Ten minutes later, they were crossing Zelenogorskiy in an SUV borrowed by Syssoi that same afternoon. He drove in flip-flops and shirtless, but, fortunately, it was still raining, which facilitated their crossing of the bridge overlooking the Tom. The police on duty, reluctant to abandon their precious gatehouse, let them pass without even looking at them. After the relative clarity of the city, the vehicle went into the darkness of a small road winding through the heart of the forest. The vampire was driving with all lights off, which encouraged Darya to settle down comfortably, her iPod in her ears, her seat tilted back. She preferred not to strain her eyes trying to discern the road, not to mention the stress of not seeing where they were going.
Lulled by the movements of the SUV, she
