At exactly six, we entered the familiar courtyard, where an inconspicuous dilapidated structure stood apart from the neat skyscrapers, among the gloomy maples and willows. Even the lights, which, like a Christmas tree, were decorated with a high-rise building, even the bright light from its windows could not cope with the darkness that reigned here. And the patches of light lay motionless on the asphalt, not dispersing, but as if emphasizing the darkness.

With each step, my desire to turn around and go the other way grew stronger. But Sveta was near, and I didn’t want to look hysterical in her eyes. Therefore, I stubbornly continued to step forward, even when the girl suddenly began to rest.

- Where are you taking me? She asked in a trembling voice.

I sighed heavily:

“You will find out soon.”

“Shane, is it safe here?” - she clung to me when we approached the house and entered the entrance.

“Yeah,” I nodded grimly. - We lived here for over a year. If before there was some evil spirits, now, except for us, there is nothing more dangerous than street cats. Even the homeless is left ... Father does not love ...

“Your father is a stern man,” she said.

I giggled nervously:

“Oh yes, even the most desperate daredevils are afraid of him.” For nearly fifty years, he has killed so many people that he cannot count! He was even electrocuted once ...

- And How? - her voice faltered.

“Why,” I sighed again. - A couple of hours later he woke up, as if nothing had happened.

- How is this possible? - she looked at me in disbelief.

“I have no idea,” I shook my shoulders. - I only know that nothing takes him ...

“You said that to scare me?” She asked, squinting. - This is another test, yes?

“No,” I kissed her on the cheek, “this is for you to understand why other relatives communicate with him like that.”

- And how do they communicate?

“Soon you will see everything yourself,” I replied gloomily, when we stopped in front of a shabby wooden door, which was crossed crosswise with thick planks.

A heavy sigh escaped against my will.

- Why is the door boarded up? - asked Sveta in a whisper.

“Because the house was intended for demolition,” I explained. - But now all responsible people have forgotten about him ...

- Why did you forget? - Light moved away from me when I took the transverse board.

“Because father loves loneliness and cannot tolerate unexpected guests,” I said, and pulled the board towards me.

The door creaked openly and opened. Sveta goggled at me.

- What for... ? - she did not finish.

“Conspiracy,” I explained gloomily, and stepped into the dark hallway.

Sveta hesitantly stepped after her, but I wanted to turn around and run away before the door closed. It was not without difficulty that I suppressed this desire in myself, although my heart still sank when she slammed dully behind our backs. All right, no turning back.

When my eyes got used to the gloom, I moved forward between two rows of barely flickering boulders to a ghostly light that was visible in the distance. Sveta, it seemed, could not see anything at all, and therefore obediently followed me, not daring to even reach out and touch the rough wall.

The light in the meantime became brighter, and I heard the sounds of the guitar. My heart sank again. Quiet surpluses, similar to the splash of tidal waves, and its soft baritone, as if enveloping us with a warm, cozy bedspread, caused a new panic attack, which was more difficult to cope with than before.

- What is it? - from a distance came the whisper of Sveta to me.

“That's him,” I replied, not out loud, not myself, unsuccessfully trying to resist his will, but I no longer possessed myself.

My legs were off the floor, my body became almost weightless, and on the waves of music we swam forward. Stars shone above our heads.Our shadows fancifully bent on the surface of flickering boulders, and then we were dragged out. It became so dark around that even I could not see anything.

Then a muffled light surrounded us.

Our feet touched the floor, and Sveta let go of my hand, looking around.

“Hi,” I nodded grimly to him.

“Hello,” he replied no less gloomily.

He was sitting on the steps of the crystal staircase with a guitar in his hands in the shape of a thin, white-haired boy with large dark blue eyes. He looked like Kai from a children's fairy tale, like a kind of ice prince, sad and lonely. At first, I even felt sorry for him - alone in this huge empty house.

- Hello, - Sveta smiled at him and extended her hand.

He smiled at one corner of his mouth, leaned Betty gently against the railing, grabbed her wrist and lifted it to his lips.

“Glad to meet you, madame,” he said softly.

Sveta blushed deeply and looked cautiously at me.

“Meet, Light, this is my dad,” I announced.

- Pa ...? - she stared at him, and he smiled smugly, stood up and straightened his shoulders, shaking his head.

His hair has become even longer and moved further from his forehead, making way for horrific horns. The eyes became the usual bright yellow color, the squirrels disappeared from them, and the vertical pupils became clearly visible. His shoulders sounded, disproportionate canines peered out of his mouth, his fingernails on his elongated fingers sharpened and blackened. He shook his luxurious mane and bowed with a grace unexpected for his height and build.

“Let me introduce myself, Mademoiselle,” he whispered. - My name is Trent. I am the Grand Duke of Edge, the Prince of the Paths of Dragon Chicks and the Crown Prince of Amber. They call me the White Devil and Hell Swordsman, although I personally prefer hand-to-hand combat and magic.

Again he lightly touched the lips of her wrist, trying not to injure his fangs.

Light stood in the deepest amazement. Her eyes were wide open, she gasped for air, apparently trying to say something, but made no sound.

I put my hands on her shoulders and put her lips to her cheek. She shuddered, turned her dazed look at me — I winked encouragingly and smiled — then bowed my head, took hold of the hem of my skirt, and sat down in a shallow curtsey.

“It is a great honor for me to meet you, my lord,” she said faintly.

My father smiled as far as the fangs would allow and snapped his fingers. Five gigantic chandeliers alternately lit over our heads, illuminating a huge hall lined with tables under white tablecloths and dishes and cups glittering in candlelight.

“Shane, take the guest to the bedroom,” he said to me. “I have already prepared your robes for tonight.”

- We will have a lot of guests? - I asked hopelessly.

He nodded:

- Of course. You apparently forgot how many relatives you have on this edge.

- And mom?

He shrugged.

- I do not know ... I think, yes ... Father contacted her ... It is unlikely that she will miss such an event ...

- But she did not answer ... - I sighed and lowered my head.

Honestly, I hate all these family celebrations and invited dinners. My relatives annoy me, especially in large quantities. I also endure my brothers only because we meet with them infrequently even on assignments. And I really did not want to participate in today's gathering. I came here with only one purpose - to introduce Sveta to my mother. And if mom will not ...

“Okay, go change your clothes,” he sighed, picked up his guitar and hid on the way to his office.

- What kind of place is it? - whispered Sveta when he left.

“This is Trent's Path — his abode, his personal hell,” I explained. - You can get here only by his invitation. Even we, his sons, cannot come and go when we feel like it. And even we do not know where many doors lead. To be honest, I know only this part of the palace - from this hall the paths lead to the bedrooms and to the classrooms. And, again, without his permission, it is impossible to leave this room.

- I feel like Bulgakov Margarita, - suddenly ...