Collection of mysticism. + author’s biography including essays about books. Tsvetana Alеkhina

are the next steps?

      – We are waiting for her. We do not have enough support. We need our supporter.

      – Find supporters in hell. It sounds ridiculous. If this is blurted out there at the top, then we will find supporters elsewhere.

      – I have been thinking about it too. My grandmother took her place by the fire and began to throw firewood into the fire.

      – If she throws firewood, then the Sabbath is not over yet.

      – «It doesn’t look like it.

      After taking a few steps back, she said she knew the way to another dimension. However, if they think of us, we will stay here forever as servants. We agreed to take the risk.

      The three of us began to crawl through the snow in the direction indicated by the grandmother. She assured us that she would catch up with us when they got rid of her and she would not be needed. Our path was as follows: first, we had to disappear from sight. Then go to a certain place, from this place go through a snow tunnel, it was the most dangerous way, then go to another dimension through an ice bridge, this is the threshold of Navi. The bridge should be laid out because winter has come and the water has frozen, this bridge was intended for guests leaving the holiday. On the other side we had to go through the same houses, there we had to go through a green tunnel and go out to an oak tree, and there the grandmother had to take us to our world of the living. After hearing the information, I became unsure of myself. Remembering what I have already been through and I will have to go through it again. The scariest thing for me was that it was all in vain. It was impossible to save my grandmother, and I was responsible for my friends.

      I made my way with a heavy heart. I did not want to leave her. I could not even hug my grandmother. My friends understood the reason for my sadness and tried to comfort me.

      – Don’t be sad, she promised to catch up with us, so she will catch up. It was the only consolation, and it warmed my soul in this icy world.

      The gods were too busy celebrating. Mara was having fun playing with the blizzard. Koschei sculpted skull figures out of snow, respectively, not by himself, but with the help of magic. He was amused by it, and he was carried away with it. This was the most favorable period for escape. The old gods were thinking about something of their own and focused on the fire. They were not interested in the holiday, and they were bored watching the dancing evil spirits, ghosts joined this evil spirits and the heat began. The ghost servants stood further away from the fire, and made a circle of fencing, thereby emphasizing their insignificance.

      The snow tunnel actually turned out to be the most difficult. We walked through it like a maze. It has been a long way. Coming out of it, it seemed to us that we had not been walking for so long. We reached the bridge and waited for my grandmother.

      – It seems to me that we need to run across as soon as possible.

      – Me too.

      – I do not. I will be waiting for her. I am only here for her.

      – If she finds out about it, you will not live.

      – I do not care.

      – Let’s go together, one of the friends suggested to the other.

      – I think we should go together. If we wait, the bridge may melt, and we will not get to the other side in any way, unless Mara herself carries us. Your grandmother can disappear and reappear. She will find us that is a fact. Let us go together. I hesitated, but an inner voice told me to go, and I went.

      We ran across the bridge and looked back. The view was even more beautiful than before. Winter has come into its own and the ice has strengthened. Now nothing was falling, everything was covered with ice. The bridge was paved and it was not scary to walk on it as we walked for the first time. He was strong and handsome. I was a little sad that I did not watch the holiday to the end, and I wonder how it will end.

      My friends were walking from side to side and waiting for further action. Then we had to go and pass four houses.

      – Who remembers how to walk, I jokingly asked.

      – I remember. We looked around and saw our ghost friend. We were so happy to see him that we wanted to hug him, forgetting that he was a ghost.

      – «You’ll have that opportunity soon,» he said jokingly. I was looking forward to seeing this soul in the flesh.

      We followed the flying package, accelerating our pace each time. I looked around, remembering the places I had walked once. With the arrival of winter, everything has changed, I thought.

      – It is not with the arrival of winter. These are still the halls of Mara. When we come to the world of Navi, everything is different there.

      – Yes, but everything has become much more beautiful. The Spirit said nothing, and we quickened our pace. I fell silent, and so did my neighbor. Silence reigned in the ward. – Next will be the most interesting.

      – I get it. So let us smoke and take a break. I am tired. For the first time in all this time, my neighbor said that he was tired. It seemed strange to me, but I did not argue, and we went out. On time after lunch sleep, he asked how I would get home.

      – Will you fly alone? Or will your sister come for you?

      – Of course. I will fly alone.

      – Will your friends accompany you?

      – Yes. Of course they do. Nothing has changed. It is all over and the danger is over. My friend sighed heavily, and I continued the story.

      We approached the houses and Koshchei’s house stood in front of us. Nothing has changed; it is as if we never left. We tried to leave as soon as possible. His house was very creepy. Each time the places became scarier, and the more we moved away from the snow palaces, the more the horror and dampness overtook us. When I reached Velez’s house, I breathed a sigh of relief.

      The hardest part was over. I remembered the path we had left to go, and it seemed easy to me. It was a green tunnel and we were waiting for a meeting with grandma. Passing by the house, I tried to look into the windows, out of curiosity, hoping to see something interesting. It was impossible, the house was so protected that it was simply impossible to look through these windows.

      When we reached the tunnel, we stopped and looked at the way we had done. It was a long way that was left behind. I felt uneasy, and began to shake with excitement. I felt the danger, and began to doubt that I would see my grandmother again. I took the first step and dived into the tunnel, followed by the footsteps of friends. There was a deathly silence. No one said a word. I looked at our friend the ghost; he was hiding his eyes from me all the time. Although he had nothing but his eyes. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I knew he already knew what I was thinking.

      The entrance to the tunnel disappeared, and we were in darkness. I took my friend’s hand and asked if he felt the same as me? The green tunnel turned icy. I felt him well, there was no doubt, and he was all made of ice.

      – Do you think so too? I asked again, so as not to doubt.

      – We think so too. There is no doubt. We are in the ice. There is only one question, is it a green tunnel or have we been moved to a snowy one.

      It is hard.

      – I was scared. Moreover, I did not know what to do. – What suggestions? I asked in a whisper.

      – Let’s move on. It will be visible there in the clearing. We continued on our way with the hope of salvation.

      – Your chance of salvation is not great, and my fate has long been sealed. Our friend spoke softly. I felt sorry for him, and I did not know how to help him. Our journey through the tunnel was ending, and the closer the exit got, the scarier it was for me.

      Coming