I wouldn’t call us ordinary mortals.

– So you were an angel?» Reana asked.

«Yes,» Damiel said. – Still, I’d say I still am,

to a certain extent, «he

said, and then turned to Keijigen.

Reane, who are you, I think she should know who

she’s dealing with.

34

– I am a demon of the fifth circle, the 12th cauldron…»

«Or rather, I was, and now I don’t even know… a de-

mon of greed and despair… was… now I don’t feel that

he’s capable of drawing out people’s baser passions, and I

don’t understand why. What could have happened? I can’t

even imagine! He got up and began pacing the kitchen

. – Do you know that there is a meridian elevator on your land

?

«… It was through him that you brought another

demon into the world… by the way, that’s when it all started… who

was it?

«Arfimaino?» No, he’s hardly connected with it, I’m his ho-

I know Rosho, he’s a guardian.

«Why did he get out?» You risked a lot for

him, you know, illegal immigrants and other violations…

Keijigen didn’t mention that Arfimaino had

cheated on him like a schoolboy.

– I think we can ask him about it ourselves.» He

didn’t really explain anything to me. He’s in Frankfurt,

staying in a hotel somewhere. In general, you can use the Internet

to break through and visit him.

«Can’t you talk on the phone?» Reana asked.

«No, you don’t discuss such things over the phone,»

Keijigen explained.

«It’s a four-hour drive to Frankfurt!» Reana gasped.

«We must go!» Definitely! Damiel said. —

He seems to know something! More than we do.

– great! Keijigen agreed. – But

we’re not going anywhere in this state!» He pointed to the sack

Damiel was wearing and looked at Reana. – I do not know what

Arfimaino will think if he sees me in his company,

but if he does, I will be ashamed of myself.»

«I probably don’t have these sizes of do —

ma clothes,» Reana said. – And even close to… shops

they will open in a few hours.

35

«This is Hoverstein, isn’t it?» Gorodok

near Mapples? The ex-demon asked.

«Yes,» Reana said.

«Okay, I must have left my car nearby…

what luck! I think I’ll just get her back and we’ll go to my place.»

To me, at the Grand Paradise. We’re just on our way.» I have

My own casino, I didn’t tell you right away… I also work part

– time here…

Damiel leaned back in his chair

and frowned. «Grand Paradise!» You’re kidding me, roga-

ty!

– Just don’t applaud! he quipped back

Keijigen. «Okay, I’ll be quick. Don’t be naughty here, guys.

And ignoring Da-miel’s disapproving looks

,he left the house, whistling

to himself.

36

Closing the door, Reana returned to the kitchen. The visitor

looked out of the window that overlooked the part of the garden where

the cabin was visible. So strange. It was the first time she had ever seen this man

,and he claimed to know everything about her. And indeed,

he said things that she

had never told anyone before.

– Do you really know all about me?“ – What is it? „she ventured

to ask, to break the silence.

«I think so,» he said. – At least all of them

until last night. I knew everything about everyone within

sixty kilometers… I think so. But you

don’t like these roses, and you want to dig them up in the fall.

«Exactly…» said Reana sadly. «How

strange… living like this, living like this, and then it turns out that someone is

watching you all the time…

«Hey, no, I didn’t mean to upset you!

Damiel started to hug her, but she

took a couple of quick steps back. He looked at his empty hands and didn’t

come any closer. «I’m sorry. I can’t believe

this is happening. You weren’t supposed to find out. And I

wasn’t watching. I just existed, and if I existed,