The Mist and the Lightning. Part 19

“It is growing, but this world was created by the Higher Ones according to certain rules and laws. It is built into a complex and clear system of other worlds, and each of them has its own place. These laws must not be violated, otherwise everything will collapse like an improperly built house. Vitor, we are here in human bodies, and in most cases we must live and act like humans.”

“Hmm… the laws of the universe to prevent chaos, I understand you. But then I don’t understand what’s the fun in being a Demon?” Kors was displeased.

“I never said it was fun,” Nik shrugged.

“And if…”

Kors didn’t have time to express his idea, because at that moment there was a loud knock on the door, and Tol burst into the room. He dragged the drunk Arel on his shoulder. Tol walked over to them and dropped his burden from his shoulder, forcing Kors to hastily moveaside.

“Ah, thank you, Tol,” Nik sat up on the bed, looking at the prince, who showed no signs of life.

“He fell under the table,” Tol explained, “I found him and picked him up.” The fact that Nik and Kors were lying together didn’t seem to make much impression on him.

Kors was even a little offended that Tol always ignored him so blatantly.

“Tol, do you miss your friend Alis?” he asked.

“Al… uh…” Tol mumbled and froze.

And Kors very clearly felt his inner resistance. Even if Tol missed Lis, he didn’t want to be open about it, especially with Kors. He didn’t love him. Tol knew that Kors was Nik’s father, and Tol loved Nik very much and somehow managed to accept this information for himself. But despite this, he still considered Kors primarily a representative of the punitive authority, from whom it was worth staying away, because Kors in the past brought nothing but trouble to them. And Tol perfectly remembered these conversations, from which everyone’s mood deteriorated, and Arel became nervous and angry. Many times Tol heard Enriki say excitedly, “We need to complete this mission. We need to fulfill this order by all means. We cannot refuse, can’t you understand what it threatens us with! You shouldn’t quarrel with this person. Our integrity depends on this man!” And everything like that. Therefore, Tol didn’t accept Kors, and Kors was even somehow offended by this. No, of course, he didn’t need the friendship of a stupid thug at all. But all the same, it was somehow annoying inside that Tol rejected him like that, although Kors had never done anything bad to him personally. He didn’t use him like he did with Arel, he didn’t threaten him like he threatened Enriki, and he certainly didn’t bully him like he bullied Squint-Eye. Kors was never interested in Tol, he never even called him for interrogation. But here… Kors had done nothing bad to him, but continued to receive a stable portion of hostility at each of their meetings.

Nik got out of bed and walked over to the lying Arel, slightly lifted him up and began to undress:

“Tol, can you help me?” he asked.

“Yes, of course, my friend!” Tol immediately reacted, even with some relief from the fact that now he was really busy, and Kors would leave him alone and not ask any questions.

Together with Nik, they carefully undressed the drunk Arel, laid him on his side and covered him with a blanket.

“Really good caring friends!” Kors grinned mentally, and when Tol finally left, he remarked contemptuously:

“I don’t understand the pleasure of drinking to unconsciousness,” he looked at Arel, who was sleeping, and saliva was flowing from the corner of his mouth. “What is the joy of not feeling anything and being dependent solely on the goodwill of others?”

Nik returned to his seat and lay down again, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“Maybe the joy is in not feeling anything…” he said thoughtfully.

For a while they just lay on the bed, not moving or talking. Kors was sad, his body and face ached after the beatings.

Nik seemed to feel his pain:

“Well, I’m sorry,” he said quietly, “I’m sorry, I lost my temper. There was no need to try to run away from me.”

“It’s my own fault,” Kors sighed, but he was pleased that Nik was sorry.

“Don’t run away from me like that, don’t try to hide, you’ll only make things worse for yourself.”

“I understand.”

And suddenly before the eyes of Kors, quite unexpectedly, the contour of the heart appeared, fuzzy at first, and then brighter and brighter. A gold foil heart, just like the one Nik gave him. Kors watched in surprise as it floated up to the ceiling of the room, becoming voluminous. Inflating like a balloon, the heart shimmered, increased in size, swelled more and more and finally burst, showering Kors with thousands of small golden hearts.

“Ooh!” Kors exclaimed, amazed at what Nik had done. Kors had no idea he could do that, create such illusions.

“Nik! How did you do this?!” Kors couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s very cute and very stupid at the same time, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

And Nik continued to look up, and now a bright scarlet heart flared up under the ceiling and sparks scattered like fireworks.