Amor fati
Tanais screamed and woke up.
Sitting on the bed, she straightened his stiff limbs and looked around. She was in her apartment, but in spite of this, it is not a feeling that everything he had seen it, not imagined her in a nightmare, and it happened in reality.
Running out of her apartment, she was face to face with Aletheia.
Passion fell on them like a storm, as revenge, as God's punishment, and they had neither the strength nor the will, nor the desire to resist the pressure of her …
At breakfast Tomiris glanced at them with an inexplicable curiosity, and Tanais, unable to withstand fairly harsh tone said:
- Excuse me for being rude, but I do not like looking at me, as if some rare insect.
- I'm trying to figure out what brought you to me …
- But you do invite everyone!
- Oh yeah! - With bitter irony agreed Tomiris. - That's just wanting something not seen ... Few come here voluntarily. Of those cited here are my servants, the majority preferred the death of my favors ... And those that have agreed to accept them, do it not out of love for me, and under the influence of greed, ambition, cowardice, perversity or vanity. You do not aspire to nor to wealth, nor power, do not entail the glory, you do not care about the secrets of the universe - on the one hand, and you are not afraid of any age, or death, you are not gnawing conscience, does not suppress poverty, not intended envy not torment disease - the other ... Ugly try to find out the visitors, why they came and why they do not go, but for me it's such a mystery, I allow myself to forget about the rules of etiquette and ask you directly: what made you come here and why do not you take the time to leave?
- Because we have nowhere to go.
- It ran headlong, even those who were in front of only the direct road to the gallows ... One of my guests did was crazy, and certainly it something, like, really had nothing to lose, but he escaped the next morning. I can understand a lot, but you understand me not given ... Never have beautiful, healthy, happy and successful does not come to me voluntarily. But you're not just lucky, and favorites of the gods ... Even at your birth, the gods gave you everything that goes at the cost of other victims, humiliation, betrayal, shame and blood, or do not get at all. And yet you come here alone and in good faith ... Why?
Seeing the expression on the faces of the guests unwitting insults Tomiris smiled and said:
- My interest in guests is purely mercantile character, because the piles of gold, precious jewel, masterpieces of art, in short, all that I possess, is the result of reification secret or overt lust of my guests. As, however, and much more. For example, the inhabitants of my subterranean menagerie. By Zeus, you had never seen anything like this, and God forbid not see the future ... When a person sleeps and is not able to control his soul, from the depths of her rise to the surface of consciousness the most abominable vices, and the most vile images and lowest passion, and all this also receives its embodiment. That's why none of my guests could not stay here more than one night. They all fled in terror before the mystery of his own soul. After all, people sometimes he does not know what passion slumbered in it ... Perhaps, of all people sensualist I am most obliged to the most horrific instances of my menagerie. But you have not presented my collection of nothing but their own copies.
- Monsters for zoo generates passion, not love, - said softly Aletheia.
- You want to say that in your relationship passion plays a secondary role? - Mockingly smiled Tomiris, and something dark and violent for a moment flashed in her impenetrable gaze.
- I will sacrifice everything else for the sake of passion. But for the sake of love I will sacrifice even passion.
- I think I understand what you want to say - Tomiris slightly and smiled mysteriously, as if searching and catcher eyes looked into the eyes of Tanais. - Why are you silent? Or do you have nothing to say on the matter?
Tanais broke up the hair roots and slammed the cup on a mosaic tabletop.
- What can I tell you, if you can without asking permission and a fumble in the opponent's mind, as if in his own pocket, pulling out gold, diamonds, castles and monsters for your zoo?
- And by the way, you do not want to take a look? - With a teasing grin on his beautiful lips she asked Tomiris. - Believe the word, will not be sorry - she added pointedly, and again something vicious, cruel and voluptuous broke out and was extinguished in her mysterious gaze.
Eyes narrowed with hatred Aletheia looked into the face sorceress.
- Tanais, get out of here soon. She wants to, and in our souls bred monsters, which it can then put in your zoo!
- Do not worry so Aletheia - mockingly said the sorceress. - No one in your treasure is not encroaching. I have your exact copies, and if I wish to enjoy the love of your friends, I can do it without destroying your union.
Aletheia laughed evil and triumphant laugh.
- You can not, even if you want to!
- Why so? - Proudly raised her head a great sorceress.
- It is because the exact copy! Tanais is not able to commit adultery!
- Well, in certain situations, and saints can sin …
- Do not Tanais!
- In this case, the hell up! I need only the original! You hear Tanais? Agree to respond to my love, and I will make you almost equal to God! Gold will be for you anyway, that litter underfoot! At the sound of your name shall tremble, and the kings of the nations! For you will not have secrets in the world around us! You will never grow old and die! You will be able to experience all earthly delights and pleasures! That compared with all this love some girl?
Tanais stood up slowly, and anger, her face lit up, made it even more beautiful.
- I really do not like when I was selling. But even more, I do not like when I buy. You were right, surprised that we do not hurry to leave. Now I myself am surprised this. However, we have not yet had time to inspect your zoo, but, nevertheless, the most terrible of your monsters we've seen.
Tomiris laughed, as if he heard an unusually funny joke, and loudly clapped her hands.
- Excellent question, my friend worthy of Cicero! But do not say goodbye. You will have enough time to fully consider my proposal. Guards!
Arising both from the ground soldiers in black took Aletheia in the ring and dragged him toward the exit. Tanais ran after him, but one of the guards silently lifted the sword blade to the throat Aletheia and lightly pressed. From cut zasochilas blood and Tanais stopped.
- I let her go as soon as we reach an agreement - said Tomiris when guards brought Aletheia from the audience. - Do not make me wait too long. My patience is not unlimited. Otherwise, your friend is closely acquainted with the inhabitants of my underground zoo, and I think that this knowledge did not give her much pleasure.
- I will die with her.
- So stupid ... Even the longest love is still shorter than the shortest life. And what, after all, love, betrayal, life and death? Only words. Change name - changes the meaning. Give love - attraction, betrayal - a new hobby, and you will be convinced that life will be much easier.
- "Simply" does not mean "better".
- Not a hypocrite! It is better to be evil and sinful to the end than the good and holy — half!
- I do not know the meaning of these words, but the general sense is clear to me. I - not evil and not good, not a saint or a sinner, no matter what these words meant. I just love her, and I do not need.
- I'm sorry, I really lost sight of your origin. You're from the barbarian tribe, well, how did you know that civilized people such love as yours, is considered a vice and sin?
- I do not know what a vice and sin. Judging by your tone, it is something not too good. But I know what love is. And if civilized people it is considered a vice and sin, I am sorry to civilized people. They never loved.
- It is curious to find out what is the secret of your commitment to each other? Is this girl knows something, then I do not know how?
- I do not quite understand your question.
- Well, I will ask anyway. Why are you rejected me?
- Because each person to want to be loved for its own sake, and not for any privileges and benefits.
- Endear you asserting itself? You enough that you know about themselves? You need the other person for their love affirmed the value of your personality? However, I understand that desire. In it, as in a mirror, it reflects your pride, your thirst for immortality and your envy of the gods. You also difficult to accept the idea that you - are not gods, how hard for me to understand why you refuse of your fate provided a chance for real and not illusory immortality …
- Because immortality loses all meaning if it is necessary to pay for the death of the soul.
Tomiris smiled wearily.
- Soul - this is serious ... By itself, human life is not worth much, but the soul ... This is the most expensive commodity. It is the only product that, if you're lucky, can be exchanged for immortality ... just hopeless fools exchange soul for power, wealth and glory. The real price for it - immortality ... Of course, I'm not talking about the souls, and for which the copper penny - the price exorbitant. I'm not talking about souls and immortality for that - not the price. Too little, and those and others ... Well, you do seem to be commended his soul above immortality, death and love girls - above the love of an immortal goddess? It does you honor. Do you know the true value of the whole.
- Price is only what is sold. Therefore, no love, no soul does not have a price.
- Price is only what is bought. Therefore, love and soul are just as much willing to pay for them. However, sometimes the price does not match the value. And now I want to show you my zoo. I hope, you like it...