The Castrator by Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov (short books for teens txt) 📕

ANY. I REMEMBERED THE MONEY BAG ON ZONARA. THERE, HOWEVER, I FOUND SOMETHING THAT ALMOST MADE ME SCREAM - THERE WERE THE PIECES OF ABRAMELIN MAGE'S GRIMOIRE. THAT'S WHY SHE WAS SO NERVOUS THE WHOLE TIME - SHE WAS AFRAID I'D TAKE IT FROM HER AND DUMP HER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WASTELAND.

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO THINK, BUT STILL A RATHER FRIGHTENING THOUGHT CROSSED MY MIND - ZONARA WAS OBVIOUSLY A DOOMED SOUL, MORE UNHAPPY THAN MYSELF.

I KNEW IT WAS POINTLESS, BUT WE WERE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL THAT IF YOU PETITIONED THE MOST HIGH, YOU WOULD RECEIVE SOME FORM OF FORGIVENESS THAT WOULD BRING PEACE TO YOUR SOUL.

BUT EVEN BEFORE I FOLDED MY ARMS SOMETHING DETERRED ME. MY COMPANION'S DEATH WAS IN VAIN? WHAT SHE DID FOR ME WAS UNHEARD OF - SHE OPENED MY WAY.

I ALSO FOUND SOME INSTRUCTIONS TO THE GRIMOIRE, BUT DECIDED IT WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME TO GO THROUGH THEM RIGHT HERE.

THEN SUDDENLY SHE PERKED UP. APPARENTLY SHE WAS ALIVE. I THANKED BOTH HELL AND HEAVEN FOR THAT! SHE WAS WITH ME!

- "I PULLED A LUCKY BREAK," SHE TOLD ME. "THE PROTECTION SPELL I DID KEPT ME FROM CERTAIN DEATH. I MUST LOOK TERRIBLE, DON'T I?,“

I APPROACHED HER WITH SOME RELUCTANCE, BUT REALIZED SOMETHING VERY CLEARLY - FOR SOME REASON HER SKULL WASN'T SHATTERED, ONLY HER CHEEKBONES WERE SCRAPED. APPARENTLY THE DEMONIC VISIONS HAD TURNED ME INTO A QUITTER.

- "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?," I SCREAMED, "HOW ARE YOU ALIVE WHEN YOU SHOULD BE DEAD!"

- "I'M A NECROMANCER," SHE REPLIED SIMPLY, "AND MY GIFT IS COMMUNICATING WITH THE DEAD. THIS OPENED SOME DOORS OF KNOWLEDGE FOR ME, BUT I PAID WITH MY SOUL. I WILL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO GO TO HEAVEN. WELL, I PROBABLY WON'T GO TO HELL EITHER, BUT WHO KNOWS," SHE FINISHED, SPITTING BLOOD."

I TRIED TO BANDAGE HER WOUNDS AND GIVE HER SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP. BUT SHE SEEMED TO RECOVER QUICKLY WITHOUT ME.

- "WE ARE SO CLOSE,' SHE TOLD ME DREAMILY. "ALL YOU NEED IS A LITTLE MORE PATIENCE AND YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU CRAVE SO MUCH. BUT REMEMBER THE CURSE BOUND US BOTH. THE CURSE THAT HAS HAUNTED YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR COMPLICATED TANGLE OF LIVES UP TO THIS ONE. THE CURSE THAT ..." - SHE DID NOT FINISH.

I LOOKED AT HER AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I FELT THE OVERWHELMING URGE TO HUG HER TIGHTLY. I WOULD NOT SAY THAT I LOVED HER, BUT OUR COMMON SITUATION ADDED TO OUR AFFECTION.

- "IT'S TIME TO GO," I TOLD HER, "WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN WILL JUST HAPPEN AND CAN HARDLY BE AVOIDED! BUT WE SHALL BE TOGETHER-TWO DOOMED SOULS!"

WE BREAKFASTED UNDER THE SCORCHING SUN THAT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN BURNING.

THEN SHE SHARED HER FINAL INTENTIONS WITH ME.

- THE RITUAL WHICH FELISTER HAD UNDERTAKEN TO PERFORM MIGHT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY A YOUNG BOY OR A VIRGIN. HOWEVER, THE BOY DID NOT HAVE THE PSYCHE TO DEAL WITH THE DEMONS. GENERALLY, IT WENT SACRIFICE AND HAD TO THWART HIS INFERNAL PLANS. BUT I DECIDED TO FINISH THINGS OFF!

- "WHERE EXACTLY ARE WE GOING?," I ASKED HER IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, WITHOUT ANY MORE PRELIMINARIES.

- WHEREVER IS THE BEST PLACE TO PERFORM THE RITUAL. BUT BEFORE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO DO THAT WILL SLOW US DOWN A BIT.

I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK NOW. SHE WAS AS INSCRUTABLE AS SHE HAD BEEN AT THE BEGINNING, BUT I COULD SENSE HER DOOM AND DESIRE TO SAVE HERSELF - SOMETHING I DIDN'T THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. IN THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT!

THAT DOOMED ROMANCE OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS! THAT THORNY ROAD THAT LED NOWHERE!

ZONARA WAS QUITE BEAUTIFUL AFTER ALL - A SLENDER YOUNG WOMAN DRESSED IN HER FRUMPY RED DRESS THE COLOR OF FRESHLY DRIED BLOOD. SHE SEEMED READY FOR ANYTHING!

THIS WOMAN URGED ME TO FIGHT, TO GO FORWARD INTO THE UNKNOWN, AND HER SCENT GAVE ME THE STRANGE FEELING THAT OUR DESTINIES WERE INEVITABLY INTERTWINED IN A WAY THAT EVEN I COULD HARDLY EXPLAIN.

- "BEAUTY IN LIFE IS A RELATIVE THING," ZONARA TURNED TO ME, WHISPERING WITH AN EFFORT BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD SHE HAD LOST, "BUT I SHALL RECOVER ONCE YOU ARE BY MY SIDE, MY LOVE!"

I'M BACK! THAT MEANS SHE LOVED ME! THAT MEANT SHE WANTED US TO SHARE OUR WAY TOGETHER! MEANING...

I WASN'T SOME NAIVE KID WHO WOULD FALL FOR BULLSHIT, BUT IN THIS CASE, MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING IN HER VOICE. SOMETHING ENCHANTING THAT MADE ME FEEL WHAT SHE WANTED TO TELL ME!

OF THE TIME I SPENT A LONG TIME IN THE OLD FELISTER'S LIBRARY - AS WE HAVE SAID, BESIDES BOOKS RELATING TO DEMONS, HE LOVED TOO MANY DIVERSE THINGS THAT COULD EXPAND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF WORLD HISTORY AND ITS DIFFERENT ERAS. FELISTER WASN'T EXACTLY A HISTORIAN, BUT HE WAS AWARE OF THE WHOLE NAIVETY OF THE SOCIAL ORDER, WHICH, FRANKLY, SEEMED RIDICULOUS TO HIM. THE MONEY FROM HIS MERCHANDISE FUNDED ENTIRE SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES MADE HIGH-FLOWN SPEECHES ABOUT MORALITY AND HUMAN EQUALITY, AND ALSO ABOUT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIALITY THEY REPRESENTED.

FELISTER WAS READY TO SPIT IN THEIR FACE FOR THE HYPOCRISY THEY HAD SHOWN.

AND ZONARA DID NOT SEEM HYPOCRITICAL, BUT ON THE CONTRARY, SHE WAS TOO GENTLE-NATURED AND READY FOR ADVENTURE.

I TRIED TO HELP HER THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TRANSITION, BUT SHE SOON GOT BETTER AND MY HELP WAS ALMOST UNNECESSARY. APPARENTLY, HER MAGICAL ABILITIES, OR DEVIL KNOWS WHAT, WERE HELPING HER TO SHARE HER PAIN AND MOVE ON.

MY ZONARA! WONDERFUL PARTNER AND THE ONE WHO OPENED MY EYES! FOR A NEW LIFE!

WE CONTINUED ON, AND I NOTICED THAT SHE WAS NOW SHOWING A GREATER DESIRE FOR WHAT LAY AHEAD.

- "WE MUST ALSO COLLECT SOME OF THE OLD MAN'S MONEY," SHE SAID TO ME, MATTER-OF-FACTLY. - "MIND YOU, THE GRIMOIRE ISN'T WORTH FIVEPENCE IF WE DON'T GET ENOUGH FINANCE, TOO. SOME OF THE THINGS CONNECTED WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE RITUAL ARE TERRIBLY EXPENSIVE."

I TOOK HER WORDS SERIOUSLY.

- HOW MUCH SUFFERING HAS FELISTER CAUSED IN HIS LIFETIME?

- "TOO MUCH," WAS HER REPLY. "FELISTER WAS A MAN WHO WOULD STOP AT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND AT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. HE WAS PREPARED TO KILL THE ENTIRE STAFF OF HIS OWN FARM, BUT TO MANAGE TO CHEAT THE CARTELS AND FUND HIS DEMONOLOGY CLASSES."

I LOOKED AT HER AGAIN. SHE SPOKE WITH AN EASE THAT WAS UNCHARACTERISTIC OF SOMEONE WHO WAS GOING TO DIE A LITTLE EARLY - AND TODAY, OF ALL DAYS.

NOW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THE REAL PLACE FOR THE RITUAL, AND IT SEEMED TO ME THAT WASN'T GOING TO GO PAINLESSLY OR WITHOUT FURTHER ACCIDENTS.

ZONARA DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AVOIDING THEM EITHER. HE DIDN'T SHOW AN OUNCE OF SYMPATHY FOR THOSE WE HAD DEALT WITH. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE EAGER TO ELIMINATE HER AND ACTED LIKE A WELL-TRAINED STREET GANG.

- "WHO EXACTLY WERE THEY?," I ASKED HER.

- MEXICAN CARTELS USUALLY HAD DEBT COLLECTORS WHO WERE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME SECONDARY ROUTES OF TRAFFICKING THE GOODS. BASICALLY, THESE GUYS SEEMED TO BE PART OF THOSE GROUPS, AND YET THEY WERE DANGEROUS ENOUGH. BUT YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!

I ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THE PSYCHE OF THESE THUGS, READY TO KILL YOU FOR PENNIES.

IN MY WORLD FELISTER DISPENSED JUSTICE DIRECTLY - HE DIDN'T CARE AND PUNISHED JUST FINE. WHEN HE HAD TO, HE EVEN CUT THE HANDS OF HIS DEALERS, SO NO ONE DARED TO STEAL FROM HIM OR HIDE ANY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM HIM.

FELISTER'S FARM WAS A LIVING HELL - IT WAS A VERITABLE FACTORY OF DEATH!

IN SEARCH OF SUPPORT

CHAPTER TEN: IN SEARCH OF SUPPORT

 

THE NEXT PART OF OUR ITINERARY WITH ZONARA WAS TO TAKE A PISS IN SALT LAKE CITY BEFORE WE LEFT FOR DENVER IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. THERE WE WERE ABLE TO REST AND EAT.

OVER THE YEARS I HAD WITNESSED THAT ALL THE SO-CALLED PSEUDO-FRIENDS WHO HAD COME INTO MY LIFE HAD DONE SO ONLY FOR PROFIT, BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT CASTRATO AT THE FELISTER FARM GAVE ME A MEASURE OF PROTECTION.

SALT LAKE CITY WAS TRULY MAGNIFICENT - IT WAS THE CAPITAL OF UTAH, WHERE THE MAJESTIC RIDGES OF THE MOUNTAINS STOOD OUT BEHIND THE SO-CALLED DOWNTOWN[1], WHERE THE ENTERPRISING CITY GOVERNMENT BUILT MORE AND MORE NEW BUILDINGS.

HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE AND BATHE, STAYING IN ONE OF THE BEST HOTELS.

- "WE CAN'T STAY HERE TOO LONG," I TOLD HER. "I HAVE A FEELING WE'LL SOON BE IN TROUBLE."

BUT SO FAR, NOTHING PORTENDED A STORM ON THE HORIZON. THE SKY WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR, AND THE PLEASANT LIGHT BREEZE BLOWING IN FROM THE MOUNTAINS WAS DOWNRIGHT LOVELY. NEXT TO THIS TOWN WAS THE FAMOUS LAKE, WHOSE GENTLE WAVES WHISPERED ENCHANTINGLY. DO YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE ARE SO SELF-ABSORBED THAT THEY MISS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE? AND THAT IS TO LIVE!

SALT LAKE CITY WAS FOR A LONG TIME A FAMOUS CENTRE WHERE EXTREMELY USEFUL AND VALUABLE CONTACTS COULD BE MADE. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE ZONE HAD THEM IN ABUNDANCE, AND THAT WAS ONLY WELCOME FOR US.

WE CONTACTED A YUPPIE NAMED JAKE, A WELL-EDUCATED YOUNG PARVENU, WHO EXPLAINED THAT IN ORDER TO MOVE AROUND MORE SAFELY GIVEN THE FACTS LAID OUT BEFORE HIM, IT WAS NOT A BAD IDEA TO SEEK POLICE PROTECTION. BOTH ZONARA AND I REJECTED HIS OFFER FLATLY.

GOOD YUPPIES ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP YOU IF YOU PAY THEM WELL ENOUGH, AND ZONARA HAD A BAG FULL OF MONEY. I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERFERE IN THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP. I ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO PRY, AS A LOT OF THINGS HADN'T BEEN THE SAME SINCE I LEFT FELISTER'S FARM, AND I WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY SURVIVOR WHILE FELISTER'S BODY LAY ON THE AUTOPSY TABLE AND WAS PROBABLY IN THE CEMETERY LONG AGO.

HE THEN TURNED TO US SAYING:

- YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE STRANGEST CLIENTS I'VE EVER HAD, BUT YOU'RE DEFINITELY INTERESTING TO ME! SO I'LL DO SOMETHING FOR YOU, BUT IN RETURN YOU'LL TAKE ME TO THE RITUAL AND I GET TO TALK TO THE GHOST!

ZONARA WAS RELUCTANT TO AGREE, BUT AFTER SOME THOUGHT, SHE RELENTED.

HE EVEN AGREED TO DRIVE US IN HIS OWN CAR.

- YOU WILL ATTRACT UNNECESSARY ATTENTION, PLUS SOME OF THE THOROUGHFARES ARE NOW UNDER STRICT POLICE CONTROL. NO NEED TO THANK ME. I DO IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

HE EXPLAINED TO US HOW HE HAD HELPED MANY TRAFFICKERS IN THE PAST WHO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LAW AND WHO DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT HIS HELP.

- WHEN WE HAVE DONE OUR WORK IN THIS WORLD, WE HAVE TO LEAVE!" HE JOKED, "IT'S PART OF THE CIRCLE OF LIFE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE YOU MAKE THE WRONG DECISIONS. NOR TO HURRY WITHOUT NEED! SALT LAKE CITY IS NOT SUCH A PLEASANT PLACE, HOWEVER MUCH THE GENTLE BREEZE AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY MAY IMPRESS YOU. I'VE HAD A REAL STRONG URGE TO MOVE AWAY FOR YEARS TOO. I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE COMING HERE. MY WHITE COLLAR CAREER IS OVER - EVERYTHING HERE IS SO BRUTALLY FAKE AND POINTLESS - AS IS ALL HUMAN LIFE, BY THE WAY. YOU KNOW, I SPEAK SO FRANKLY TO YOU AS TO FRIENDS I BARELY KNOW, BUT PERHAPS OUR FATES ARE INVARIABLY LINKED AND THIS ADVENTURE IS A SHARED AFFAIR. I