Дмитрий Мансуров - Invasion

It was time to use it again though. The vampires were sure to get to the hut because the remaining survivor had vowed to kill Yaga and her team. Yaga knew for sure that vampires died after being hit with the stakes and from the sunlight. Maybe they could die from something else, too, but she had no such data.

The lever activated the system of unmasking and extending the weapon. The pot with water had been boiling on the stove for several days already. Another lever activated the weapon itself, causing it to fire and automatically create new rods.

Yaga aimed at the first tree and fired. The rod was spat from the barrel with a hiss. It split the target like a knife would cut butter.

“Great!” Yaga rubbed her hands. “They won’t know what fate has in store for them. You’re either the villain or the hero. Like in a fairy tale.”

Artem struggled through the thick bushes, cursing at every step. But he still stuck to the set path. The peasants said that Yaga’s house was located in the most impassable wood thicket. Once or twice, it seemed to him that he was being followed by shadows, but perhaps it was just the wind moving the bushes. Maybe he only thought that someone was sneaking behind him. The prince reassured himself that it was unlikely that a normal person would go for a walk at such a time and in such a place unless there was a strong need for it. Unless he was a total jerk who didn’t have enough common sense to be afraid.

Accepting the idea that he was going to Yaga, accompanied by some idiots who had emerged from nowhere, didn’t sit well with him, but the prince would still be very surprised to learn that his senses didn’t lie. He was indeed being followed by some creatures. The vampires barely controlled their desire to attack the prince. Some bright mind had suggested they track him down. It was no accident that he went on a trip at night! Probably someone was hiding in the woods, and the prince thought it would be nice to surprise that “someone”.

For some reason, their lord had a pathological, weird, and inexplicable interest in these places, which was why he’d sent forward a small detachment of scouts to clarify the situation. The more information they obtained, the better.

Artem came across a hut early in the morning. He got to the clearing and discovered the shape of the hut in its center.

“Finally!” the prince rejoiced. Clearing his throat, he came closer and spoke the phrase from the famous children’s tales,

“Hut, hut, turn your back to the forest and face me!”

The hut creaked. Yaga noticed the movement and grabbed the levers. The hut hadn’t done such tricks for a long time. Either one of the princes or some fool who had somehow learned its secret could make it turn. Those idiots constantly appeared with their problems at the wrong time and in the wrong place! Did they think it was a consultation center or something?

The hut turned and froze. The door, with a hideous creaking sound that could rattle someone to the very depth of their soul, opened. Artem, who ran inside, almost vomited in disgust. Yaga recognized her evening guest, but first, she looked to check whether he had fangs. He didn’t. Good. Now she could quarrel a bit.

“Prince!” Her indignation knew no bounds. “Not only did you show up in the middle of the night, you also forced this decrepit hut to spin!”

Artem shook his head.

“Where’s Ivan?!”

“He’s here. Who are you, anyway?!”

Ivan, who was awakened by the creak of the door, perked up with interest.

“I came in Alena’s stead.”

“Why didn’t she come herself?” Yaga put her hands on her sides. “Or are you her errand boy?”

Artem was taken aback.

“Are you kidding me? What kind of idiot lets a girl go into a dense forest with the wolves?”

“Red Riding Hood’s Mom.”

“Who?”

The door squeaked again, and three vampires stormed into the hut, holding their ears and staring at Yaga wide-eyed. All three of them vomited at the same time. Artem flinched so hard that he became covered in sweat. The vampires opened their mouths and hissed, showing their fangs.

“What the hell is this? No one visits me for centuries and then half of the planet drops by,” Yaga said with annoyance. As soon as the vampires took a step in her direction, she found herself standing near the wall with the stakes attached to it. She grabbed one and launched a counterattack. Artem jumped out of her way and drew his sword. Ivan was alive, and whoever the newcomers were, nothing good could be expected from them. And if Yaga armed herself, then the situation was serious.

The vampire that had been stabbed by the spear shrieked and burst into flames. Artem made a quick lunge and cut off the head of the second vampire. He didn’t die, though. Instead, he began to frantically run around the shaking hut, following his head that was rolling from one corner to another. The head was also hissing silently, snarling, but it failed to bite anyone. Yaga closed the door, locking a powerful bolt. She wouldn’t be surprised if other vampires came for a visit!

“What craziness is that?” the bewildered prince exclaimed.

“Vampires!” Yaga claimed, striking the last opponent with a series of surprisingly swift and strong blows. A fire blazed, and the monster turned into a pathetic pile of ash. “Fight them with the help of stakes. Nothing else will work!”

The headless vampire collapsed to the floor, but his hands kept twitching, grabbing, and breaking whatever came his way. Artem pierced him with a spear and recoiled from the flames. With a kick, he sent the head with viciously rotating eyes into the oven as it screamed.

“Disgusting!” Then he covered the hole with a flap. There was silence.

“Is that all of them?” he asked, hoping for a positive answer. “Do you have some more enemies?”

“I wish!” Yaga said. “But I’m not…”

The hut shook from the blows to the floor, walls, and ceiling. The door was shaking, and someone was pounding violently on the only window with impenetrable diamond glass that wasn’t closed by the shutters.

Yaga rushed to the chair and pulled the levers. The gun went off, and the first shell hit the vampire.

“How many of you have run up here?” Yaga was amazed. “Well, no matter. Welcome!”

The hut resembled a small cosmodrome with the missiles that were soaring continuously. Yaga was shooting, the vampires were bursting into flames one after another, and it became clear how many of them had come after the prince.

“What are you hoping for, dimwits?” Yaga muttered sarcastically, pressing the trigger and shooting without really aiming.

The hut was shaking, Artem and Ivan were being tossed from corner to corner, and the chairs were flying. The dishes that Yaga had thoughtfully locked in the cupboard were clinking, and the stove was buzzing like a herd of elephants. The angry vampires shouted menacingly at the whole forest, and the unintentional witnesses of the battle huddled in the cracks, choosing to be silent to remain on the safe side.

The glow of the fire rose to the heavens, and in many villages and towns, people were pouring out into the street, awakened by an incomprehensible rumble. They looked around, puzzled, wondering what it could be, not knowing that soon, they would find themselves in the center of a terrible disaster.

Yaroslav and Babak fell silent and looked at the glow.

“It seems Artem has found Yaga,” the prince suggested.

“And what, those screams are her friendly greeting?” Babak asked. “No, that’s not her voice, trust me on this.”

“It’s not Artem’s voice, either,” Yaroslav shrugged. “It’s more like…”