The last notes of the symphony reverberated through the auditorium, fading away slowly with the charm they had woven. A profound silence followed, but music’s spell still warmed the hearts, still raised the spirits. No applause could be heard; the musicians...

Whispers, clanks, cloth rustles were echoing in the large hall. Hordes of lackeys were struggling like mad men to complete the installation of both belligerents flags and coats of arms. The two delegations, separated by the red carpet running from the...

In spite of these unbearable screams, the short thick man maintains his big knife in his victim’s neck. The tip of his tongue relentlessly moistens his lips as he stares ecstatically at the fountain of blood flowing in a wooden bucket. Red stains splash...