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“Understood,” he says behind me.
Luisa hands me my shot, the tiny glass sleek with condensation in my hand.
At the end of every workday, I ask her for a shot of ice-cold vodka with a drop of cranberry juice. The swirl of red is mesmerizing to watch and, to be honest, it makes my day. Then I swallow it, letting it cool me down from my mouth to my insides. It’s cold, then burns. Reminds me of when my fingers are so cold that they feel hot.
“To another day in the books.” I raise my glass and she smiles.
Then I down it, and for a second I’m transported back to Murmansk, where the winters were dark, the summers light, and the cold nipped at my insides just like this.
“Thank you,” I hear before I open my eyes. I wanted to remain in that familiar feeling for longer, but someone wants to talk to me, so I peel my tired eyelids open.
Angel is sitting next to me. Luisa starts making her tea.
“I thought you were streaming until three,” I say.
“I finished early. One of my guys said he was coming to see me and I panicked. He’s kinda creepy, to be honest. The one who was just here.” She plays with a loose thread on her sleeve. She’s wearing a fluffy bathrobe, all covered in unicorns and ice creams. On the bar next to her is her shower caddy, stuffed full of luxury toiletries.
“He’s gone now,” I say. “You can go shower and sleep.”
“Thank you,” she says again.
I don’t know what to do with her gratitude. It’s only natural that I would deal with this. It’s my job, as the manager. I would have done it for anyone. My survival powers ensure the survival of others now. It’s kinda poetic.
“Yeah, no problem. Be careful outside. Don’t let them know your location.” I play with the shot glass in my hands. It has cooled my fingertips, so I move it between my hands like it’s hot coal.
“Of course.” She gives me a quick side hug before slurping her hot tea and leaving.
I stay still as a statue. I don’t like hugs.
“Another shot?” Luisa asks.
“No.” I return the tiny glass to her. “One a day, as a reward. That’s the point.”
Chapter 2
After all the little ones are asleep, I collect the Holy Books and head for the chapel at the back of our village. The big stone walls that keep us safe are as imposing as ever, the darkness making swirling shapes on their surface.
I walk faster, unwilling to linger. The evil lurking outside could breach our protective barrier at any point, Koschei always says. And while he’s immortal, none of the children are. We’re all susceptible to the dangers of the dark.
When I make it to the chapel, my heart is pounding and I sway on my feet.
“Ah. Evgenya. Do you have the Holy Books?” Koschei is sitting on his wide plush chair under the Holy Needle. The sharp metal spike has always made me uncomfortable, as if it can fall at any moment and impale him. Even if he can’t die, it would hurt.
“I do, Deathless One. All children are healthy and accounted for.” I hand him the books in which we record the details about every child who comes to us from the dark outside. The color of their eyes, their hair, how many teeth they have, and if they complain about pain. How fast they grow and what changes occur in them as the cycles of light and dark continue. If they refuse to eat anything or cry without reason. It’s important to catch the darkness within them early if we’re to cure it.
Koschei flips through the pages, his thin, boney fingers shaking ever so slightly. He is tall and thin, the strength in his skeleton showing through his skin. He lifts his pale blue eyes and meets mine.
“How many sky flares remain until you are ready for the immortality ritual?” he asks out of the blue, setting the books down on the floor.
“One summer flare,” I reply, trying to hide my excitement. Once I go through the ritual, I won’t have to be afraid of the darkness anymore. The biggest perk of being the chosen one.
“Magnificent,” Koschei whispers and stands up, putting the weight of his ageless bones on the Staff of Light.
I try not to flinch as he comes closer to me and puts his hand on my cheek, stroking my face with his thumb. His familiar but unpleasant smell envelops me as his eyes scan my face. Oh, Holy Light, please don’t let him see any impurities tonight. The painful marks from last week’s darkness repelling ritual haven’t healed yet. Please let the Staff of Light remain unmoving in his hand.
“I lost Tatiana, but I will not lose you, Malaya Zhritsa. You will be with me forever.” His words are a warm breeze on my forehead. I’m already holding my breath, trying to ignore the smell of him. When he talks, it’s the strongest, and I’ve failed to keep my face composed before. So now when he’s near, I simply don’t breathe. He protects us all from the darkness. It’s the least I can do.
The ground beneath me vibrates suddenly, and a loud noise makes me jump. Koschei gasps and pushes me to one side, his body suddenly moving fast and sure.
