The Mist and the Lightning. Part 19

And Kors looked at him and didn’t recognize him. It was still the same Nik, but… as if different. Kors was surprised to realize that Nik wasn’t that small after all. Why did he look like this? At first, when Kors was a master, the head of the king’s security service and the father of only Karina, Nik seemed to him a pretty half-blood. Then when Nik became his son, he was his handsome little boy. But Nik was neither this nor that. And now Kors understood that his son was indeed taller than an ordinary commoner, the blood of true blacks, the blood of masters, was visible in him. He was well-proportioned, well-built, with broad shoulders, a narrow torso, and legs that were not at all short, but exactly as they should be for his height. It’s just that true blacks often have naturally long legs, and because of it they are tall. And Nik was just as he had to be. He was thin, but not as emaciated as Kors saw, and his ribs didn’t stick out at all. He had dense, firm, relief muscles. His shoulders, arms, and abs were noticeably pumped up, only the thighs were probably thinner than necessary. Unfortunately, limited by his disability, Nik didn’t walk much and couldn’t run and jump like the others.

Nik handed him a crystal glass with maroon wine inside.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Kors took the offered wine:

“Why did you look so thin and small to me?!”

“Probably, to loving parents, their children often seem like that. Small and skinny. Therefore, they take care of them, constantly feed them so that they grow up and get more bulky,” Nik laughed shortly. “I told you a hundred times that I’m of normal height! And not skinny! You yourself ordered the red doctor from Ore Town to weigh me. And he told you I had normal weight, remember? But you seem to be blinded. And you were constantly feeding me!”

“You really are not exhausted and not small!” Kors even was delighted.

Yes, of course, Nik was shorter than the black gentlemen, but not as short as he seemed.

“I told you that! Vitor, I’m of normal height, but you seemed to like to belittle me, to see me small, and I reconciled.”

Kors smiled.

“Why are you smiling?” Nik couldn’t understand his joy.

“I’m glad you’re not small!”

“Oh! I probably grew up and gained weight these days? Really? You think so?”

“No, but…”

“Vitor, you just perceived me as a little boy.”

“Who was taken from me. Yes, yes, I understand everything,” Kors couldn’t stop smiling stupidly.

“Let’s have a drink!” Nik raised his glass.

“Yes,” said Kors, “for you, Nik!”

“For me?”

“Because you’re not small!”

Nik sincerely laughed, and Kors was glad that he managed to distract him from his sad thoughts and cheer him up.

“No, no, Vitor, let’s drink for you then!”

“Why for me?”

“I’ll drink to my daddy, who took care of me and fed me so well that I grew up and got more bulky! For your hearty and healthy porridge!”

“I thought you liked my blood better,” said Kors.

“And blood, too,” Nik agreed slyly.

Kors had long forgotten this feeling of happiness when they were sitting like that, chatting about all sorts of nonsense and laughing.

“What happened to your scar, will you tell me?”

“Either pus or poison began to flow from it, or it flowed and flowed, all this shit… And then it all flowed out, and everything healed, and there was no more scar on the face. You have cured me!”

“I’m happy!” Kors breathed out. “Tell me, are you a Demon now?”

“I’m merged with the human, and I am half human in this World. You know it.”

“Do you have a lot of him in you?”

“I can use everything he has, and he doesn’t have much. You told me yourself that your son is a stupid thoughtless boy.”

“Does it make you sad? Is that why you’re sad?”

Nik shook his shaggy head.

“I’m used to him, and I accept him, I am him. And whenever possible, I supplement him, as far as I am allowed.”

“You seem to have two personalities.”

“I can’t be the Demon here all the time, but I can’t be the only Demon either.”

“What a hellish mixture,” Kors smiled, “and I love you just like that!”

Nik drained his glass to the bottom and lay back relaxed on the bed, turning over on his side. And Kors couldn’t stop admiring his now not disfigured face and thought that, despite the fact that Nik had been abusing alcohol for a sufficient amount of time, this had not left an irreparable imprint on his cute appearance. “It is said that divine creatures drink the nectar of heaven. My fallen Angel, instead of that you are now drinking moonshine of the unclean,” Kors thought sadly and tenderly.

Nik got up. He propped his head on his bent elbow and looked at Kors.

“Well, what is it again? You just devour me with your eyes, you can’t have enough of seeing.”

“I miss you, I haven’t seen your face in such a long time! I love my human son with paternal love, I love the Demon as his devoted slave, but with unconditional love I love this combination of man and Demon. In your merger, for me, you are the real one.”

Leaning on his fist, Nik listened to him, smiling slightly.

And Kors enthusiastically continued: