3

The beginning of the end began with the most absurd situation that could be.

Scott asked me to bring a couple of spears and I went to the armory.

At the entrance, I felt a blow to the head, but I did not lose consciousness, but tried to strike back.

The back of my head ached wildly, but I tried to kick as best I could.

—You don't have to fight, Carolianna, you have to listen...— someone said softly in my ear.

I was petrified.

This... It was my own voice!

— Can I look at you?—I asked.

— My goal was to deliver the book to you, not to show up! HP forbade me!— says a voice so similar to mine.

A huge handwritten volume, probably made from a household ledger, falls into my hands.

— Read it and think about what to do...— my time double pushed me aside and opened a time portal.

I managed to notice.

It was definitely me, only gray to perfect whiteness.

Bringing the spears, I gave one to Scott, the other to Dean, and I sat down on a bench with a book.

— And what is this?—Scott turned for a second.

— Yes, I took it from our library to read.— I tried to hold the book so that the page was not visible.

My gaze got lost in small letters and tiny lines, but my vision quickly got used to it.

These are records of an Indian tribe, to which angels descended, gave them the ability and knowledge.

At first they considered it a blessing and sincerely believed that they were special.

But then they were able to understand: the angels came to the oldest of the tribe, thereby involuntarily forcing them to lead the young.

Angels appeared in a variety of guises and, when it came to a certain time, a descendant of angels and demons was born to people, who would sweep all people off the face of the earth ...

They called him the word Ultima, the last.

I looked up at Scott, terrified.

It was a good thing he didn't see it!

On the very last page there was a list of all the Ultima. It turns out there were an awful lot of them.

And there was also a list of angels and archangels approaching the end of the world!

And the first were Rahiel and Raphael.

I saw Raphael once in my life.

And, it seems, he has the same monastery...

On stiff legs, I went out into the corridor.

All lies! The whole life is a lie...

tears stuck somewhere in the depths of my heart and did not want to come out.

When my eyes stopped burning to no avail, I went back to the training room.

— Dean, I need to bring something from the store. Scott, will you find a training partner for yourself?—I asked, barely breathing out between the words.

— All right.—Scott smiled in his usual cheerful manner.

He seemed to have done it as always, but now I felt that everything inside was getting cold.

Dean followed me.

—You're weird.—Dean said, following me down the hall.

— Let's discuss everything outside the monastery.—I interrupted him.

— All right...— Gull answered me quietly.

***

I absolutely had neither the strength nor the desire to get behind the wheel.

When we drove off, I hid the monastery medallion under the seat.

The stone was hot today.

— We'll stop at that cafe over there, I'm hungry.—I pointed out.

When we arrived at the outdoor cafe, I ordered coffee.

— What is this book that you carry around with you all day? And you said you were hungry.—Dean stared at me with his black eyes.

— Read it and you'll understand everything. I can't say how I got it, but here's the whole truth... Read it.—I pushed the book towards him.

I don't know how I drank the coffee, because I didn't even taste it.

Only words were spinning in my head: "all life is a lie", "life is a lie".

Dean seemed to have turned even whiter.

He read it and he, like me, realized that there was nothing to doubt.

I've heard about these four Indians before, Rahiel read us their records, only very heavily combed by censorship.

— We need to destroy this monastery.—I said.— Otherwise, all people are doomed.—

— There are people there too.—Dean interrupted me.

— I don't think we really need to save these people...—I said.

— You're crazy!—Dean exclaimed.

— Dean... Honey, hush...— I lifted my hand a little from the table.— You don't have to shout like that. I stopped trusting many people a long time ago, but I believe myself... I saw myself! I saw how I came here from the future. And then she left... Well, that is me. Do you think you can't trust the time?—

I felt myself trembling all over. My body felt like I was sitting in a trough full of ice.

From all sides, this cold...

— We need to think first and only then do...—Dean doesn't take his eyes off me.— Only crazy people can cut from the shoulder without thinking about any consequences.—

— People can get hurt!—I wheezed indignantly.— And someone is killing in the monastery! If at least one of them listens to us, I will be happy to help them. But... I don't think many people will believe me.—

— But you still need to ask them. It seems that despite the fact that I eat people, I love them much more than you do...—Dean frowned.

— No, my love... I love people, it's just that life has taught me not to trust them. I just stopped trusting everyone. But... When I saw you... It's like the past has come back. You're like an old memory. You're fine... It's easy with you...—

I could feel my body temperature rising. Apparently, the reason for this is fright...

— Carolianna!—Dean moved in next to me.— You're burning up...—

— It's good that you're useful at such times...—I smiled.

—If that's what you want, I'll always be your personal refrigerator.—Dean said.—We need to interview all the people, at least some of them will be in favor of saving the mortal world...—

— Come on...—I said.

***

We collected weapons in any convenient corner of the car.

We unscrewed the plastic of the doors from the inside and filled the empty space with bullets.

After that, we also filled all the chairs and the floor.

— Too many bullets for two pistols, it seems.—Dean said.

— No, it's just right.—I smiled.— And not two, but four. I bought you a couple too, because there's no way without guns. You must have a weapon with you...—

— I'm only in favor if Rahiel's head flies off his shoulders, but no matter how he turns out to be stronger than us...—

His embrace is just icy, but now the cold makes me feel calmer.

On the way back, Dean smokes cigarette after cigarette, but keeps calm.

— Okay, Dean, I'm going to my room, I need to be alone for a little while, then I'll come to you myself.—I said.

— Good...—He puts out his cigarette butt on the lawn.

I went to my room to study a book there.

Scott was waiting for me at the door.

— You and Dean have been gone for so long, I was even afraid that Rahiel had buried you somewhere, you were gone for so long... Can I ask you to go somewhere with me if you're not too busy right now?—he asked.

— Well... Not very. Isn't it time for you to train? Or are you resting now?—I asked.— As free as I am, I would like to study some things myself... Well, I can come with you if that's what you want. Your cute eyes and how handsome you are now do not give me the opportunity to contradict!—I said, smiling.

It's strange, but I feel so free with Scott...

***

It's strange, when a guy holds your hand, you look at each other, there is calmness, sympathy, but... There is no love.

— Come into my room, don't be afraid.—Scott smiled gently.

— You're weird...— I entered the room with Scott.— Wow! How beautiful! —

— Just like that, usually. I wanted to cheer you up... But it didn't work out with Dean, he said he didn't eat people's food.—Scott pulled out a chair for me.—You're going to have dinner with me, aren't you?—

— Yes, of course! With pleasure!—I smiled.

No one has done this for me. Never.

A beautifully decorated table, so many bright dishes... Everything was really fine.

— Carolianna, is it allowed to drink wine here?—Scott asked, pausing with a corkscrew in one hand and a bottle in the other.

— A lot is allowed here. Except I've never drunk wine. And you prefer beer more often.—I said.

— And why did you decide that?—Scott asked, pouring wine into glasses.

— I checked it out... First, the smell. I also guessed about the chef and it was just by the smell. Whatever cologne you use, everyday smells wrap you in a light veil...—I straightened the napkin on my lap.— And also the energy that stays where you are... If you continue to study, you will be able to notice the energy in this world... —

Warmth spreads through your body from wine.

— And how long will the training last? My vacation is not endless. It has to end sometime...—Scott sits down at the table himself and drapes a napkin over his lap.

— Yes, of course. You will come here on vacation, and I will come to you. Of course, if your family and wife are not scared by this situation.— some kind of unpleasant feeling is scratching from the inside.

Really have to take it... Oh my God!

— I'm not married,— Scott smiled sadly.— I'm divorced. I have a feeling that's exactly what you wanted to know...—

I finally put a piece of white fish in my mouth.

I don't remember the last time I wielded a knife and fork, but I haven't forgotten. The skill is not lost...

it seems that Scott is still waiting for my reaction...

— Are you afraid of criticism? I thought people like you weren't afraid of anything...—

— I am not afraid of criticism, I am afraid of what is happening in this world. Today is a man, tomorrow... An angel? The day after tomorrow is a monster... Maybe so... Life used to be like a river, but now it's a storm...—

I looked into the sun-shining blue eyes like the sky. I feel extremely good with him...

I never wanted to kill someone like that...

Dean walked past Scott's windows with a bag in his hands.

His fingers deftly grabbed the pieces of raw meat from the bag and quickly put them in his mouth.

— When I just imagine what he eats, I start to feel sick...—Scott smiled nervously.

— Human flesh. Dean likes from thirty-five to sixty...—I said.

— Oh, and I'm forty-nine...—Scott's sky-blue eyes widened.

— Don't be afraid, Dean won't eat you even if he's very hungry. And if you make him angry (although I don't think anything can make him angry), then you just need to know one thing: people like you and me will make Dean sick with green goo. You're studying the books I gave you, aren't you?—I turned around.— Dean, I know that the laws are not written for you, but can you not enter so silently? Scott choked on you.—

Dean smiled broadly.

— I know. I'm sorry, Scott, I can't walk any other way...—His hoarse voice rasped through the silence.— Do you have anything better to drink than wine, if your food is only human?—

His emotions turn a poisonous yellow, this acidic color, similar to a biohazard sign, means anxiety.

— I'll get you a glass now. How much stronger do you need a drink?—Scott asked, picking something out from among the bottles.

— Do you have absinthe or brandy? If there is none of the above, I will not give up gin.—Dean takes the chair from Scott.— No need for this stupid politeness, I'll sit down myself.—

— Dean, you're too wild after all... When was the last time you were in a restaurant?—I asked in a whisper.

— I think it was the beginning of the seventeen hundred, when I was thirty years old... or maybe even earlier... I don't remember when...—Dean smiled.— Thanks, Scott. I really don't remember when I was in normal society...—

Scott froze, waiting for Dean's reaction after a sip of absinthe.

— Ugh...—Dean exhaled.— Where did you get this absinthe? It burns more than the flames of hell! —

Scott's face lit up with this beautiful wide smile.

— I sincerely hoped that you would like it. Five years ago, I was given this absinthe, but I did not know what occasion to uncork this bottle.— He said.

— Scott, pour me one too.—I waved my glass.

— Honey, you're going to fall asleep after this!—Dean said.

I took a long sip from the glass, staring into the bottomless black eyes.

— How brave you are...—A hoarse whisper burned my cheek and my blood boiled.

After a great dinner (Dean dined with us with only two large glasses of absinthe), we went to our rooms.

— Are you sure you don't need to be propped up?—Dean asked, hugging me from behind.

We walked slowly to my room.

— Dean, you know how long you and I have been living in this world...—I said suddenly.— So tell me... I don't want the whole world to be completely false. Only you are mine truth...

— I remember an English town... A beautiful little church...—My mother and I loved going there, despite the fact that in the city (I do not know which one) my father was burned alive... But we lived very well together...—

I sat him down on the bed and started kissing him. I covered his face with kisses to calm the bitterness of tears.

Dean started crying anyway. I could taste his tears, but they had to be shed.

Dean... How long did he keep it to himself...

— Honey, tell me more...—I said.

— Mary Tudor was on the throne... The era is incomprehensible, but I personally liked it. There was one poet who was loved by everyone. Some went to listen to his poems even when he became objectionable to the Queen's ladies-in-waiting... His poems were really quite good... And his daughter, Alice... I was only thinking about you, even though I was almost six, and you was seventeen...—

I continued to kiss him, inhaling his wonderful scent.

Dean smells like the wind in the mountains...

— Dean, I want to hear more...—I whispered.

— The service in the church was almost over and the evil spirits descended there. Who wasn't there! As they would say now, the cream of the lower society. You grabbed me and we hid under one of the benches. Someone noticed us, someone is cowardly and he plunged a knife into you so that they would be attracted by the smell of blood...—

Icy tears fall on my favorite bed linen.

— Dean, my gloomy black-eyed angel...—I whispered.

— I found you and I will never let you go now...—Dean said hoarsely.

***

The next morning, I felt a cool kiss on my cheek, moving down my neck to my shoulder.

— Dean... Cold... Such a cold nose like a dog's...— I can feel the kisses going down to my collarbone. — Dean...—

I stroke his cheek and take his beautiful pale face in my hands.

There was a conditional knock on our door.

— Damn it... Scott!—I laughed.

 — Let's pretend there's no one here.—Dean chuckled.

— Guys, I can hear that you're there.—Scott said.—I have very bad news...—

***

And personally, I do not know whether to attribute this to bad news or to good news - they could not find Rahiel anywhere.

And for some reason, a lot of people were sure that he was dead...

— We need to check Carolianna's lover, maybe he ate our Rahiel!— someone said in the crowd.

— Are you crazy? It's just physically impossible!—I said.— Dean wouldn't be able to swallow a drop of blood from any of us!—

— Of course, you're protecting him!— someone said it.

— No, I'm telling it like it is! Why would I tell a lie if we were raised like this!—I say.

I feel Scott's warm hand on my shoulder. It's a pleasant feeling, but for some reason I feel uneasy.

— I saw that Dean can't stand our blood. I'm ready to vouch for him and for Caro.—Scott said.

I was surprised by the angel's speech. Dean's eyes also widened for a second.

— Why did you do that?—Dean whispered to Scott as we walked down the hall.

— I tried to help you, but didn't I have to?—Scott stared at us with heavenly eyes in surprise.