said goodbye to the driver with smiles and left. However, the smiles immediately faded from their faces. Camera flashes and the roar of the crowd deafened Maria and Olga.
The people who seemed to be waiting for the girls to arrive began to shout something.
The girls backed away, but the people surrounded them. The flashes of the cameras hurt my eyes.
Suddenly the crowd parted, a man was walking towards the girls, followed by a retinue.
The man approached the girls, his eyes flickered from one face to another, finally an assistant ran up to him and, whispering something, put the tablet right under the man's nose. The man briefly glanced at the screen of the tablet, and then smiled.
- Mrs. Olga, I am the mayor of the city, - the man turned to the dumbfounded girl, - we were waiting only for you! These people," the man gestured to the crowd, "came to greet Count Dracula's niece and her friend!
The flashes of phones and cameras began to flash again, and the crowd hummed. There was a pause, and this pause was enough for Olga to come to her senses. A plan was born in her head
-Don't tell my slippers, she laughed loudly and a little hysterically, -I? Dracula's niece?
Silence fell over the square.
“But, well,” the man cleared his throat uncertainly, “Mr. Hans, the secretary of Prince Dracula, informed me that you would arrive by this bus.
- Is there something in my face that reminds me of my relationship with Count "D"? - Olga spoke, but she understood that her fantasies were almost exhausted, and she did not know what to say next. Her impulse died away, and she was already ready to confirm that she really was Olga the Beautiful from the family of Count "D", but, as always, Maria rescued her.
- Gentlemen, - Maria pushed Olga aside and tried to hide her behind her back, - we are just twins. The count's niece did not want her face, tired after the journey, to be photographed. Mrs. Olga and her companion left on the first bus, and we went on the second one!
- Yes, but, - after checking the tablet, the man tried to object, but Olga, exchanging glances with Maria, again took the floor
- Countess Olga and her companion have three huge, snow-white dogs, and we have ... Do you see dogs next to us?
The crowd roared, and the assistant again leaned into the boss's ear and whispered something. The boss looked doubtfully towards the girls.
-Where did Countess Olga go then?
Maria was silent for a while, and then she made up her mind and said
- Countess Olga told me to wait for her at the entrance to the Plaza Hotel. After she puts herself in order, she will hold a press conference with those present.
Maria did not have time to finish yet, and the square was empty.
Finally, Olga took a breath and looked doubtfully at her friend.
Do you think they bought it?
-Don't know. I think we have an hour before everything opens. We underestimated the count, he is a fighter, and he achieves his goal at any cost.
-What should we do?
- Fly home. Your uncle foresaw this situation and sent me a copy of your ID. Gotta go to the airport!
- What about your things at the hotel?
-Things? -Maria laughed, -well, things can be considered lost! The main thing is to get home, and then ...
- What? - Olga was frightened.
- I'll bill you! You will pay me every blouse!
“Good!” Olga laughed, “the main thing is to have time to fly away from here!”
The girls were already flying home when the Internet was flooded with photos confirming the sensational news: "Count Dracula, a descendant of Vlad Tepes, finally decided to get out of the dusk. Count Dracula has a niece, her name is Olga, but she denies her relationship with the count because she stole from the treasury count three priceless figurines of white dogs."
Headlines of news sites were crowned with the inscription: "I am the niece of Count Dracula? Don't make fun of my slippers!"