– Naturally, but again, I can't tell you what it is – you just have to try it," Samantha smiled at me.
– How did you get to Russia? – Markus asked. Apparently he, like me, was seeing them for the first time, and I was relieved that he wasn't in cahoots with them.
– We're American, but we moved to Russia seven years ago," Emma told him. – It was Samantha who talked me into it, and I must say I have never regretted it.
– And how did you like Russia? – I asked.
– It's a wonderful place to live a modest and quiet life. We live in St Petersburg, but we have been to many cities. – Samantha smiled dreamily and sighed. – A paradise for vampires, believe me!
– How many of them are there? – The conversation was getting to my liking.
– One clan, but quite impressive and numerous. They live in Novgorod and almost never leave the country. It's the Kravitsky clan. Their head – Anton Kravitsky is considered to be a descendant of the Russian prince Alexei Kravitsky, but we know that he himself is.
– How do the Russians feel about us? – Mariszka asked.
– Oh, they love us! Books and films about us sell out instantly! – Emma said, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed that she was looking at me with interest, as if to see if I was listening to her beautiful melodious voice.
But I wasn't looking at either of the girls; I was watching the fire in the fireplace as it danced and twisted. And I noted with satisfaction that my coldness had repelled the unwanted strangers.
– We travel the world and live on our own. But this time Mariszka, an old friend of ours, invited us to Prague, for a couple of days, and we couldn't refuse her. – Emma smiled at Mariszka, and Mariszka smiled at her.
– Well, welcome to Prague," I said dryly, feeling a wave of irritation again. – Markus, can I talk to you for a minute?
Markus apologised to the ladies (I ignored their parting words), and we moved to another wing of the castle where no one could overhear us. When we reached the balcony, I leaned against the stone railing and gave my brother a hard, displeased look. I knew now for sure that Markus was aware of the girls and was playing along with them, helping their awkwardly transparent attempts to captivate me.
– And what's all this circus for? – I asked sternly.
Markus raised his eyebrows in surprise, as if he didn't know what he was talking about. But he was always a bad actor.
– Why are the girls here? – I said impatiently. – Don't play the fool! I don't like anyone prying into my life, and you know that as well as anyone!
– By the way, they didn't come just to meet you! Soon Mariszka will be your relative," Markus said, standing next to me and chuckling.
The meaning of his words came to me only after a few seconds. And I couldn't believe my ears.
– You're getting married? – From surprise, I temporarily forgot about my anger. – How long have you two been dating?
– A month.
– You mean a month was enough time for you to know everything about her? – I asked ironically.
– But I feel like we've known each other forever… Well, damn right we have! But I don't want to hear your pesky arguments about how stupid love is.
I shook my head, unable to hide a wide smile.
– You won't hear them. I'm happy for you! I just didn't expect it to happen so soon.
– Thank you, but you don't look happy," my brother said, clapping me on the shoulder.
