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

to die. And your brother will find us himself.

      – Do you think so?

      – I am sure of it. There is also magic here. It was like that. Now when we were here with your brother, your grandmother found us and saved us. I managed to calm her down, even though I was scared myself. After sitting here for a decent amount of time, I realized that we would not get to the top as before, probably, the period simply did not work here. We were captured by Koshchei.

      We stood pressed against the door in the hope that the door would open. And so our expectations were met, the door opened, and we found ourselves in another room, it was like a guest room. Clean and barely light, the black sun that shone through the windows created the lighting. This light was catching up with an icy fear. Natalia and I were standing with our backs pressed against each other and holding hands.

      – What a love! I shuddered at the sound of that vile voice. It is the worst thing I have ever heard in my life. – The prey came by itself! I did not have to wait long. And I didn’t have to work! Your skulls will be a gorgeous attribute for my palace in the Halls. First, you will serve me. With these words, he snapped two fingers, and we found ourselves in the ice palace, the very one in which the ball was held. Natasha curiously began to examine the walls of the palace. It seemed to me that she was not even scared. I was afraid to let go of her hand, it seemed to me that as soon as I let go of it, I would immediately lose it.

      The palace was just as icy. Like that day. It was empty, and this emptiness was terrifying. I remembered myself looking at this ball through a crowd of ghosts, and then I was not as scared as I am now. Now I was standing in the center of the hall, as the main character. – Well, at least someone would show up. I said in a barely audible voice. I was afraid to even breathe. I began to understand what my friend was going through at that moment. My beloved was silent; her eyes were dull and sad. I did not know how to help her.

      – Lets run away from here. I did not expect to hear this from her.

      – How?

      – I do not know how. But our stay here is pointless. If we do not find him, then accordingly we may not return.

      – It makes sense. What are the options for escape?

      – First let us go to the exit, and then we will see.

      We headed for the exit, and nothing prevented us. We went down the steps. We headed in the direction I remembered.

      – That is weird. I remember for sure that our grandmother said that Mara Marena spends the summer in her halls, and in winter comes into her own and rules where she wants. Why is there no one here?

      – I am interested in another question. I have a suspicion that now is not the time and perhaps there is no ice bridge to cross to the other side. If there is not one. We will stay here until either winter or forever. These words horrified my interlocutor. She was weaker than her brother was. Or her brother was so in love with this goddess that he was ready for anything. While I was thinking about this topic, we actually reached the place where the bridge should have been, but it was not there. White silence surrounded us. And we realized that we were trapped.

      – What now? I said faintly.

      – Let’s go back to the palace. Let us wait for further developments. Someone, but has to show up, or I will call them myself. I liked her determination, and I was proud of my companion.

      Мы вернулись во дворец, но там уже было все не так, когда мы покинули его. Был накрыт обед, а ее брат подавал на стол. Я не мог разглядеть чем питаются боги, посуда была слишком старомодная, но это было что-то необычное. Само то, что он здесь, решило все наши проблемы. Наташа оживилась и хотела пройти в зал. Я остановил ее, еле удержав.

      – It is crazy to go to them during lunch. Let us wait.

      – What? They will then disappear.

      – Do you think they do not know we are here? We still have everything ahead of us. This will be known when we get out of here.

      – «You’re right. With bitterness in her voice, she said. Let us watch. Vladimir did not leave the table, and served with such joy that his sister was not clever. —I did not know he was really so obsessed with this kingdom. He wrote to me in messages that he was bewitched by this goddess, but not enough to settle here and serve her. I didn’t lafe his words seriously.

      – Yes, I did not expect it either. He took your grandmother’s place.

      – Maybe we came here for nothing. I do not think I can get him out of here.

      – Let’s at least just talk, and he should help us get out. Natasha silently agreed.

      We were waiting for the end of dinner, but as soon as it was over, they disappeared, along with the table and all the contents.

      – How is this possible? We waited in vain. As soon as we said that, we found ourselves in another room. It was a guest room where everything was ready for the arrival of guests. Sofa, piano, table and drinks. Only we were not the guests, we were made into servants, and we had to serve and clean up the glasses we had drunk. For the slightest mistake, we could be severely punished, we had every chance not to return back, or we could simply serve as an ice decoration of this castle. We came to take revenge, but it turned out that we were the object of revenge. Our only hope was her brother.

      Mara Marena herself was not in the spirit, and she was terribly angry about little things. Perhaps it was due to the time of year. Koshchei had all the powers. He was in charge of everything; Mara was not interested in that. Her beauty remained unchanged. She was still beautiful, and a little sad. Koschei was having fun in full; he mocked uninvited guests, and guests who were once captured. It seemed to him that there were not enough of us, and he invited two more ghosts for fun. As soon as they arrived, they immediately started playing the piano. Natasha tried to catch her brother’s eye, but he made it clear that she would not do it again. I was reassured by this gesture, and I was waiting for action from him.

      We stood aside with a tray in our hands, not daring to put it on the next table. – I am tired. Not daring to say that I was too, I did not know how to help Natalia. I made a decisive gesture, and putting down my tray, I took her tray in my hands.

      – What a decisive gesture. That’s what love means. With these words, my beloved turned into an ice statue. I did not have time to come to my senses as all this happened. Koschei said all this in such an icy and nasty tone, goosebumps ran through me, and I did not know how to save her. I approached her with a tray and tried to examine her face. She was covered in ice, but I could feel her breathing, see the life in her eyes.

      Let her go. Take me; send her home, I will stay here instead of her.

      – A good offer. I like it. Let us see what you mean to her. With these words, I found myself in her place with a tray in my hands. Natasha took on the same image as if nothing had happened. She came up to me with her eyes full of horror. I was wondering if she had heard the last words or not. Now I myself was covered with ice, I was terribly cold, the ice burned my skin and it seemed to me that I could not hear anything, but no, I clearly heard every word.

      – Let him go. I came here for my brother; he has nothing to do here.

      – That is right. But, he will stay here. If you do not need him, let him serve me. You should not have come here.

      These words hurt me so much that I could not stand it and started crying.