As I listened to the vampire's calm, even indifferent story, I felt nothing but contempt for him: he talked about girls as if they were unnecessary things, not living beings. But Grayson's bored look told me that he did treat them as things.

– You tricked them! You played on their feelings! And they trusted you! – I exclaimed contemptuously, unable to keep silent. – You used your beauty to lure them here!

– Yes, I did. But if you want to give me a guilty conscience, don't waste your efforts: I don't have one," Grayson smiled charmingly.

– But you promised you'd let them go! – I reminded him anxiously.

My heart was filled with pity for these poor, trusting creatures: deceived by their angelic appearance, they had fallen into the clutches of a monster. And before, they had their own free and interesting lives. But Grayson had no pity for them-he saw them only as food, only as people he could mock.

Silly me, and I felt sorry for myself, thinking I was the unhappiest person in the world.

– I told you I'd let them go, but they need to be made to look good first," the vampire said calmly. – You don't want them to come back to society like this, do you?

– I'll do it myself! Right now! – I exclaimed eagerly.

– Yes, you do. In addition, they must swear to me that they will say nothing about me or what they have experienced and seen in this castle.

– I swear to you in the name of our Most High! – jumping out of her hiding place and pressing herself against the bars, the Spaniard shouted. – I swear I will not say a word to anyone!

– Nor I! I will tell nothing of you! I swear on my mother's memory! – followed by the Englishwoman.

I could not hold back my tears from the emotion that overwhelmed me – I felt so sorry for the poor girls! Their lives were ruined! Forever in their minds will be horrible memories that will gnaw at their souls. And maybe their psyche was so damaged that a future free life would bring them no joy!

But Grayson was generous. He promised to let them go, to give them a chance to move on with their lives, even if it was with these memories.

– Get them cleaned up," the vampire commanded and, taking the keys from his pocket, unlocked the cell doors.

The girls rushed to me with loud sobs, and I hugged them back, even though they smelled awful. But it wasn't their fault!

Grayson looked at us, with a cold grin on his lips, and then turned and walked out of the dungeon.

After a brief moment of joy, I remembered that the girls were in urgent need of a bath and rest, and pulled myself together.

– Come on, we need to wash you… You'll be home today! – I said to the girls and, taking them by the hands, led them out of the corridor into the hall of the castle. – Everything will be all right now! Don't cry! It's all over now! It's over! – I didn't know if they understood my imperfect English, but I hoped they did.

The girls followed me obediently and kept crying, probably out of joy. They clung to my dress and pressed themselves against me as if asking for my protection.

Everything was a blur: we went into my room and Susan and Lourdes ran into the bathroom with loud cries of joy. They acted like little children who had seen a merry-go-round for the first time. I hurried after them. With quick, nervous movements, they tore off their clothes, or rather the rags that were left of them, and both sat down in the huge bathtub and turned off the taps. I touched the water, and it was so hot that I jerked my hand away and hurried to turn on the hot tap. Frightened that the girls had gone mad after sitting in their cells for so long, I decided to take the process of bathing them into my own hands.

– Susan, Lourdes, stop it! I'll do it myself, just sit still and don't touch anything! – I told them sternly.

On that damned day I had forgotten all about myself: it was just them – the two unfortunate victims Grayson had deceived, scared, hungry and helpless.

The girls' bodies were covered with bruises and bruises, and remembering the fury with which they had beaten against the iron bars of the cells when they saw me, I realised that they had left those wounds on themselves. Their hair – dirty, tangled, in urgent need of large amounts of shampoo, and their nails were chipped and dirty. The poor creatures were so thirsty that they drank water straight from the bathtub, scooping it up with their dirty palms.

– Now we will bathe you, and you will be clean and beautiful as before! – Pouring foam into the bathtub and taking a flannel in my hands, I said affectionately, which made the girls smile.

As the bubble rose, Susan and Lourdes began to blow on it and play with it, laughing merrily.

– Susan, get a flannel and start washing. – I handed her the flannel and she started rubbing her skin furiously with it.

– We're going to wash your head," I said to Lourdes. – Only you need to get it wet.

Lourdes dipped her head under the water, and when her long hair was wet, I poured a large amount of shampoo on it and began to wash it. I felt responsible for these girls, who, meek and gentle, must have seen me as a protector.

Then the girls switched: I took care of Susan's head, and Lourdes began to wash her body with a loofah. The water in the bathtub had turned grey with grime, and I drained it so that I could now wash the girls under the shower. The hot steam in the air made the bathroom very hot and I was sweating terribly. I began to feel short of breath – which forced me to open the doors.

– What's your name? – Susan asked me as I wrapped her in a large bath towel.

– Viper," I answered, glad that she was starting to come round.

– Can I brush my teeth? I haven't brushed my teeth in a long time, and it's making me uncomfortable," she asked in embarrassment.

– Yes, and me, can I? – Lourdes asked timidly, already wrapped in a towel.

– Of course! But I only have one toothbrush," I was confused.

– That's okay, we'll share," Susan smiled. – I don't think Lourdes would mind!

– No, I don't! – Lourdes said, smiling too.

I gave them my toothbrush and toothpaste, and the girls took turns brushing their teeth. Lourdes brushed her teeth carefully and pedantically, unlike Susan who did it rather quickly and furiously.

Now that the girls were clean, I could see how beautiful they were. Fortunately, they had already recovered and were talking as sane adults should.

– You need to get dressed," I said. – I hope my clothes will fit you!

We came out of the bathroom, and I rummaged through my suitcase and got the girls each a dress. My dress was a little short for Susan, and Lourdes's was dragging on the floor because of her short stature. Both girls were very thin – the result of hunger and suffering.

– I'm afraid my shoes won't fit you," I said thoughtfully, looking at the girls' bare feet.

– No need for shoes! Thank you! You saved us! What would we have done without you? – Susan exclaimed, and both girls rushed to embrace me eagerly, and I was very happy that I had been able to help them.

In that moment, I was glad I'd been with Grayson, or those girls would have died or been killed by him before they ever saw freedom.

– We were the last ones left in the cells. And I was so scared! – Lourdes sobbed.

– How? You weren't the only ones in there? – I asked in horror.

– No, all the cells were filled! And at first my blood ran cold from the screams! There were even Chinese or Japanese women there, can you imagine? – Susan answered me quietly. – He fooled us all!

– And where are they all? Why are there only two of you? – I asked, though deep down I knew the answer: they were dead.

– Every day his servant came and took away five or six girls: they left and never came back. I don't know where they are now or what happened to them, but-" Susan sighed bitterly. – I think Brandon killed them.