Deciding not to press him with questions, she simply

watched, hoping that something might become clearer.

Who is sitting in front of her with their booted feet unceremoniously propped up

on her coffee table?

The stranger’s hair was tousled, as if he

had been in a strong wind. His black eyes

were fixed on a single point, and he held his hand thoughtfully

near his cheek, where a light stubble was growing on it.

An expensive watch glinted from under the sleeve of his white shirt, which was torn and stained

in several places.

Probably, dear ones. Reana didn’t know much about it, but the cha-

si caught her eye, and they looked interesting,

inside, there were many mechanisms that

constantly spun, and all this resembled a kaleidoscope

of parts, arrows and gears. On the belt of his trousers, she

noticed a metal buckle with a picture of the head of

an angry bull, which, as it seemed to

her, did not match the classic trousers.

29

The guest had already finished the rest of his brandy. Indeed, it

looked as if he hadn’t been drunk at all. His eyes

remained focused.

He swirled the empty bottle in his hand, set it

on the table, and finally looked at Reana. She had already finished her bread

and was also looking at him in silence.

«I didn’t introduce myself,» he said suddenly. «My name is

Keijigen.

«Nice to meet you, and I’m Reana.»

– I know…

She pointed

to the pool of blood that had dripped from the sofa to the floor when they

had taken out the arrow.

– Yes, of course…

«It’s a pity, the sofa is light,» Reana said, wiping

the floor, «I’ll probably have to take it to the dry cleaners,»

and again she thought to herself that she had said something stupid or at

least something inappropriate. – Are you sure we

don’t need to take him to the hospital?» She asked about

the other one.

The man seemed to hear, stirred, gave a heavy gasp, and

opened his eyes, startling Reana.

The second guest turned out to be quite different from the first:

large curls of blond hair falling almost to

his shoulders, a manly face with expressive eyebrows

and a strong chin, blue eyes. He probably

would have looked like a movie star if he hadn’t been wearing a strange baggy

hoodie that had once been white,

but was now completely rumpled and dirty, giving him the

appearance of a ragamuffin.

he felt the

spot where the arrow used to stick out, then looked at Reana

and smiled a snow-white smile. – I had no doubt

you could do it!» He exclaimed happily, and snatched it up.

Reanu in his arms.

31

She tried to pull away from him, but

it was absolutely impossible. After a few seconds, he

released her himself, got up from the couch, and looked around.

«So that’s what it’s like to be a mortal! – What is it? «he shouted loudly

.«Stand up, demon, when he’s talking to you…

«You’ll be fine,» Keijigen interrupted. «You

owe me one, light one. If it wasn’t for me, black arrow would have already killed you.

finished it off, «he muttered in a disgruntled voice.

– I’m not that easy to kill!» – raising a finger up,

the blonde retorted. – Even in a human body,

as it turns out, I’m incredibly resilient and strong! —

he concluded. Then he added – " I don’t feel very well… I

can’t understand… it’s like something’s missing… my mouth is

too dry…

Reana poured him some water from a decanter and handed him a glass.

«Here, take this, please.

He gently took the glass from her.

– What’s that?“ – What is it? „he asked softly.

«It’s water, you drink it,» Keiji —

kyung explained with a sigh and covered his face with his hand.

«Drinking?» Oh, yes, of course! Since I am now a mortal,

enjoy all the delights of being human. So? and he