Little blessings council bluffs ia: CHI Little Blessings | COUNCIL BLUFF IA Licensed Center

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Phone: (712) 328-3342

Address: 130 Frank St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

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Little Blessings Preschool – Care.

com Parker, CO Child Care Center

Little Blessings Preschool – Care.com Parker, CO Child Care Center

Costimate^™

^$258

per week

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Costimate^™

^$258/week

Ratings

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Details and information displayed here were provided by this business and may not reflect its current status. We strongly encourage you to perform your own research when selecting a care provider.

Little Blessings Preschool located in Parker Colorado is a childcare and education provider that offers a Christian environment to children under its care. Their programs are designed for children from age 3 until age 6. The institution provides before and after school care and serves clients from Mondays through Fridays, 830am until 330pm.

In business since: 2013

Total Employees: 1

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Type

Child Care Center/Day Care Center

Preschool (or Nursery School or Pre-K)

Kindergarten

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Summer care / camp

Costimate^™

^$258/week

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that cost of care is a big consideration for families. That’s
why we are offering an estimate which is based on an average of
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actual rates, contact the business directly.

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Little Blessings Preschool (2022-23 Profile)

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• 4 EWALD AVE
  PLAINVILLE, MA

  $389,000

  • 2 Beds | 1 Bath
  • (3. 13 miles from school)

• 17 PATRIOT ST
  ATTLEBORO, MA

  $554,900

  • 4 Beds | 2.5 Baths
  • (4.06 miles from school)

• 29 NEWCOMB ST
  NORTON, MA

  $545,000

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• 45 CROSS ST
  FOXBORO, MA

  $624,000

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Cradle of Time read online by Natalya Pavlishcheva (Page 12)

— Stop it!

– What’s wrong?

He suddenly waved his hand:

“Your English are rednecks!

— Mine?

– This queen of yours will simply ruin Philip!

I even bit my tongue not to say that they chose the wrong one. Elizabeth is much wealthier, especially now, when she does not need to spend money, she lives modestly and saves … Or rather, Seryoga saves in the guise of Thomas Parry. And after all, how it saves! I suspect that if Antimir had happened to bring us back, Seryoga would have rested his arms and legs, clinging his teeth to this English life. He was great at developing Elizabeth’s household. In the best traditions of the world economy, he profitably leased land, endlessly drained something, sowed, organized … When I heard that Elizabeth was forced to check his accounts due to a large number of gross errors, I didn’t even believe right away. But Thomas himself chuckled:

— You can always find notes in the accounts…

Seryoga-Parry has already told me what the Spaniards have problems with. They hoped, dragged here by a huge crowd, that they would be fed and watered here only for one hope that Philip would knock Mary up, but! there was money for that! The treasury of the kingdom is empty, it is not Elizabeth’s bins, and Mary’s advisers are not Parry. It is Seryoga who pretends to be a simpleton-clumsy, whom the tenacious mistress keeps almost out of pity, but in reality he clung to the estates, like a bulldog in a victim, and rows, rows …

– Well, don’t exaggerate… Spaniards are hard to bankrupt, they are so rich!

– Rich! Yes, Philip will soon go bankrupt only on the maintenance of some English servants!

I honestly opened my eyes:

— What servants?

– Well, those who serve him here. Everyone wants to be paid, but the queen is not going to pay for her husband’s servants.

– Artyom… he must pay for it! Besides, the treasury of England is empty. Your king could help. You have to pay for such pleasure.

— What?

Look. – I nodded towards the window, behind which a sweet couple was visible: Maria and Philip, walking along the path of the park, – what a couple! Such a bride… will always be faithful! Why not pleasure? No money is a pity.

He snorted and ran away. I even scolded myself for allowing such snickering, you never know, it suddenly comes to mind to take money from Elizabeth? And what? They will send Elizabeth not just to the Tower, but to the chopping block, and everything that Serega saved and collected will be raked in for themselves. We must be more careful.

It worked out, didn’t think it through or didn’t take the risk.

Our next conversation took place in September. Now Arthur-Renard has already started it:

– I was rejoicing in vain, everything settled down safely.

– What’s going on?

– The queen is pregnant.

I felt funny, almost laughed out loud. But for several years at court they taught to restrain emotions, only the lips trembled. It’s okay, I’ll laugh at home…

– Well, you know that this is a bluff and there will be no child.

His eyes flashed almost mockingly:

“Are you sure? And if it does happen?

A cold sweat broke through me – what were they thinking?! Again, endurance and not yet forgotten student habits helped.

– Arthur, is she going to give birth? What are you?!

He just snorted again, but this time not in annoyance, but cheerfully.

I looked at the royal couple and wondered what they came up with… Well, there is time, wait and see.

A few days later, the joyful news really spread around London: the queen conceived a child!

This cheered up many Spaniards, whom Philip was happy to let go home so as not to pay for their maintenance in London, pleased Mary’s supporters, but not at all many of her subjects. Most of the English were not up to the queen’s pregnancy, England was knocked down by crop failure. Because of the endless rains, the fields were rotten, neither grain nor hay was harvested. The loss of livestock began and, as a result, famine in many places. And this is in August, usually the most abundant month of the year. The specter of hunger rose over England…

Parry tossed around, trying to somehow improve the economy and reduce losses. But I had no time for problems with the household, I puzzled over what Renard could come up with, which gave him confidence in the birth of a child. She was also glad that Elizabeth was far away at Woodstock. Better to sit there than an eyesore to her sister in London. It has become dangerous to live here.

Mary took the arrival of Philip and her wedding as a gift of fate, and pregnancy – as God’s blessing of their marriage. Philip protected his wife as best he could, and I understood why. If she did not deliver the child, then he would have to wait many more months and live in England, which he clearly and quite frankly did not want.

But Philip is a Catholic to the marrow of his bones, not recognizing any doubts about his faith and already quite familiar with his father’s methods of uprooting heresy. Whether wanting to please the queen’s spouse, or at the behest of Mary herself, the papists launched an offensive against the Protestants, the first bonfires blazed in England. Perhaps among the Protestants there were criminals who committed atrocities even in churches, and they should even have been executed, but not at the stake!

In winter, England shuddered from the first executions. This is not Spain, where King Charles sent heretics to the stake with a firm hand practically on schedule – seventy people a month (then it became much more, under Philip they burned tens of thousands during the auto-da-fé at a time!). The chaplain Alfonso y Castro, who came to England with Philip, demanded more, believing that heresy must be eradicated with a firm hand and immediately, regardless of those who are sent into the flames. If heresy nestles in the soul of an infant, then the infant is also subject to burning as a container of heresy.

Why didn’t Maria shudder at such speeches? Has she become such a fanatic that she no longer sees anything around? At first I could not understand this, then I suddenly realized that she was carefully protected from any unrest. No, she, of course, knew about the fires, about the discontent of her subjects, but for her the approval of her husband and her own bishops was much more important.

Whenever I could, I kept a close eye on the queen, trying to figure out if she was really pregnant. Yes, Maria wore an ever-increasing belly with pride, her complexion improved noticeably, but this was helped by the presence of her husband and quite frequent walks with him in the fresh air. Now she did not spend so much time on her knees in the chapel, simply because she took care of the fetus, which the doctors and her confessor insisted on.

Everything came together, it turned out that the queen was surprisingly easy and happy with the pregnancy. Well, that happens too. But I already remembered that Maria was mentioned to us at the institute as an example of dropsy of the ovaries – a false pregnancy, that is, everything was there – the stomach, chest, even contractions, only there was no child! They did not have children with Philip! What then? Did she give birth to a freak? Philip has a son, Carlos, a hunchback with a severe pathology, Mary is thirty-nine, nerves to hell, a lot of sores up to diabetes . .. Did “the queen give birth in the night to either a son or a daughter …”?

But why is Renard so sure? It suddenly dawned on me: do they really have a backup option ?! And what, Philip could knock up not only Mary, but also someone else. Then this someone is nearby, very close, they would not let such a valuable person go far from them. Now I took a closer look at every woman who happened to be in the neighborhood of the queen.

Parry wandered all over England, establishing life in the estates of Elizabeth, Red herself toiled in Woodstock, and I struggled with the riddle given by Renard.

Somewhere in London, life went on as usual…

The fiancé of Queen Mary Infante Philip arrived in England. Their richest wedding took place.

Elizaveta tried to figure out whether she was envious or not, and suddenly she realized that she was not. Maria pays too high a price for the happiness of being married. Philip is not one of those who can simply be kept at the throne at hand, if he does not become king, then he will not be a husband either. And behind Philip is his father, King Charles of Spain. Having nothing to do, she began to think about how she herself would have acted in such a case. Refused marriage? But Maria is almost forty, a little more, and no one will take it at all! And so they didn’t take it. But how to cope with the one from whom she should give birth to an heir?

Unwittingly, Bedingfield once said that Philip would only be in London until Queen Mary conceived an heir. Elizabeth chuckled:

— And if she does not conceive an heiress or if she does not conceive?

— You shouldn’t joke like that, lady! Bedingfield’s eyes gleamed unkindly. But he immediately chuckled, “Then you’ll live in Woodstock forever.”

— With you, sir? – Elizabeth could not resist the opportunity to kick him.

Togo shuddered, sitting in this wilderness made Bedingfield unbearable.

– It’s just that no one can count on anything. Everything is in the power of God, I know this very well for myself. That is why the queen cannot be sure of anything … – Elizabeth realized that she was teasing Bedingfield in vain.

– I hasten to disappoint you, Lady Elizabeth, the queen has already suffered! And all the predictions say that this is the heir.

Elizaveta thought that a lot of things were also predicted on her own occasion, but she did not say anything aloud, she only crossed herself widely:

– Thank God! I’m really happy for my sister.

And mentally added: maybe then they will leave me alone?

In the evening, thinking about how capricious Fortune and fate are, she suddenly began to write directly on the wall:

Fortune, darkness of cruel blows,
Despair fills the mind.
And again my terrible fate is prison,
A million accusations at once.
Whoever deserves execution is not afraid of it,
The merciless in chains suffers in prison.
Innocent in disgrace, criminal on the loose,
Change is now in favor with us.
God willing, and the enemies will experience it for themselves,
Everything that is being planned for me now!

Having fully tasted the charms of imprisonment, first in the Tower, then in Woodstock, Elizabeth dreamed of only one thing: to be allowed to return to her beloved estate in Hatfield and left in peace. And she also realized that she did not want to get married at all. There was only one person in the world whom she could imagine as her husband – Robert Dudley. But Elizabeth did not even know where he was now. She was afraid to ask Bedingfield, not wanting to harm Robert even by accident. The queen’s disgraced sister was dangerous to former friends and relatives. No wonder no one remembered Elizabeth.

She hoped they would remember, but Bedingfield won’t let anyone in and won’t send letters either. So it was, they tried hard to write to Catherine and Parry, but, not receiving an answer, they quickly realized that the lady was in danger and it was better not to harm her. The isolation was complete, and therefore very difficult.

It only remained to think. About what? About everything: about issues of power and relationships between people, about what and what can be sacrificed for, and when it’s not worth it, as she herself would have done in this or that case. These reflections influenced the character of Elizabeth to no small extent. She not only matured, she became uncommonly wiser, realizing the value of life and death.

And Elizabeth involuntarily compared herself with Mary, not because of the difference in their position, but trying to understand how she herself would act in this or that case. Would you marry Philip? He is a Spanish prince, to make her husband also the king of England is simply to give his country into the hands of the Spaniards. They are just waiting for such a gift! A wife must obey her husband in everything, so the English queen must obey the Spaniard, even to the detriment of the interests of her own country? It turned out like this.

Is that why they say that a woman on the throne is a disaster? She will definitely put a stranger around her neck and her people. Then how to be a queen, really to remain unmarried? Having thought thoroughly, she decided that if you do not marry your subject, then only girlhood remains …

But why all this thinking? The throne does not shine for her, and Mary, without any hesitation, married Philip of Spain, not being afraid that her husband, along with her dad, would take England into their hands. From such a thought, it became nauseating and a feeling of protest leaped up inside. She would never do that! If Elizabeth had told someone about her thoughts, they would have laughed, but there was no one to talk to, so she had to think in silence.

The character was gradually forged, or rather, its new facets. In the cocoon in which it existed, the caterpillar turned into a butterfly. From early childhood, Elizabeth was taught that it was not worth giving out her thoughts, that calculation should stand above any feelings and sheer profit binds more reliably than any promises. Now she was completely convinced of this, in her life it is impossible otherwise. And if now she had to, she would calmly go to Mass with Mary, without wincing or worrying. Life was worth a mass.

She knew one thing for sure: she would never persecute anyone for her faith and did not want to get married at all so as not to fall under someone’s will.

Other people’s secrets

I was sitting at needlework (that’s something I’ve never done before in my life, my hands didn’t grow from there!), thoughts wandered around and around royal pregnancy. And suddenly…

One woman was saying to another:

— You’ve lost so much weight, Mary, only your eyes and belly remained. It’s like something is bothering you.

At the word “stomach” I tensed up. Several months of persistent searches did not give anything, but they almost turned me into a psychopath, I almost threw myself at pregnant women. The ears did not just stand on top, they increased one and a half times. For some reason, the thought flashed through that they wouldn’t have remained so donkey …

– No, Aunt Anna, everything is fine with me …

The elder continued to exhort:

some noble person, with whom does not happen? But look how he helps you! Without this help, how would you live with two children? And he won’t forget his either. You did the right thing, you will give birth to a third from this noble, but you will be able to feed the elder two. When are you due to give birth?

— At the very end of April or the beginning of May…

— Why did you decide to take the children to your sister? Let them live here, I would help.

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a third woman… Nothing special, well, she is pregnant, well, she will give birth to a third… But for some reason, the voice of this young, unfortunate expectant mother stuck in my head. Of course, where is she with three? That’s how the fool gave in to someone, and now she doesn’t know what to do.

Then other things distracted…

Months passed, the happy queen proudly wore a large belly, smiled embarrassedly at the mere mention of motherhood and children, listened with a satisfied look to the stories of numerous accustomers that they give birth easily even at fifty… They even brought her to the palace a peasant woman who gave birth to triplets at the age, all the children were healthy, strong and screamed, demanding milk. Such proof was to convince the queen that she too would succeed.

She believed…

Fires were burning in England… Now they sent not only persistent Protestant preachers, but also ordinary peasants, even women and children!

When I learned that the queen ordered the members of the Council to take personal control over the burning of stubborn heretics, I was utterly horrified! And Arthur Renard helps these two moral freaks in royal guise?! Especially terrible was the story of how a pregnant woman was sent to the fire during demolitions, right during the burning she had a child who fell, but they picked him up and threw him into the fire!

When I heard this, I sat for half a day, gritting my teeth, and mentally swore that I would thwart all their plans, no matter what the cost. A creature that calmly sends mothers to the stake and does not even lift a finger to stand up for women like herself is unworthy of living. Yes, she is Bloody, and if I manage to survive, I will tell everyone about this burned, barely born baby. Even if his mother is a heretic, even if she is a hardened criminal who needs to be punished, then what is the fault of a barely born baby?! Let not the queen herself throw it, but everything was done with her permission and even approval. Maria had no right to live!

The only thing I struggled with was the desire to go and just strangle her with my own hands. What stopped me was the realization that Elizabeth would follow me, that is, they would first execute me, and then Red. And then the bonfires will burn all over England, as it was in Spain. No, we must survive, outwit everyone and survive, and Maria must die! I wouldn’t even feel sorry for her, I didn’t justify her with any other difficulties of life and character. The queen, who sent women and children to the fire, had no right to life or a good memory, had no right to justification.

Her bishops, as if competing, sought out and sought out heretics, striving to curry favor and show their zeal.

In general, during the reign of Mary the Bloody, about three hundred people were burned, of which one hundred were women and children, even small ones. If the child is a container for a heretical soul, that container must be destroyed. Bravo, Bloody Mary, your name is correct!

The people responded with rumors that King Edward was not really dead, that he was about to return and begin to rule justly, not like the current queen with her Spaniards. Rumors could not be rooted out, the Spaniards were hated more and more every day. Skirmishes began even among the courtiers. The Spaniards from Philip’s entourage could not even take a step outside the palace without protection, risking being simply killed.

Closer to the time of birth, rumors appeared, confirming my suspicions that the queen would not give birth to anyone, but would marry someone else for her child.

But I didn’t care anymore, I couldn’t be near the queen anymore, her hands were covered in blood, I just couldn’t! Deciding to leave for Elizabeth’s estate and having received the Queen’s permission to do so, on the last evening I went to visit a friend, realizing that I would not see her for a long time. I was accompanied only by the stableman William, who was sitting on the carriage. Dangerous, of course, but the unbearable apathy dulled even that feeling. The soul was incredibly rotten, the wind carried the smell of fires, of which there were two that day. Heretics burned again, again there were women and children among them … It is unlikely that they even understood why they were subjected to such a cruel execution, they simply lived as they were taught from childhood, prayed and did not want to change anything. For which they paid.

We were already on our way back when the carriage suddenly stopped not far from the house. Were they still attacked? I didn’t care, the friend I went to was a witness to the burning, she sobbed all evening, cursing who it was not clear: either the heretics, because of whom you have to look at this, or their executioners, or both . I was completely upset, I wanted one thing – to go home, and not to my London house, but to go home in general. Well, it’s a renaissance! What the hell is Revival?! What is reborn in them if children are burned?

As I looked out of the carriage, I saw William scolding a woman who had nearly been run over by a horse. She languidly refused. The woman’s voice sounded familiar to me. Of course, this is the same pregnant with a third child!

– Come on, put her in my carriage!

Why, Lady Ashley? She’s a tramp…

– I’m not a tramp!

– Sit down with me. Sit down, sit down.

I helped her into the carriage and waved to William:

— Let’s go home.

The woman was sitting huddled in a corner, she was completely wet and cold, but that was not the main thing, she was apparently shaken by something, and I seemed to understand what it was.

Chapter 9. New life and old scores . Whirlpool

Vlad and I entered the house holding hands like schoolchildren. It was so wonderful to feel the warmth of his palm in mine that I was in no hurry to free myself, ready to obediently follow him wherever he wanted. But we were not allowed to enjoy a moment of reconciliation by the loud voices that came from the living room.

Hurrying towards the brewing scandal, we found Oksana in the pose of an angry Thunderer Zeus. Ksenia acted as a punching bag. She stood in front of her mother, her head bowed to the floor, but, despite the posture of submission, her tense shoulders and clenched fists spoke of the girl’s determination to defend her position.

Without knowing the reason for the quarrel, I absentmindedly studied the people. Gleb and Victor preferred to stay away. Their whole appearance indicated that they would not interfere in the showdown between mother and daughter. I frowned, trying to remember what Ksyusha managed to do to cause such anger. But not one of the reasons I invented was in any way comparable to what is actually happening.

– Why didn’t you tell me anything? – Oksana’s voice showed resentment. “I’m always the last to know!”

Dima unexpectedly butted in, standing not far from the girl:

– It just wasn’t the right time.

— So now is a good time to let me know that you are going to get married?

I must have looked quite stupid with my mouth open in surprise. One thing pleases – Vlad did not look better. Of course, I knew about the close relationship between Ksyusha and Dima, but I did not assume that they had gone so far.

“I can’t give my mother’s blessing,” Oksana said. Think about what kind of life awaits you. I myself was a hunter’s wife and I know what I’m talking about.

Ksenia almost cried, listening to her mother, but the latter was adamant. The images of her dead husband and young son were too vivid in her memory to allow her daughter to repeat this path of grief. In the end, the girl could not stand it. Barely holding back her sobs, she ran to her room. Oksana, chasing a step, proceeded to the kitchen, where she rattled dishes for a long time.

Dima turned to his father and brother for help, urging them to calm down Oksana, and I, taking advantage of the moment, quietly slipped away after Ksenia.

The girl was lying on the bed with her face pressed to the pillow. Thin shoulders shook from sobs and loud sobs. I sat on the edge of the bed and put my hand on her head. Gently smoothing her unruly red hair, she just sat next to her, letting Ksyusha cry. Gradually, the sobs became quieter, and the intervals between sobs increased.

At that moment, hunger announced itself rather inopportunely. Although his voice was still weak, instinct worked, and by inertia I listened to the girl’s heartbeat. Struggling to ignore the beckoning music of my beating heart, I suddenly froze in puzzlement. Xenia’s heart was beating strangely. And then, instead of closing this door, I allowed myself to focus on the sound, mentally follow the movement of blood through the veins, how it is saturated with oxygen, in order to then carry it to the most remote corners of the body. I embarked on an astral journey through Xenia’s body. Here the flow of blood passed through the heart, a powerful push, and he rushed to his feet. On the way, I passed the internal organs, reached the lower abdomen, and here an amazing discovery awaited me: another beating heart.

I recoiled in surprise, clasping my hands to my chest. Frightened by my abrupt movement, Ksyusha sat up and looked at me. There was a bitter smile in her eyes, red with tears.

– And I kept thinking, when will you guess.

“That can’t be,” I protested.

— Why? Xenia pursed her lips cynically. – We had sex. After that, the girls happen to get pregnant.

— So you want to marry Dima?

— And so too.

– Do you love him? I asked, remembering her attitude towards Vlad.

– In his own way, not like Vlad, of course, but Dima is a good guy. Only his father is useless.

I did not expect such extreme frankness, so I was silent, confused.

– We would both like it to be Vlad’s child, wouldn’t we? – from such an intimate question, I was completely taken aback. Xenia, meanwhile, was coming to her senses more and more. She braced herself, suddenly calm and reserved. – Dima himself is still a child, I can’t leave him a baby. So I ask you to take care of him when…. when I’m gone.

— Wait, — I tried to understand what I had just said. “What do you mean you’re gone?”

— Do you remember the ritual thanks to which I saved Dima from death?

I frowned as I remembered the details of that day. Dima was on the verge of death, but Ksyusha used magic, resorting to some kind of strong but dangerous spell. With his help, it was not difficult to save any dying person, but there was a certain limitation: the sorceress could only give life twice, and then she would have to give her own in return.

– But this is not magic, just a simple pregnancy. There is nothing supernatural about her,” I said, stubbornly refusing to believe in the obvious.

– This is a new life, – Ksyusha put her hands on her stomach, and I recognized this gesture of motherly love, which has become the norm for her lately. This is my gift to the world. It doesn’t matter if magic is involved or not.

– But it’s not too late to fix everything!

Xenia recoiled.

– Don’t even think about it! I love the baby and I’m not going to get rid of him.

– Does Dima know?

– He is aware that we will have a child, but I did not tell him the truth about the ritual and you will not. Let everyone think that I died due to complications during childbirth. This happens sometimes.

I was amazed at the girl’s calmness. How many sleepless nights did she have before she made such a difficult decision? Involuntary admiration for this young girl made me smile. I already knew that I would be silent. There were several reasons for this, and not all of them were altruistic. In addition to the fact that I was fulfilling the will of Ksyusha herself, I saw the opportunity to become a mother. No matter how great Dima’s love for a girl, he is unlikely to want to raise a child on his own.

“I agree, but only on one condition,” I said, crossing my fingers at random. You don’t have to be Nostradamus to predict: in the event of Ksenya’s death, Oksana will want to take the child. This must be taken care of in advance. “You will make a will and appoint me as the guardian of the child. If you don’t, I will tell everyone about your pregnancy and how it might turn out for you.

Of course it was a bluff. I wouldn’t risk the life of an unborn baby, even to please myself.

“I will do it,” the girl replied after a moment’s thought. “But not because of your threats, but because I want it myself.

It seems that Ksyusha has bitten me like a walnut nutcracker. Suddenly, she leaned forward and hugged me impulsively. For the first time since we met, she touched a vampire.

“You will be a good mother,” the girl said in a choked voice.

– You would be the best.

For another half an hour we sat and chatted like close friends, imagining what the future holds for the baby. In different ways, we came up with biographies for him, one more beautiful than the other. From now on, I swore to myself that I would not take my eyes off Xenia. A new life was growing inside the girl, and she belonged to me.

After a couple of hours, Oksana calmed down. There was no trace of her former fuse. In this new state of apathy, it was not difficult to convince her to agree to her daughter’s marriage to the hunter. Moreover, the attack was massive: everyone took part in the process in their own way. Not the last role was played by Dima. He did his best to present himself in a favorable light, as a promising groom.

By nightfall, peace and tranquility have returned to the house. Tired of a busy day, people went to their bedrooms. But I was in no hurry to Vlad. This afternoon, my eternal companion, hunger, reminded me of itself quite inopportunely, and something had to be done about it until it completely subjugated the mind.

It was about twelve at night when I went outside. The stars scattered across the sky like myriads of fireflies, a round pancake of the moon, yellow as an owl’s eye, illuminated the hushed forest. But, despite the surrounding serenity, the vampire’s instinct did not want to calm down. I listened and caught subtle rustles on the edge of the forest. Someone was hiding in the shade of pine trees.

Realizing that this meeting cannot be avoided, I went to meet the night guest. In just a couple of steps, she made out a dark silhouette against the background of the trunks. Andrei stood with his hands in his trousers pockets, with a perfectly straight back and a proudly upturned chin. The eyes are two icy lakes, the usual mask of indifference is on the face.

“Hello.” I was the first to break the awkward silence. In response, the named brother nodded slightly, greeting me. “Today is a good night for hunting.

But the second attempt to be nice was not crowned with success. Andrei indifferently shrugged his shoulders, but I still did not understand: he agreed or objected.

– Are you with me? I asked, secretly wanting him to refuse. There is no strength to endure this empty look.

— Why not? The vampire dispelled my hopes.

We moved along the edge of the forest. Silent and lightning fast. The body worked smoothly: the legs themselves, without waiting for a command from the brain, pushed off the ground, taking me away from the house where Vlad was sleeping at that moment.

Satisfying hunger was easy. At this time of day, the streets of even small towns are full of all kinds of trash. Andrei did not challenge my choice and agreed to live by my rules for at least one night. Even when he shuddered from having to drink the poisoned blood of a completely degraded drug addict, he did not change his plans.

Satisfied, we leaned against the wall of the house covered with graffiti. The concrete cooled my back pleasantly, and I allowed myself to rest a little in a dead end hidden among high-rise buildings. Lowering her eyes, she noted with pleasure that the dress remained clean, which could not be said about Andrey’s shirt. He ate greedily, voraciously, like a real animal, and now brown blood stains showed off on his collar and chest.

“You should be more careful,” I said, pointing to the badly damaged shirt.

“I’ll buy a new one,” the vampire dismissed nonchalantly. Unbuttoning his cuffs, he pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it into a nearby dumpster. – That’s better?

I snorted, marveling at his childishness. But I had to strain pretty hard to look away from the beefy muscles and flat belly of the vampire. We must give Andrey credit – he looked amazing. Skin the color of zinc white seemed to be carved from marble.

“Time to go back,” I muttered, carefully avoiding the vampire with my eyes.

Instead of answering, Andrei was the first to step outside the safe dead end. Our shadows, unnoticed by anyone, shot up over the city. We hovered with our feet barely touching the ground. A delightful feeling of intoxicating delight filled me. Blood, though not the purest in the world, flowed through the dead veins, giving the energy of someone else’s life. Driven by a sense of our own impunity and freedom, we got back in a matter of minutes.

I leaned my cheek against the rough pine trunk and smiled blissfully. Crazy joy filled my body, lifting me up. I felt like I was floating in the clouds. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. And, perhaps, dance.

It took several minutes and all the strength to collect the remnants of thoughts and realize: the drug addict’s blood had an intoxicating property. Staggering, I made my way to a small clearing among the trees and fell on the withered grass, looking up at the dark sky. Somewhere up there, the tops of the pines were dancing high, now converging in a circle, now rushing in different directions. But, despite the dizziness and slight nausea, I felt surprisingly well and easily. Covering my mouth with my hand, I giggled stupidly.

Andrei watched my strange behavior for a while, and then sat down next to me and said:

— It seems that your dinner managed to catch the buzz in the end.

“It seems,” I nodded and burst into laughter, no longer trying to contain myself.

“I’m glad you’re having fun,” the vampire said sourly. Stretching out his legs, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the trunk of the nearest tree, not taking his eyes off me.

– Don’t you?

— Alas, I was less fortunate, — Andrey feigned annoyance very similarly.

I rolled onto my stomach, rested my head on my folded arms, and stared at the vampire.

– Are you angry with me?

— Is there anything for it? He raised his eyebrows in surprise, but his voice remained coldly polite.

– I preferred someone else to you. I think it’s annoying.

— How do you know? You have never been in a similar situation.

“I am marrying Vlad,” I blurted out, unexpectedly even for myself, and immediately regretted what I had said. Whatever my dinner shot, this rubbish seemed to untie my tongue. Not a drug, but a truth serum.

Andrei’s reaction was quite predictable. He turned into a frozen statue, as if a second ago he looked into the eyes of the Gorgon Medusa. I have never seen such a blank face. If someone had taken it into his head to hold a competition, my named brother would have received a black belt in abstinence.

– I wish you happiness, – his voice sounded as if from afar: dead and indifferent.

From the realization of my own mistake, I came to my senses a little and tried to correct the situation.

— But you will always be my brother. This wedding will not change our relationship.

“Of course,” the vampire said in a voice full of venom. “I will always be your personal bodyguard, your vest to cry on, your accomplice in your murders, and your playmate. Is that how you imagine it? – he pushed off the tree with force, so that the poor already groaned, and got to his feet. “Thank you for generously giving me the roles, but I think I can get by.

Andrei turned on his heels and rushed deep into the forest. I was dumbfounded watching the back flickering among the trees, until finally I decided to call out to him. Without stopping, he threw back:

– Happy staying! Nothing keeps me here any longer,” after taking a few more steps, he suddenly slowed down and turned to me. “Oh yes, I almost forgot. I hope Gregory will turn you all into mincemeat, and Sybil will bathe in your blood!

In a moment I lost sight of Andrey. After all that was said, I did not want to follow him at all. Instead, I collapsed wearily onto my back and closed my eyes. It was three hours before dawn.

Peace or Set Trap – Board Game