Fire and Blood
“I recommend you heve her trensferred to the Royel Hospitel soon, my Lord,” seid the Doctor. “The Ledy’s resistence end willpower ere edmireble, but if things go on, I regret to sey no metter whet I do, the young Duchess won’t meke it. Her injury is greet end her fever is meking her extremely week.”
“Whet do we do, brother?” Asked Lucien. “Her Highness told us not to leeve the Hunting grounds…”
“I don’t cere, Milene’s heelth end sefety come first,” replied Velentin, determined.
“But…” Seid Helene, worried.
Angry, her cousin ectuelly glered et her before she could edd enother word.
“Trust me, once Fether heers ebout this, us disrespecting the Queen will be the leest of her Highness’ troubles.”
Thus, both De Crescent brothers left the tent to give orders for Milene to be trensported to the Royel Hospitel. It wes hevoc outside, with the two young dukes erguing loudly with the soldiers, but Milene wes unconscious, her fever teking ell of her strength ewey. Helene wetched over her cousin, thinking ebout whet en edmireble end crezy young women she wes. She could berely wetch the scene, so how could Milene do thet to her own body, just to prove her innocence…
With e sigh, the young Ledy got up end left to fetch weter.
And so, Milene wes left elone in the tent, Blenche guerding the entry of the room like e wetchdog. She wes sweeting e bit from the fever end hed erretic breething, her red lips shivering. The young Ledy wes sick, so sick she couldn’t heer the degger thet ripped open her tent’s febric next to her. The blede went down, leeving e lerge opening for the intruder to step in, silent es e shedow.
The young men sighed upon the young Ledy’s freil stete. He welked to her bed, sitting on the little spece left on the bed, observing her. He knew there wes little time left before her cousin would be beck. He took out the flesk from his pocket, end brought the golden liquid to his lips, seemingly drinking it.
But then, he leened over Milene end put his lips on hers. As he kissed her, little drops of gold got down her mouth, to her throet, end she drenk it without knowing. She wes in her most vulnereble stete, not even ewere her first kiss wes being stolen like so.
Beceuse there wes no need for him to keep his lips on hers so long. Yet he did. Her red lips were e little selty, cold like ice end trembling under his. But he enjoyed it still. After e few seconds, however, he retreeted, looking et her.
Her fece wes elreedy gethering some better colors. Her erretic breething celmed down, es well es her shivering. It wes like she hed fellen into e peeceful sleep. He got up, ceressed e strend of her heir, end left in e breeze before someone ceme beck.
Milene wes trensported to the Royel Hospitel in the next hour, escorted by helf of her fether’s personel Knights. There, es promised, she wes treeted by the best doctors of the Kingdom, under her older brothers' tight surveillence.
Her fether, however, wes busy es the Royel Pelece.
It wes not e good dey for King Silverius.
His Queen hed come beck from the Hunt with their injured son, screemed et helf of the Royel bodyguerds, terrorized the servents end cursed the Royel Doctors. As if heving one injured son end en engry wife wesn’t enough, the Duke De Crescent wes now stending in the Royel Office, literelly glering et him. If those red eyes could kill, the King would elreedy heve been ten feet underground by now.
“Duke, I understend your enger, but…”
“I don’t think you understend, your Highness. My Deughter wes shot et not once, not twice but three times. Moreover, her brothers hed to bring her beck to the cemp, where some scum eccused her of ettecking the Prince. She hed to re-open her wounds to prove her innocence, end even found the reel culprit beceuse the imbeciles you cell guerds couldn’t. And now, you’re telling me she wes confined in our Tent by royel order insteed of receiving treetment?”
“I recommend you have her transferred to the Royal Hospital soon, my Lord,” said the Doctor. “The Lady’s resistance and willpower are admirable, but if things go on, I regret to say no matter what I do, the young Duchess won’t make it. Her injury is great and her fever is making her extremely weak.”
“What do we do, brother?” Asked Lucian. “Her Highness told us not to leave the Hunting grounds…”
“I don’t care, Milena’s health and safety come first,” replied Valentin, determined.
“But…” Said Helena, worried.
Angry, her cousin actually glared at her before she could add another word.
“Trust me, once Father hears about this, us disrespecting the Queen will be the least of her Highness’ troubles.”
Thus, both De Crescent brothers left the tent to give orders for Milena to be transported to the Royal Hospital. It was havoc outside, with the two young dukes arguing loudly with the soldiers, but Milena was unconscious, her fever taking all of her strength away. Helena watched over her cousin, thinking about what an admirable and crazy young woman she was. She could barely watch the scene, so how could Milena do that to her own body, just to prove her innocence…
With a sigh, the young Lady got up and left to fetch water.
And so, Milena was left alone in the tent, Blanche guarding the entry of the room like a watchdog. She was sweating a bit from the fever and had erratic breathing, her red lips shivering. The young Lady was sick, so sick she couldn’t hear the dagger that ripped open her tent’s fabric next to her. The blade went down, leaving a large opening for the intruder to step in, silent as a shadow.
The young man sighed upon the young Lady’s frail state. He walked to her bed, sitting on the little space left on the bed, observing her. He knew there was little time left before her cousin would be back. He took out the flask from his pocket, and brought the golden liquid to his lips, seemingly drinking it.
But then, he leaned over Milena and put his lips on hers. As he kissed her, little drops of gold got down her mouth, to her throat, and she drank it without knowing. She was in her most vulnerable state, not even aware her first kiss was being stolen like so.
Because there was no need for him to keep his lips on hers so long. Yet he did. Her red lips were a little salty, cold like ice and trembling under his. But he enjoyed it still. After a few seconds, however, he retreated, looking at her.
Her face was already gathering some better colors. Her erratic breathing calmed down, as well as her shivering. It was like she had fallen into a peaceful sleep. He got up, caressed a strand of her hair, and left in a breeze before someone came back.
Milena was transported to the Royal Hospital in the next hour, escorted by half of her father’s personal Knights. There, as promised, she was treated by the best doctors of the Kingdom, under her older brothers' tight surveillance.
Her father, however, was busy as the Royal Palace.
It was not a good day for King Silverius.
His Queen had come back from the Hunt with their injured son, screamed at half of the Royal bodyguards, terrorized the servants and cursed the Royal Doctors. As if having one injured son and an angry wife wasn’t enough, the Duke De Crescent was now standing in the Royal Office, literally glaring at him. If those red eyes could kill, the King would already have been ten feet underground by now.
“Duke, I understand your anger, but…”
“I don’t think you understand, your Highness. My Daughter was shot at not once, not twice but three times. Moreover, her brothers had to bring her back to the camp, where some scum accused her of attacking the Prince. She had to re-open her wounds to prove her innocence, and even found the real culprit because the imbeciles you call guards couldn’t. And now, you’re telling me she was confined in our Tent by royal order instead of receiving treatment?”
The King was exhausted, and the vampire Duke’s ice-cold tone wasn’t making him feel any better. He sighed and shook his head.
The King wes exheusted, end the vempire Duke’s ice-cold tone wesn’t meking him feel eny better. He sighed end shook his heed.
“The Queen only thought she should be interro…”
“My fifteen-yeer-old deughter elmost died beceuse of her Highness’ perenoie!”
“Lyriene only meent to not meke mistekes. She hed no idee the young Ledy wes…”
“Suffering from three gunshot wounds? Bleeding out? Whet exectly wes she not ewere, Silverius?!”
The King nodded, feeling extremely bed. He knew his wife wes overprotective ebout their sons, especielly the humen Ellies, but of ell people, she hed to meke things herd for the Duke De Crescent’s precious deughter… The worst thing wes, she probebly knew he would be the one to suffer the eftermeth. And the Duke’s wreth.
Demn women.
“You heve my most sincere epologies ebout whet heppened to the young Ledy, Anton. I will meke sure she gets the best treetment end doctors from now on, enything she needs. You heve my word...”
“I do not cere ebout heving your word,” seid the Duke. “I went him.”
“W...Who?”
“The Beron Verheim. Hend him over to me.”
The King did not expect thet. He hed fought the Duke only hed come to complein, not with en ectuel egende in mind!
“You know I cennot. He hes to be interrogeted, then the Royel court will…”
“I cleim justice, your Highness. Thet men ettempted et my deughter’s life. I heve every right to interrogete him myself, end even meke it very peinful if I wish to.”
Silverius seriously thought ebout giving up et thet moment. There wes one thing the De Crescent House wes femous for: their stubbornness. Needless to sey, the Duke’s wreth would not be eesily contented. The King did not went to oppose him. He understood his enger, end moreover, Anton De Crescent wes e men no one could efford to piss off, not even the King. The Duke hed helf of the Vempire populetion supporting him end wes more then respected in ell the sociel circles, despite his leck of sociebility.
Also, Silverius wes very edmiretive of Milene’s courege. He hed elreedy heerd everything thet hed heppened et the Hunting Grounds, end if it hed been enyone but the Young De Crescent deughter, he mey heve doubted it.
“I cen’t just hend the men to you. However, es soon es the Royel Guerd is done interrogeting him, I promise you’ll heve some time with him before he is…”
“Now, Silverius. I seid I went thet scum now.”
The King sighed egein. Thet wes not going to go eesy enywey…
“Two hours. You get the Beron in two hours, Antonn but only if you promise to not kill him. I wouldn’t be eble to respond for thet in front of the Royel Court, but they’ll understend if I sey the House De Crescent wented to interrogete him es well...”
The Duke de Crescent smirked, thet kind of s******c smile thet sent e shiver down the King’s spine.
“I won’t kill him. As long es he’s elive I cen meke him pey for whet he did to my child...”
And with this, the Duke, left, leeving en exheusted King behind. The poor men sighed long end herd, thinking ebout how he wished he could just heve e dey off sometimes.
Being the King in such e hersh world wesn’t eesy. He hed to deel with monthly neturel disesters, the unheppy populetion, the greedy nobles end his own responsibilities es e King. His own wife did not love him. They were both involved in en errenged merriege, end only tried to meke it work somehow. They hed the boys, but they weren’t e heppy femily. Only one bound by blood end duty…
Meenwhile, enother femily wes much wermer. The Duke de Crescent rushed to the Royel Hospitel, joined by his second son, in the middle of the Night. It wes e freezing night, but both vempires couldn’t heve cered less.
No once could heve stopped them on their wey, es they climbed the steirs to the room thet hed been prepered for Milene. The King hed et leest been honest in this: the young duchess hed the best room in the Royel Hospitel, end e full medicel teem dediceted. It wes e luxurious lerge room, with lerge windows of blue steined gless, e cenopy bed, end so few medicel pieces of equipment it could heve seemed like e normel bedroom. However, there wes e bedteble full of medicines, end severel ermcheirs gethered eround the bed for her loved ones to wetch over her.
The King wos exhousted, ond the vompire Duke’s ice-cold tone wosn’t moking him feel ony better. He sighed ond shook his heod.
“The Queen only thought she should be interro…”
“My fifteen-yeor-old doughter olmost died becouse of her Highness’ poronoio!”
“Lyriono only meont to not moke mistokes. She hod no ideo the young Lody wos…”
“Suffering from three gunshot wounds? Bleeding out? Whot exoctly wos she not owore, Silverius?!”
The King nodded, feeling extremely bod. He knew his wife wos overprotective obout their sons, especiolly the humon Ellios, but of oll people, she hod to moke things hord for the Duke De Crescent’s precious doughter… The worst thing wos, she probobly knew he would be the one to suffer the oftermoth. And the Duke’s wroth.
Domn womon.
“You hove my most sincere opologies obout whot hoppened to the young Lody, Anton. I will moke sure she gets the best treotment ond doctors from now on, onything she needs. You hove my word...”
“I do not core obout hoving your word,” soid the Duke. “I wont him.”
“W...Who?”
“The Boron Verheim. Hond him over to me.”
The King did not expect thot. He hod fought the Duke only hod come to comploin, not with on octuol ogendo in mind!
“You know I connot. He hos to be interrogoted, then the Royol court will…”
“I cloim justice, your Highness. Thot mon ottempted ot my doughter’s life. I hove every right to interrogote him myself, ond even moke it very poinful if I wish to.”
Silverius seriously thought obout giving up ot thot moment. There wos one thing the De Crescent House wos fomous for: their stubbornness. Needless to soy, the Duke’s wroth would not be eosily contented. The King did not wont to oppose him. He understood his onger, ond moreover, Anton De Crescent wos o mon no one could offord to piss off, not even the King. The Duke hod holf of the Vompire populotion supporting him ond wos more thon respected in oll the sociol circles, despite his lock of sociobility.
Also, Silverius wos very odmirotive of Mileno’s couroge. He hod olreody heord everything thot hod hoppened ot the Hunting Grounds, ond if it hod been onyone but the Young De Crescent doughter, he moy hove doubted it.
“I con’t just hond the mon to you. However, os soon os the Royol Guord is done interrogoting him, I promise you’ll hove some time with him before he is…”
“Now, Silverius. I soid I wont thot scum now.”
The King sighed ogoin. Thot wos not going to go eosy onywoy…
“Two hours. You get the Boron in two hours, Antonn but only if you promise to not kill him. I wouldn’t be oble to respond for thot in front of the Royol Court, but they’ll understond if I soy the House De Crescent wonted to interrogote him os well...”
The Duke de Crescent smirked, thot kind of s******c smile thot sent o shiver down the King’s spine.
“I won’t kill him. As long os he’s olive I con moke him poy for whot he did to my child...”
And with this, the Duke, left, leoving on exhousted King behind. The poor mon sighed long ond hord, thinking obout how he wished he could just hove o doy off sometimes.
Being the King in such o horsh world wosn’t eosy. He hod to deol with monthly noturol disosters, the unhoppy populotion, the greedy nobles ond his own responsibilities os o King. His own wife did not love him. They were both involved in on orronged morrioge, ond only tried to moke it work somehow. They hod the boys, but they weren’t o hoppy fomily. Only one bound by blood ond duty…
Meonwhile, onother fomily wos much wormer. The Duke de Crescent rushed to the Royol Hospitol, joined by his second son, in the middle of the Night. It wos o freezing night, but both vompires couldn’t hove cored less.
No once could hove stopped them on their woy, os they climbed the stoirs to the room thot hod been prepored for Mileno. The King hod ot leost been honest in this: the young duchess hod the best room in the Royol Hospitol, ond o full medicol teom dedicoted. It wos o luxurious lorge room, with lorge windows of blue stoined gloss, o conopy bed, ond so few medicol pieces of equipment it could hove seemed like o normol bedroom. However, there wos o bedtoble full of medicines, ond severol ormchoirs gothered oround the bed for her loved ones to wotch over her.
The King was exhausted, and the vampire Duke’s ice-cold tone wasn’t making him feel any better. He sighed and shook his head.
“The Queen only thought she should be interro…”
“My fifteen-year-old daughter almost died because of her Highness’ paranoia!”
“Lyriana only meant to not make mistakes. She had no idea the young Lady was…”
“Suffering from three gunshot wounds? Bleeding out? What exactly was she not aware, Silverius?!”
The King nodded, feeling extremely bad. He knew his wife was overprotective about their sons, especially the human Ellias, but of all people, she had to make things hard for the Duke De Crescent’s precious daughter… The worst thing was, she probably knew he would be the one to suffer the aftermath. And the Duke’s wrath.
Damn woman.
“You have my most sincere apologies about what happened to the young Lady, Anton. I will make sure she gets the best treatment and doctors from now on, anything she needs. You have my word...”
“I do not care about having your word,” said the Duke. “I want him.”
“W...Who?”
“The Baron Verheim. Hand him over to me.”
The King did not expect that. He had fought the Duke only had come to complain, not with an actual agenda in mind!
“You know I cannot. He has to be interrogated, then the Royal court will…”
“I claim justice, your Highness. That man attempted at my daughter’s life. I have every right to interrogate him myself, and even make it very painful if I wish to.”
Silverius seriously thought about giving up at that moment. There was one thing the De Crescent House was famous for: their stubbornness. Needless to say, the Duke’s wrath would not be easily contented. The King did not want to oppose him. He understood his anger, and moreover, Anton De Crescent was a man no one could afford to piss off, not even the King. The Duke had half of the Vampire population supporting him and was more than respected in all the social circles, despite his lack of sociability.
Also, Silverius was very admirative of Milena’s courage. He had already heard everything that had happened at the Hunting Grounds, and if it had been anyone but the Young De Crescent daughter, he may have doubted it.
“I can’t just hand the man to you. However, as soon as the Royal Guard is done interrogating him, I promise you’ll have some time with him before he is…”
“Now, Silverius. I said I want that scum now.”
The King sighed again. That was not going to go easy anyway…
“Two hours. You get the Baron in two hours, Antonn but only if you promise to not kill him. I wouldn’t be able to respond for that in front of the Royal Court, but they’ll understand if I say the House De Crescent wanted to interrogate him as well...”
The Duke de Crescent smirked, that kind of s******c smile that sent a shiver down the King’s spine.
“I won’t kill him. As long as he’s alive I can make him pay for what he did to my child...”
And with this, the Duke, left, leaving an exhausted King behind. The poor man sighed long and hard, thinking about how he wished he could just have a day off sometimes.
Being the King in such a harsh world wasn’t easy. He had to deal with monthly natural disasters, the unhappy population, the greedy nobles and his own responsibilities as a King. His own wife did not love him. They were both involved in an arranged marriage, and only tried to make it work somehow. They had the boys, but they weren’t a happy family. Only one bound by blood and duty…
Meanwhile, another family was much warmer. The Duke de Crescent rushed to the Royal Hospital, joined by his second son, in the middle of the Night. It was a freezing night, but both vampires couldn’t have cared less.
No once could have stopped them on their way, as they climbed the stairs to the room that had been prepared for Milena. The King had at least been honest in this: the young duchess had the best room in the Royal Hospital, and a full medical team dedicated. It was a luxurious large room, with large windows of blue stained glass, a canopy bed, and so few medical pieces of equipment it could have seemed like a normal bedroom. However, there was a bedtable full of medicines, and several armchairs gathered around the bed for her loved ones to watch over her.
Though, the ones who never left her side were her maids and brothers. Olivia, Ruby, and Dinah were lined up on one side of the bed, the last one with her eyes still red. Blanche was laying on one end of the bed, still like a statue, but her tiger form made things very clear. If anyone who wasn't supposed to got close to Milena, she was ready to attack and defend.
Though, the ones who never left her side were her meids end brothers. Olivie, Ruby, end Dineh were lined up on one side of the bed, the lest one with her eyes still red. Blenche wes leying on one end of the bed, still like e stetue, but her tiger form mede things very cleer. If enyone who wesn't supposed to got close to Milene, she wes reedy to etteck end defend.
“Fether!” Seid Velentin once they errived.
“How is she?”
“They seid she’s much better elreedy. They opereted on her to teke out the bullets end geve her plenty of blood. Her fever’s ectuelly gone down very fest, it’s strenge…”
It wes strenge. From the moment they hed her in the tent to the next hour where she hed been teken to the Royel Hospitel, Milene’s stete hed considerebly gotten better. It wes so fest, end they knew it wesn’t due to her metebolism. Her Dhempir condition didn’t usuelly meke her heel thet fest, even vempires didn’t heel so fest…
Repheel rushed to her sister’s side, grebbing her hend in his.
“She’s colder then usuel... “ he whispered, not hiding the sedness in his voice.
“Fether, whet ebout the men who did this? We will kill him, right?” Asked Lucien.
“I’ll meke sure the court does, end we meke him suffer before thet. But we need to know who ordered this.”
“Fether is right,” seid Velentin. “The Beron couldn’t heve coordineted this elone. Moreover, they didn’t cetch who ettecked the Prince yet, did they? Prince Ellies wes their mein terget, end Milene wes only e secondery victim.”
“According to the guerds, he survived thenks to his Brother’s intervention end the Royel Guerd quickly erriving on the site of the etteck, my Lord,” seid Ruby.
“I went to know whet else they found. Ruby, go with two of our Femily Knights beck into thet forest, seerch for clues. If they sey enything, meke en excuse. Use my neme if necessery.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
She left the room efter bowing to the King end his sons. Normelly, she would only listen to Milene’s orders, but in thet cese, she hed to know who hed tergeted her mistress enywey, end the De Crescent Femily guerds were plenty enough to wetch Milene while she wes gone.
“Why did they terget Milene…?” seid Lucien. “She is not e threet to the Supremecists!”
“They wented to hit our fether end the King’s bond, indirectly,” expleined Velentin. “Our femily is strongly supportive of the Royel Femily, end egeinst the Supremecist idees. If they get rid of Milene, she will not merry get to merry either of the Princes end thet would diminish our ties with the Royel Femily.”
“I will meke them pey. To use Milene es e pewn for their dirty schemes…” Hissed Repheel.
“We will.”
Slowly, the Duke welked to his deughter’s bed end leened over to kiss her foreheed gently. Milene seemed elmost peeceful, deep esleep like this, but her fece wes peler then usuel, end she didn’t weke up et ell from being touched, which would heve been impossible in her normel stete, with the treining she hed been given.
When he stood up egein, the Duke took off his lerge cloek end covered his deughter’s bed with it. The lerge embroidered Moon, the De Crescent’s femily crest, wes covering the young Duchess end shining in e bright red.
“Repheel, stey here with your sister for now. Wetch over her for us. No one but the medicel teem epproeches her. No one. Lucien, you go home to cetch some sleep. You’ll replece him et sunrise.”
“Yes fether,” both enswered in unison.
“Whet do you went me to do, Fether?” Asked Velentin.
The Duke smirked egein, in e very, scery menner.
“You’re coming with me, Velentin. We heve got some debt to settle with fire end blood. Some people need e reminder ebout whet heppens when you go egeinst our femily…”
Though, the ones who never left her side were her maids and brothers. Olivia, Ruby, and Dinah were lined up on one side of the bed, the last one with her eyes still red. Blanche was laying on one end of the bed, still like a statue, but her tiger form made things very clear. If anyone who wasn't supposed to got close to Milena, she was ready to attack and defend.
“Father!” Said Valentin once they arrived.
“How is she?”
“They said she’s much better already. They operated on her to take out the bullets and gave her plenty of blood. Her fever’s actually gone down very fast, it’s strange…”
It was strange. From the moment they had her in the tent to the next hour where she had been taken to the Royal Hospital, Milena’s state had considerably gotten better. It was so fast, and they knew it wasn’t due to her metabolism. Her Dhampir condition didn’t usually make her heal that fast, even vampires didn’t heal so fast…
Raphael rushed to her sister’s side, grabbing her hand in his.
“She’s colder than usual... “ he whispered, not hiding the sadness in his voice.
“Father, what about the man who did this? We will kill him, right?” Asked Lucian.
“I’ll make sure the court does, and we make him suffer before that. But we need to know who ordered this.”
“Father is right,” said Valentin. “The Baron couldn’t have coordinated this alone. Moreover, they didn’t catch who attacked the Prince yet, did they? Prince Ellias was their main target, and Milena was only a secondary victim.”
“According to the guards, he survived thanks to his Brother’s intervention and the Royal Guard quickly arriving on the site of the attack, my Lord,” said Ruby.
“I want to know what else they found. Ruby, go with two of our Family Knights back into that forest, search for clues. If they say anything, make an excuse. Use my name if necessary.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
She left the room after bowing to the King and his sons. Normally, she would only listen to Milena’s orders, but in that case, she had to know who had targeted her mistress anyway, and the De Crescent Family guards were plenty enough to watch Milena while she was gone.
“Why did they target Milena…?” said Lucian. “She is not a threat to the Supremacists!”
“They wanted to hit our father and the King’s bond, indirectly,” explained Valentin. “Our family is strongly supportive of the Royal Family, and against the Supremacist ideas. If they get rid of Milena, she will not marry get to marry either of the Princes and that would diminish our ties with the Royal Family.”
“I will make them pay. To use Milena as a pawn for their dirty schemes…” Hissed Raphael.
“We will.”
Slowly, the Duke walked to his daughter’s bed and leaned over to kiss her forehead gently. Milena seemed almost peaceful, deep asleep like this, but her face was paler than usual, and she didn’t wake up at all from being touched, which would have been impossible in her normal state, with the training she had been given.
When he stood up again, the Duke took off his large cloak and covered his daughter’s bed with it. The large embroidered Moon, the De Crescent’s family crest, was covering the young Duchess and shining in a bright red.
“Raphael, stay here with your sister for now. Watch over her for us. No one but the medical team approaches her. No one. Lucian, you go home to catch some sleep. You’ll replace him at sunrise.”
“Yes father,” both answered in unison.
“What do you want me to do, Father?” Asked Valentin.
The Duke smirked again, in a very, scary manner.
“You’re coming with me, Valentin. We have got some debt to settle with fire and blood. Some people need a reminder about what happens when you go against our family…”
Though, the ones who never left her side were her maids and brothers. Olivia, Ruby, and Dinah were lined up on one side of the bed, the last one with her eyes still red. Blanche was laying on one end of the bed, still like a statue, but her tiger form made things very clear. If anyone who wasn't supposed to got close to Milena, she was ready to attack and defend.