Married to a Monster

Chapter 5

Honestly, I was afraid to imagine how all this looked from the outside.

My behavior didn’t fit very well into the bounds of not just decency, but basic normality—during the wedding or now, when the overly active Amphitrite was dragging me through the crowd of guests. At that speed, I had no opportunity to study them, so all I could do was submit to the current of events.

A turbulent current.

Finally, the sea queen stopped near something that strongly resembled the edge of a little forest. I had seen something similar in pictures online—photos of forests flooded with water. Even on a screen, it had looked amazing, but now, in real life…

Impressive.

Very impressive.

Nearby, obeying the wave of Amphitrite’s hand, something appeared that was halfway between a garden bench and an armchair.

“I think sitting and seeing”—she looked toward the crowd now visible from a good angle—“will make it more convenient for us to talk.”

“Probably. It’s hard for me to judge. I’m somewhat overwhelmed.”

“Oh, of course.” Amphitrite smiled at me. “Let’s start with the simplest. My name is Amphitrite. I am the wife of Poseidon, that short-sighted brute who, by the whim of WOC, became the Sovereign of Seas. I’m afraid only because of me these lands haven’t yet been covered by salt water. You may call me Ami, darling, and I would like to help you settle into our far from simple world.”

“All right…” I tried to gather my thoughts in a couple of seconds. “My name is Anastasia, but you may call me Asya. That was what they called me in my world. Honestly, I’m slightly in shock at how quickly news and events keep falling on me. Two days ago, I was getting drunk in a bar like the last… ahem, never mind. In short, I was drinking from grief after my boyfriend’s betrayal, and today I’m already married in another world. Even… in another-other world, because before that I managed to visit the village of Graninskaya, from where they, in fact, gave me to you as a ‘sacrifice.’”

“Oh, those villagers,” Amphitrite muttered. “Where do they even learn all those rumors and gossip?”

“I don’t understand. Was I not expected?”

“You were.” She smirked. “But in general, it was supposed to be a kind of ‘request’ through the worlds. A girl was supposed to appear who had nothing to lose, one who wouldn’t care whom she married. We’re not some kind of monsters, after all; we didn’t want to force anyone. And then you appear, already in a wedding dress, confused, a little frightened, and for some reason with an expression of admiration and peace on your face. Tell me, how do you humans combine all of that inside yourselves?”

“I don’t know. Somehow.” I smiled. “Isn’t everyone like that?”

“Not us. Or perhaps we simply haven’t learned yet. If we love, we love with all our heart and forever. If we hate, we can no longer forgive. If we take revenge, we do it so thoroughly that no one will even remember the offender. But to bring us to such states, one has to try very hard, and that is where we differ from humans. You flare up like a strand of hair—easily and quickly—and just as quickly you can burn out. That is why I did not want Noy to take a human girl as his wife, especially not one from another world.”

“Noy?”

“That is your husband’s name, darling.”

“Damn…” I suddenly wanted to bash my head against the nearest tree. “Only I could end up in such a ridiculous situation at my own wedding. I got married without even being introduced to my husband. How is that even possible?” I covered my burning face with my hands.

“Oh, don’t worry!” Amphitrite burst out laughing. “You haven’t seen my wedding.”

“What could be worse?” I groaned, still hiding in my palms.

“I threw a right hook at Sey instead of giving my vow.”

That statement stunned me so much I even looked at the sea queen. But no. She wasn’t joking.

“All right.” She looked lovingly toward her husband, then turned back to me, apparently emerging from her memories. “I did promise to tell you everything.”

“Well, they already told me something in Graninskaya.”

“I can imagine what they told you there!” Amphitrite said indignantly, but immediately continued. “Let’s start with the basics. Our world is called WOC: the World of Ordered Chaos. Don’t be surprised by the name; later you’ll understand why. Our world is the center of all worlds, which means here you will find the Arabian Djinn, Hercules with his crazy pegasus, Heracles, all their insane families, and the Leshy lives nearby, by the way…”

“Wait.” I interrupted her. “Aren’t Heracles and Hercules the same person?”

“In your world?”

“Well, it’s believed they’re the same hero, just with names pronounced differently in different mythologies.”

“Yes, that happens, but no. Here, they’re two different idiots. The only things they have in common are a mountain of muscles, an ego up to the heavens, and a complete absence of brains. So. Here there are those heroes of myths and legends you might have heard about in your world, as well as those you have no idea about. For example, Snow Wolves, Aksalyi, Rivae, and so on.”

“I definitely have no idea about the last ones,” I muttered quietly, trying not to interrupt.

“Once, quite a lot of travelers arrived in our world. We could visit other worlds, and settlements of ordinary humans existed in WOC then and still do now. To the extent that they can be called ordinary, of course. That is where legends, myths, and fairy tales came from.

“But at some point it became very difficult for us to open gates. And then WOC closed from within entirely. We managed to spread rumors through the neighboring worlds before that happened; the rest they invented themselves. But in any closed community, even one as large as an entire world, a crisis can one day come. Our crisis threatens complete isolation, with no possibility of entry even from outside. And once that happens, we will die. Not at once. Slowly. But we will die. And whatever else may be said, in one thing there truly is a problem: we live long, and we will see everything with our own eyes.

“Alas, no one in other worlds knows what is happening, so people like you appear—‘otherworlders,’ as you call yourselves. Sorry. Not very cheerful, is it?”

“It’s all right.” I thought for a moment. “The world isn’t going to collapse right now, is it? Which means we have time simply to live, don’t we?”

“Yes.” Amphitrite smiled gently and a little sadly. “We have time simply to live. It’s a pity we forget that so often.”

We sat in thoughtful silence for a few minutes.

“All right!” she suddenly perked up. “What else did I forget to tell you? Territories. Each of us has our own. Some need deserts, some need the waters of seas or rivers, like our husbands, some need mountains. Accordingly, many, many, many years ago the lands of WOC were divided among the strongest representatives. Each of them has their own rules, mind you, and those rules extend literally to everything—from gravity and the abilities of your body to what you eat and in what order.

“Yes, everything is complicated and can change every second, which is why it is the World of Chaos. And judging by the fact that certain rules act across the entire world, it is also Ordered. In short, my advice is this: don’t think too much and solve problems as they come. Don’t try to learn all the rules. It won’t help; it will only stuff your head with the unnecessary. Live and rejoice, darling.” The sea queen smiled at me. “Simply live and rejoice. After all, you’ve only just gotten married.”

“All right, as you say, Ami.” I smiled back. “By the way, where is my husband? I should at least meet him properly.” And again I blushed at the absurdity of the situation.

“There he is. Come on, let’s save the poor boy from the tiresome guests.” Amphitrite giggled, and we headed straight toward my husband.

Even mentally calling him that felt somehow awkward and strange.

Very strange.

Noy stood with an indifferent expression on his face, but it seemed to me that confusion was hiding in the corners of his eyes. Poor guy simply didn’t know what to do. It felt as if I had known him for a very long time. No, of course, I couldn’t say exactly what he liked for breakfast, couldn’t name his habits or favorite color. But that warmth hidden near my heart, that whisper of intuition, told me that Noy had found himself in a very uncomfortable situation.

Beside him stood strange… what should one even call the inhabitants of this world who were far from human? In short, two men stood beside him.

One was red-haired, even fiery red, dark-skinned, and light-eyed. Overall, very much like a human, if not for the fact that he hovered slightly above the surface and had catlike eyes. Hot wind and desert radiated from him.

The second man was entirely unremarkable. In principle, he looked like an ordinary human. Even a very average human. The kind you pass on the street and forget his face one second later. And even if you studied him, he would still prove so gray, so unmemorable. Completely. The moment I looked away, I couldn’t even name the color of his eyes.

Seriously, I checked.

While we were walking toward them, I tried about five times to remember the color of his clothes, his eyes, or at least his hair. And not once—not once—could I recall it as soon as I looked away.

It was disorienting, a little frightening, and also irritating. So when we reached them, I clung to my husband’s arm as if embracing it.

“Hello, everyone!” I tried to smile as naively and carefree as possible. “My name is Anastasia.”

With my heart, I felt awkwardness shift into relief.

And I also understood that those weren’t my emotions.

Interesting. What had Noy felt from me?

“What are you doing here?” the sea queen asked, not especially friendly.

“Oh, incomparable and beautiful Amphitrite,” the red-haired one spread into a smile, “you are even more magnificent today.”

“You cannot buy me with your cheap flattery, sandborn Singh!” Amphitrite suddenly hissed like an angry cat. “Darling”—she turned to Noy—“are you finished here? Excellent. Come along, my dears, let’s go look for my husband.”

She caught us both by the arms and dragged my husband and me somewhere into the crowd.

“How I cannot stand that sandborn,” she muttered on the way. “His speeches are false through and through, djinn or not.”

“That was a djinn?” I asked in surprise.

“Yes. A sand djinn. And this particular representative of that people irritates me more than anyone.”

“Ami,” Noy said quietly, “he irritates you because you nearly married him.”

“At moments like this, I’m glad your brother stole me from beneath the wedding arch,” Amphitrite answered a little more softly, and I noticed a faint blush on her cheeks.

Wow. Passions certainly ran high here.

I was rather curious and a tiny bit amused.

And also… light.

The sun reflected off the water we were walking on after moving a little farther away from the guests, who had something like appetizers. How alike weddings were, no matter which world you ended up in.

Only the large number of strangers made me a little tense.

“Ami, my brother and I have already spoken, so may we escape this celebration of life?” Noy seemed to sense my mood.

Although why “seemed”? Most likely, that was exactly what had happened.

“Hm? Yes, of course. Show your wife your home, at last.” The sea queen smiled slyly.

Apparently, there was something to see there, considering how meaningfully she said it.

“It was very nice to meet you, Ami, and thank you.” I thanked her.

“It’s nothing, darling. I hope this helps you at least a little. After all, we’re family now.” She nodded in farewell and disappeared into the crowd, apparently to look for Poseidon.

“So, shall we finally introduce ourselves properly?” I turned to my husband, suddenly feeling terribly embarrassed. “My name is Asya.”

“Asya?” he asked, a little surprised.

“Well, for you, Asya. For everyone else, Anastasia.”

“Nastasya, then.” My husband smiled. “‘Resurrected.’ Although perhaps ‘reborn’ would be more accurate, wouldn’t it?”

“I think, in this situation, that definition could not be more fitting.”

“I am called the Vodyanoy, Master of Waters. For short, my brother and Ami call me Noy. I think you may call me that as well.” He fell silent for a second and then continued quietly. “It would please me… Asya.”

“All right, Noy.”

My face burned with embarrassment.

Honestly! When it came to getting married, I was brave—another world, barely acquainted with my husband, no shyness or doubts. And now… like a fifteen-year-old girl on her first date. Some grown married woman I was.

I mentally scolded myself with everything I had, and then suddenly remembered that Noy could feel my emotions.

That made it even more awkward.

Then I felt palms on my shoulders.

“Don’t worry so much,” his quiet voice sounded behind me. “Everything is all right. I’ll show you our home now. Don’t be afraid of the water. Remember: all the water in the rivers and lakes of our world will never harm you. Look, Asya…”

And transparent ribbons sparkled around us again, closing us off from the rest of the world. Almost like an hour ago, when I had only just appeared in this world. Only now, behind me stood someone I could trust, someone who carefully and gently embraced me from behind.

Around us, droplets danced as if glowing from within.

And then we suddenly appeared in the middle of…

A water space?

“Where are we?” The question escaped me, while my mind noted on its own that I was breathing and speaking just as well as on land.

“We are home,” Noy answered. “I simply thought it would be impolite not to show you your domain.”

“Mine?”

“You are my wife now.”

I tried to turn and face him, and suddenly it happened easily—the water obeyed any desire of mine. Gentle laughter danced in my husband’s eyes, a smile hid on his lips, and I wanted to cry from happiness.

All this time, I had been reminding myself that I didn’t know him yet, while he seemed to have accepted me immediately and unconditionally.

“May I?”

Without waiting for an answer, I simply hugged him. Tightly, with all my heart. Trying to pass on all the tenderness, happiness, and gratitude I felt right now.

He didn’t answer, but that feeling of warmth came again, as if someone had wrapped my soul in something very soft.

For several minutes we stood like that—or rather, hung in the thickness of the water—simply holding each other. But perhaps that was exactly what we needed then.

After that, Noy showed me the house.

No—the House.

Walls of pale wood, completely untouched by darkening from the water. Rooms simply yet cozily furnished. The house also had an above-water part: the same pale wood, open terraces lying on the water, and simple furnishings.

It also turned out that although Noy did not live in a palace—“Living in a castle is somewhat annoying. My brother has one. I didn’t like it”—he did have servants. Quite a lot of them. More than ten, definitely.

And yes, for me, a person of the twenty-first century from a technologically progressive world, that was a lot.

And strange.

But my husband explained that they served him entirely voluntarily, received whatever they wished, and in general, almost all of them were his friends, whom he respected. I thought that was wonderful—to have friends among the staff. Especially if they received, if not wages, then an equivalent. And who knew what reasons they had for coming specifically to Noy.

My husband showed me my room.

I tensed a little.

What did he mean—my room?

Weren’t we… married?

But I decided to deal with that question later and, for the moment, walked through the house, studying the furnishings and meeting the servants.

Only when I saw one of the girls, I felt as if I had been frozen to the floor.

I stared at the red hair, the big blue eyes, the freckles scattered across the little upturned nose, and could not fail to recognize the girl with whom I had sat at the same desk for nearly eleven years.

“Alyona?!”

The girl flinched and stared at me in fear…