"White stovepipe. Remember it. It's the only one in the whole village. You'll live here for now."
Pushing the door, the woman boldly entered inside.
"Mistresses, greet the guests!"
Two girls came out to meet them. One was a young, pretty girl, and the other almost a child, with a noticeable belly. Pregnant, perhaps? Both wrinkled their noses as if on cue. The smell from the convict was indeed quite unpleasant.
"Accept a new tenant. Let him sleep upstairs for now. He's one of Maria's test subjects, innocent though, so he'll escape death at her hands. I'll arrange his work tomorrow, but for now, take care of him, feed him, put him to sleep... and show him where to wash up."
Over the past few months, Stefania had already mastered the Elurian language well, so there was no need to repeat herself. Kateryna turned to the young man.
"Hurt any of the girls, and you'll pray to return to experiments to die there. Got it?"
The young man quickly nodded. As soon as the woman left the house, he turned to its inhabitants. The elder of the two stood, hands on hips.
"What are we supposed to do with someone smelling like that?"
"Madam ordered to show me where I can wash up," the young man seemed to be coming to his senses.
"And what about your clothes? This rag can't even be washed!"
An awkward silence ensued.
"Fine, come with me. Sofka, prepare him something to eat!"
Leaving the house, the girl quickly walked along the path, not even turning back to see if the person following her was keeping up. Soon, they encountered a man clad in armor, resembling those who had brought him to the village. The man and the girl quickly started speaking in an incomprehensible language. They were clearly discussing the convict. Finally, the warrior nodded and, grabbing the young man by the ear, led him further.
"Why do they all grab me by the ear?" the young man rubbed the part of his body that was beginning to ache.
"It's necessary! Walk faster, sunset is approaching!"
"And where is everyone? Why is the village so empty?"
"They're asleep. And you ask too many questions!"
"They're asleep?!"
The girl stopped and turned to stare at the former convict.
"They're not human, though they look like us. They call themselves 'vampires'. So, during the day, they sleep, and they work at night!"
"Will they kill us?" This question arose first in the young man's mind as soon as he heard about the inhuman nature of his hosts.
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because they're not human. They just don't kill like that."
Naturally, this was a lie, but the girl idealized vampires too much. Deciding that these explanations were enough, Stefania led the former convict further.
While the young man was in the bath, trying to wash himself with icy river water, Kateryna returned. This time with a set of clean clothes: linen trousers, a simple shirt, and peasant shoes, all typical for the locals.
"Here, pass this on, and burn his rags."
Turning around, she was about to leave but was stopped.
"And the lice, madam?"
"Oh yes!"
The vampiress slapped her forehead and rudely entered the bathhouse. From there came a surprised exclamation and some commotion. Soon, she emerged.
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