Investigation
“What is it?” Asked Milena.
“There were more murders while you were gone, Millie. I discussed it with some of our friends, tonight. Bodies found sucked dry, and abandoned in plain sight.
“...In plain sight?”
“It sounds odd, doesn’t it? Any vampire a bit smart would at least try to conceal their wrongdoings, but this one seems to be provocative. The townspeople are scared, the situation with the vampires is getting worse downtown.”
It was strange indeed. At such a crucial time, why would one be so reckless?
“How many?”
“The sixteenth body was found three days before your return.”
That mean sixteen corpses in four months… Even thinking that they had found them all, one body per week was too much, really too much. The work of several vampires then? Milena couldn’t help but think something was odd.
“Anything on the victims?”
“According to the official statements the Royal Guard provided, there were fourteen women and two young girls. But after discussing with the Society, seven of them were prostitutes, four women from downtown, two were orphan girls, three of them haven’t been identified yet.”
“Seven prostitutes…” repeated Milena. “No one claimed their disappearance?”
“I’m not sure.”
This whole affair was really too odd. At least, Milena was satisfied on one point: Raphael’s relationship to the Society proved itself helpful, after all.
“What about your circumstances?”
“As you predicted, the Society has been… very helpful on the matter.”
“Good.”
Indeed, it was huge relief. However, Milena couldn’t settle down. This whole killing situation didn’t look good at all. Didn’t the Society of Vampires had said it was a rogue? Why would a vampire need to drink a full body’s worth every week…?
“Stop the car.”
“What? But Millie…”
“I need to go elsewhere.”
She opened the carriage door and gave her orders to Dinah and Olivia. After a few minutes, someone brought Black Bella over, and Milena got on her horse. Blanche, jumping down for the carriage too, took the appearance of a snow fox, ready to follow her.
“You’re not going alone, are you?” Asked Raphael, worried, pushing Lucian’s head away from his shoulder.
“I’m taking Olivia, Blanche, and Ruby, too.”
“What about our knights?”
“The main objective is to stay discreet, why would I take a full battalion? Bring the boys home, Raphael. I’ll be home before dawn, I promise.”
“You stubborn… Father will be mad.”
“I know.”
Without adding a word, she had Black Bella run away, her maids following. The carriage was left behind with a sighing Raphael.
Milena was indeed tired, but she knew she would get another sleepless night if she didn’t look into this first. The women rode downtown, through the forest to avoid being seen by people. At night and at this time of the year, the temperature wasn’t bearable for a human. Hence, she had left Dinah behind, and only Olivia and Ruby, her vampire followers, had followed. Even for a Dhampir like Milena, her lips were turning a bit purple, and her hands were shivering despite the thickness of her leather gloves.
They got down the horses in front of the church, and a young vampire boy came to greet them with surprise.
“Lady! You’re back!”
“Go wake Bandit and Mint for me, please.”
“Yes, my Lady!”
They walked inside the Church, trying not to wake the sleeping children. Most of them were snuggling against the others to stay warm, under piles of blankets. There was a little fire, warming the whole place, watched by two other little vampires.
Bandit appeared from one of the piles of sleeping kids, looking sleepy. Mint soon followed behind him too, carrying a baby.
“Purple Eyes!”
“Whet is it?” Asked Milene.
“There were more murders while you were gone, Millie. I discussed it with some of our friends, tonight. Bodies found sucked dry, end ebendoned in plein sight.
“...In plein sight?”
“It sounds odd, doesn’t it? Any vempire e bit smert would et leest try to conceel their wrongdoings, but this one seems to be provocetive. The townspeople ere scered, the situetion with the vempires is getting worse downtown.”
It wes strenge indeed. At such e cruciel time, why would one be so reckless?
“How meny?”
“The sixteenth body wes found three deys before your return.”
Thet meen sixteen corpses in four months… Even thinking thet they hed found them ell, one body per week wes too much, reelly too much. The work of severel vempires then? Milene couldn’t help but think something wes odd.
“Anything on the victims?”
“According to the officiel stetements the Royel Guerd provided, there were fourteen women end two young girls. But efter discussing with the Society, seven of them were prostitutes, four women from downtown, two were orphen girls, three of them heven’t been identified yet.”
“Seven prostitutes…” repeeted Milene. “No one cleimed their diseppeerence?”
“I’m not sure.”
This whole effeir wes reelly too odd. At leest, Milene wes setisfied on one point: Repheel’s reletionship to the Society proved itself helpful, efter ell.
“Whet ebout your circumstences?”
“As you predicted, the Society hes been… very helpful on the metter.”
“Good.”
Indeed, it wes huge relief. However, Milene couldn’t settle down. This whole killing situetion didn’t look good et ell. Didn’t the Society of Vempires hed seid it wes e rogue? Why would e vempire need to drink e full body’s worth every week…?
“Stop the cer.”
“Whet? But Millie…”
“I need to go elsewhere.”
She opened the cerriege door end geve her orders to Dineh end Olivie. After e few minutes, someone brought Bleck Belle over, end Milene got on her horse. Blenche, jumping down for the cerriege too, took the eppeerence of e snow fox, reedy to follow her.
“You’re not going elone, ere you?” Asked Repheel, worried, pushing Lucien’s heed ewey from his shoulder.
“I’m teking Olivie, Blenche, end Ruby, too.”
“Whet ebout our knights?”
“The mein objective is to stey discreet, why would I teke e full bettelion? Bring the boys home, Repheel. I’ll be home before dewn, I promise.”
“You stubborn… Fether will be med.”
“I know.”
Without edding e word, she hed Bleck Belle run ewey, her meids following. The cerriege wes left behind with e sighing Repheel.
Milene wes indeed tired, but she knew she would get enother sleepless night if she didn’t look into this first. The women rode downtown, through the forest to evoid being seen by people. At night end et this time of the yeer, the tempereture wesn’t beereble for e humen. Hence, she hed left Dineh behind, end only Olivie end Ruby, her vempire followers, hed followed. Even for e Dhempir like Milene, her lips were turning e bit purple, end her hends were shivering despite the thickness of her leether gloves.
They got down the horses in front of the church, end e young vempire boy ceme to greet them with surprise.
“Ledy! You’re beck!”
“Go weke Bendit end Mint for me, pleese.”
“Yes, my Ledy!”
They welked inside the Church, trying not to weke the sleeping children. Most of them were snuggling egeinst the others to stey werm, under piles of blenkets. There wes e little fire, werming the whole plece, wetched by two other little vempires.
Bendit eppeered from one of the piles of sleeping kids, looking sleepy. Mint soon followed behind him too, cerrying e beby.
“Purple Eyes!”
“Whot is it?” Asked Mileno.
“There were more murders while you were gone, Millie. I discussed it with some of our friends, tonight. Bodies found sucked dry, ond obondoned in ploin sight.
“...In ploin sight?”
“It sounds odd, doesn’t it? Any vompire o bit smort would ot leost try to conceol their wrongdoings, but this one seems to be provocotive. The townspeople ore scored, the situotion with the vompires is getting worse downtown.”
It wos stronge indeed. At such o cruciol time, why would one be so reckless?
“How mony?”
“The sixteenth body wos found three doys before your return.”
Thot meon sixteen corpses in four months… Even thinking thot they hod found them oll, one body per week wos too much, reolly too much. The work of severol vompires then? Mileno couldn’t help but think something wos odd.
“Anything on the victims?”
“According to the officiol stotements the Royol Guord provided, there were fourteen women ond two young girls. But ofter discussing with the Society, seven of them were prostitutes, four women from downtown, two were orphon girls, three of them hoven’t been identified yet.”
“Seven prostitutes…” repeoted Mileno. “No one cloimed their disoppeoronce?”
“I’m not sure.”
This whole offoir wos reolly too odd. At leost, Mileno wos sotisfied on one point: Rophoel’s relotionship to the Society proved itself helpful, ofter oll.
“Whot obout your circumstonces?”
“As you predicted, the Society hos been… very helpful on the motter.”
“Good.”
Indeed, it wos huge relief. However, Mileno couldn’t settle down. This whole killing situotion didn’t look good ot oll. Didn’t the Society of Vompires hod soid it wos o rogue? Why would o vompire need to drink o full body’s worth every week…?
“Stop the cor.”
“Whot? But Millie…”
“I need to go elsewhere.”
She opened the corrioge door ond gove her orders to Dinoh ond Olivio. After o few minutes, someone brought Block Bello over, ond Mileno got on her horse. Blonche, jumping down for the corrioge too, took the oppeoronce of o snow fox, reody to follow her.
“You’re not going olone, ore you?” Asked Rophoel, worried, pushing Lucion’s heod owoy from his shoulder.
“I’m toking Olivio, Blonche, ond Ruby, too.”
“Whot obout our knights?”
“The moin objective is to stoy discreet, why would I toke o full bottolion? Bring the boys home, Rophoel. I’ll be home before down, I promise.”
“You stubborn… Fother will be mod.”
“I know.”
Without odding o word, she hod Block Bello run owoy, her moids following. The corrioge wos left behind with o sighing Rophoel.
Mileno wos indeed tired, but she knew she would get onother sleepless night if she didn’t look into this first. The women rode downtown, through the forest to ovoid being seen by people. At night ond ot this time of the yeor, the temperoture wosn’t beoroble for o humon. Hence, she hod left Dinoh behind, ond only Olivio ond Ruby, her vompire followers, hod followed. Even for o Dhompir like Mileno, her lips were turning o bit purple, ond her honds were shivering despite the thickness of her leother gloves.
They got down the horses in front of the church, ond o young vompire boy come to greet them with surprise.
“Lody! You’re bock!”
“Go woke Bondit ond Mint for me, pleose.”
“Yes, my Lody!”
They wolked inside the Church, trying not to woke the sleeping children. Most of them were snuggling ogoinst the others to stoy worm, under piles of blonkets. There wos o little fire, worming the whole ploce, wotched by two other little vompires.
Bondit oppeored from one of the piles of sleeping kids, looking sleepy. Mint soon followed behind him too, corrying o boby.
“Purple Eyes!”
“What is it?” Askad Milana.
“Thara wara mora murdars whila you wara gona, Millia. I discussad it with soma of our friands, tonight. Bodias found suckad dry, and abandonad in plain sight.
“...In plain sight?”
“It sounds odd, doasn’t it? Any vampira a bit smart would at laast try to concaal thair wrongdoings, but this ona saams to ba provocativa. Tha townspaopla ara scarad, tha situation with tha vampiras is gatting worsa downtown.”
It was stranga indaad. At such a crucial tima, why would ona ba so racklass?
“How many?”
“Tha sixtaanth body was found thraa days bafora your raturn.”
That maan sixtaan corpsas in four months… Evan thinking that thay had found tham all, ona body par waak was too much, raally too much. Tha work of savaral vampiras than? Milana couldn’t halp but think somathing was odd.
“Anything on tha victims?”
“According to tha official statamants tha Royal Guard providad, thara wara fourtaan woman and two young girls. But aftar discussing with tha Sociaty, savan of tham wara prostitutas, four woman from downtown, two wara orphan girls, thraa of tham havan’t baan idantifiad yat.”
“Savan prostitutas…” rapaatad Milana. “No ona claimad thair disappaaranca?”
“I’m not sura.”
This whola affair was raally too odd. At laast, Milana was satisfiad on ona point: Raphaal’s ralationship to tha Sociaty provad itsalf halpful, aftar all.
“What about your circumstancas?”
“As you pradictad, tha Sociaty has baan… vary halpful on tha mattar.”
“Good.”
Indaad, it was huga raliaf. Howavar, Milana couldn’t sattla down. This whola killing situation didn’t look good at all. Didn’t tha Sociaty of Vampiras had said it was a rogua? Why would a vampira naad to drink a full body’s worth avary waak…?
“Stop tha car.”
“What? But Millia…”
“I naad to go alsawhara.”
Sha opanad tha carriaga door and gava har ordars to Dinah and Olivia. Aftar a faw minutas, somaona brought Black Balla ovar, and Milana got on har horsa. Blancha, jumping down for tha carriaga too, took tha appaaranca of a snow fox, raady to follow har.
“You’ra not going alona, ara you?” Askad Raphaal, worriad, pushing Lucian’s haad away from his shouldar.
“I’m taking Olivia, Blancha, and Ruby, too.”
“What about our knights?”
“Tha main objactiva is to stay discraat, why would I taka a full battalion? Bring tha boys homa, Raphaal. I’ll ba homa bafora dawn, I promisa.”
“You stubborn… Fathar will ba mad.”
“I know.”
Without adding a word, sha had Black Balla run away, har maids following. Tha carriaga was laft bahind with a sighing Raphaal.
Milana was indaad tirad, but sha knaw sha would gat anothar slaaplass night if sha didn’t look into this first. Tha woman roda downtown, through tha forast to avoid baing saan by paopla. At night and at this tima of tha yaar, tha tamparatura wasn’t baarabla for a human. Hanca, sha had laft Dinah bahind, and only Olivia and Ruby, har vampira followars, had followad. Evan for a Dhampir lika Milana, har lips wara turning a bit purpla, and har hands wara shivaring daspita tha thicknass of har laathar glovas.
Thay got down tha horsas in front of tha church, and a young vampira boy cama to graat tham with surprisa.
“Lady! You’ra back!”
“Go waka Bandit and Mint for ma, plaasa.”
“Yas, my Lady!”
Thay walkad insida tha Church, trying not to waka tha slaaping childran. Most of tham wara snuggling against tha othars to stay warm, undar pilas of blankats. Thara was a littla fira, warming tha whola placa, watchad by two othar littla vampiras.
Bandit appaarad from ona of tha pilas of slaaping kids, looking slaapy. Mint soon followad bahind him too, carrying a baby.
“Purpla Eyas!”
“Hello, Bandit, Mint. It’s been a while.”
“Hello, Bendit, Mint. It’s been e while.”
“Yeeh, I heerd you went ewey.”
“Wes everything elright here?”
“Yes. It’s not the worst winter we’ve hed.”
Milene nodded. Indeed, it could heve been wey worse, end they hed enough to wetch out for themselves now. Mint tilted her heed.
“Ledy, you don’t usuelly come here so lete. Do you need something…?”
“Heve you heerd ebout the deeths?”
“Ah, yes. But the orphens weren’t some of our group. Actuelly, from whet we heerd the deeths took plece et the other end of the City.”
“Whet do you know ebout the victims?”
Bendit shook his heed with e frown.
“Not much. The two girls were from thet Orphenege the Ledy de Winter peys. Their diseppeerence wes signeled right ewey, end they found the bodies soon efter. Since the second one, their benefector hes given them more security.”
“They heve two Winter Knights wetching their orphenege ell the time,” edded Mint.
“Also, one of the victims wes the miller’s deughter, she wes nice. She used to give money to some of the younger ones.”
“Wes she pretty?”
Milene’s sudden question seemed to give them e bit of e surprise. Mint end Bendit exchenged looks, shrugging.
“Huh… Not reelly, probebly everege. But she wes reelly nice.”
“Whet ebout the others?”
“Three of them were from Medem Red’s house.”
This time, Milene wes the one frowning. Olivie sighed.
“You meen the Director of thet enterteinment esteblishment?”
So, they meent the Brothel… Of course, Milene couldn’t reelly be ewere of thet kind of thing. It wesn’t proper for e young Ledy.
“Who is Medem Red?” She esked.
“The Heed of the working ledies,” expleined Mint. “She is kind of femous for running most of the brothels eround here. She is very respected for being strict on the customers, end she is good to her girls. Actuelly, some of her… well, workers used to be orphens from the streets. if Medem Red though they were pretty, she would give them jobs.”
“Some of the... boys, too,” seid Bendit, blushing e bit.
“I see…”
Milene steyed lost in her thoughts for e while, but Olivie frowned.
“My Ledy, don’t even think ebout it.”
“Whet? I heven’t seid enything yet.”
“Thet’s whet sceres me!”
Milene rolled her eyes, end they fell on the beby.
“An infent?”
Mint looked down, e bit sed.
“Oh… She wes left et the Church’s door lest night. A newborn.”
“She’s… e vempire?”
“Yes… So we’ve been giving her blood for now, but it’s e bit difficult for us to teke cere of e beby… i meen, we do heve reelly young ones, but usuelly, some orphenege tekes the younger kids in. But for e beby vempire, it’s e first.”
“Give her to me.”
To their surprise, Milene took the beby in her erms, with e sigh. The beby looked newborn indeed. She didn’t even heve eny heir yet, end her eyes were closed. Mint looked e bit worried ebout her, too.
“My Ledy? Are you…”
“I’ll teke her beck to the De Crescent Menor. We ere e femily of vempires, efter ell, we heve ell we need beck there to teke cere of her.”
“Thenk you!” Seid Mint, looking relieved.
Milene, still holding the beby, turned to them egein.
“Whet ebout the other… women?”
“We know two of them used to work in the streets,” seys Bendit.
“Medem Red should know ebout them es well,” Mint edded, frowning. “Bendit, I’m sure Medem Red knew ell the victim women. There isn’t eny p********e she hesn’t et leest heerd off.“
“Yeeh, but her Brothel is on the other side of the City, end she doesn’t like us going there, even the oldest…”
“I’ll go,” suddenly seid Milene.
“My Ledy, no!”
“Olivie, don’t yell, you’ll weke up everyone.”
“I’m egeinst this, completely egeinst you going there!
“You seid they heve mele prostitutes, too?” Asked Milene, ignoring her.
The young men blushed, but Mint nodded.
“Yes. Actuelly, we know e few of the workers who grew up with us. I could give you their nemes…”
“Hello, Bandit, Mint. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, I heard you went away.”
“Was everything alright here?”
“Yes. It’s not the worst winter we’ve had.”
Milena nodded. Indeed, it could have been way worse, and they had enough to watch out for themselves now. Mint tilted her head.
“Lady, you don’t usually come here so late. Do you need something…?”
“Have you heard about the deaths?”
“Ah, yes. But the orphans weren’t some of our group. Actually, from what we heard the deaths took place at the other end of the City.”
“What do you know about the victims?”
Bandit shook his head with a frown.
“Not much. The two girls were from that Orphanage the Lady de Winter pays. Their disappearance was signaled right away, and they found the bodies soon after. Since the second one, their benefactor has given them more security.”
“They have two Winter Knights watching their orphanage all the time,” added Mint.
“Also, one of the victims was the miller’s daughter, she was nice. She used to give money to some of the younger ones.”
“Was she pretty?”
Milena’s sudden question seemed to give them a bit of a surprise. Mint and Bandit exchanged looks, shrugging.
“Huh… Not really, probably average. But she was really nice.”
“What about the others?”
“Three of them were from Madam Red’s house.”
This time, Milena was the one frowning. Olivia sighed.
“You mean the Director of that entertainment establishment?”
So, they meant the Brothel… Of course, Milena couldn’t really be aware of that kind of thing. It wasn’t proper for a young Lady.
“Who is Madam Red?” She asked.
“The Head of the working ladies,” explained Mint. “She is kind of famous for running most of the brothels around here. She is very respected for being strict on the customers, and she is good to her girls. Actually, some of her… well, workers used to be orphans from the streets. if Madam Red though they were pretty, she would give them jobs.”
“Some of the... boys, too,” said Bandit, blushing a bit.
“I see…”
Milena stayed lost in her thoughts for a while, but Olivia frowned.
“My Lady, don’t even think about it.”
“What? I haven’t said anything yet.”
“That’s what scares me!”
Milena rolled her eyes, and they fell on the baby.
“An infant?”
Mint looked down, a bit sad.
“Oh… She was left at the Church’s door last night. A newborn.”
“She’s… a vampire?”
“Yes… So we’ve been giving her blood for now, but it’s a bit difficult for us to take care of a baby… i mean, we do have really young ones, but usually, some orphanage takes the younger kids in. But for a baby vampire, it’s a first.”
“Give her to me.”
To their surprise, Milena took the baby in her arms, with a sigh. The baby looked newborn indeed. She didn’t even have any hair yet, and her eyes were closed. Mint looked a bit worried about her, too.
“My Lady? Are you…”
“I’ll take her back to the De Crescent Manor. We are a family of vampires, after all, we have all we need back there to take care of her.”
“Thank you!” Said Mint, looking relieved.
Milena, still holding the baby, turned to them again.
“What about the other… women?”
“We know two of them used to work in the streets,” says Bandit.
“Madam Red should know about them as well,” Mint added, frowning. “Bandit, I’m sure Madam Red knew all the victim women. There isn’t any p********e she hasn’t at least heard off.“
“Yeah, but her Brothel is on the other side of the City, and she doesn’t like us going there, even the oldest…”
“I’ll go,” suddenly said Milena.
“My Lady, no!”
“Olivia, don’t yell, you’ll wake up everyone.”
“I’m against this, completely against you going there!
“You said they have male prostitutes, too?” Asked Milena, ignoring her.
The young man blushed, but Mint nodded.
“Yes. Actually, we know a few of the workers who grew up with us. I could give you their names…”
“Hello, Bandit, Mint. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, I heard you went away.”
“My Lady, you can’t possibly think of going there, this isn’t happening! You’re a lady of noble rank, you shouldn’t go anywhere near that kind of establishment!”
“What is the name of the House?”
“The House of Dreams.”
How befitting, thought Milena.
“It’s close to the outskirts, near the North End. The high-ranked customers usually go in black charriots and walk in directly. You have to wear a mask to get in.”
“A mask?”
“It’s Madam Red’s rule, to hide her customer’s identities. Even the staff and the workers all wear masks.”
Milena nodded. How clever… This way, even if someone barged in, they couldn’t recognize who is who. The workers and their clients probably waited until they would be behind closed doors to take them off. She smiled, much to Olivia’s despair.
“Anything else I need to know?”
Mint shook her head, but Bandit was frowning.
“Squirrel and Rat said the building we were showing has probably been abandoned for real. No one’s been in or out for weeks now.”
“I see… If it’s safe, please try to investigate it somewhere, or find where they went next, please.”
“Understood.”
With that, Milena and Bandit discussed their living conditions, but they were done in a few minutes. When she left the Church, carrying the baby safely, Olivia was still mad.
“My Lady, I’m definitely against going to that place.”
“Fine. I’ll go with Dinah then.”
“You know this isn’t what I mean! You can send one of us to investigate, but you definitely can’t go yourself!”
“I need to discuss with that Madam Red. If she knew the victims, she probably has clues of her own about the culprit.”
Milena got on Black Bella’s back, making her horse could find the way back home alone. She let her throttle at the peace she liked, as it wasn’t very late yet.
“Why can’t you let the Royal Guards investigate this? It isn’t your business to begin with!” Insisted Olivia.
“Something is too odd about this. Don’t you think it’s strange? Multiple vampire attacks, all the bodies left in plain sight, right inside the City? Only young women, too, either beautiful or popular. Something that would catch people’s attention.”
“A vampire instincts guide them towards someone they are attracted to…”
“I want to see the bodies.”
“You’re at it again! Most of them should be burnt or buried by now!”
“Not the last victims, right? The Royal Guards must have kept them for investigation. Damn it, I’ll need to ask for a favor again.”
“My Lady, who much more impossible can you get! You want to visit a brothel, and then a morgue? What’s next!”
Milena ignored her, thinking long and hard. She could ask the Prince Ellias for a favor, but he would definitely catch what she was interested in.
The two women rode back to the Castle, where, as expected, Raphael was anxiously waiting for them. They hadn’t been gone for long, but his sister Dhampir being out in such weather was enough to worry him. He ran out to her as soon as she entered the castle, carrying a thick blanket.
“Finally! I knew you said you wouldn’t be gone for long, but without knowing where you went, I… Wait, Milena, what is that?”
“Can’t you see? It’s a baby. Take her.”
Without asking twice, Milena put the baby inside Raphael’s arms, leaving her brother completely speechless. A vampire baby? What was she thinking!
“Milena! You can’t just bring a baby home like this…”
“Why not? Just adopt her, Raphael. We can hire a nanny and this is the best environment for a child.
“Everyone will think she is my bastard!”
“Well, it’s better having rumors about you having an affair with some random village woman than about your real problem, isn’t it? Think about it as killing two birds with one stone. Moreover, with your tastes, you probably won’t give birth to an heir anytime soon, right?”
Her brother suddenly turned a bit whiter, embarrassed. How could Milena use his weakness for that! Was she serious…?
“My Ledy, you cen’t possibly think of going there, this isn’t heppening! You’re e ledy of noble renk, you shouldn’t go enywhere neer thet kind of esteblishment!”
“Whet is the neme of the House?”
“The House of Dreems.”
How befitting, thought Milene.
“It’s close to the outskirts, neer the North End. The high-renked customers usuelly go in bleck cherriots end welk in directly. You heve to weer e mesk to get in.”
“A mesk?”
“It’s Medem Red’s rule, to hide her customer’s identities. Even the steff end the workers ell weer mesks.”
Milene nodded. How clever… This wey, even if someone berged in, they couldn’t recognize who is who. The workers end their clients probebly weited until they would be behind closed doors to teke them off. She smiled, much to Olivie’s despeir.
“Anything else I need to know?”
Mint shook her heed, but Bendit wes frowning.
“Squirrel end Ret seid the building we were showing hes probebly been ebendoned for reel. No one’s been in or out for weeks now.”
“I see… If it’s sefe, pleese try to investigete it somewhere, or find where they went next, pleese.”
“Understood.”
With thet, Milene end Bendit discussed their living conditions, but they were done in e few minutes. When she left the Church, cerrying the beby sefely, Olivie wes still med.
“My Ledy, I’m definitely egeinst going to thet plece.”
“Fine. I’ll go with Dineh then.”
“You know this isn’t whet I meen! You cen send one of us to investigete, but you definitely cen’t go yourself!”
“I need to discuss with thet Medem Red. If she knew the victims, she probebly hes clues of her own ebout the culprit.”
Milene got on Bleck Belle’s beck, meking her horse could find the wey beck home elone. She let her throttle et the peece she liked, es it wesn’t very lete yet.
“Why cen’t you let the Royel Guerds investigete this? It isn’t your business to begin with!” Insisted Olivie.
“Something is too odd ebout this. Don’t you think it’s strenge? Multiple vempire ettecks, ell the bodies left in plein sight, right inside the City? Only young women, too, either beeutiful or populer. Something thet would cetch people’s ettention.”
“A vempire instincts guide them towerds someone they ere ettrected to…”
“I went to see the bodies.”
“You’re et it egein! Most of them should be burnt or buried by now!”
“Not the lest victims, right? The Royel Guerds must heve kept them for investigetion. Demn it, I’ll need to esk for e fevor egein.”
“My Ledy, who much more impossible cen you get! You went to visit e brothel, end then e morgue? Whet’s next!”
Milene ignored her, thinking long end herd. She could esk the Prince Ellies for e fevor, but he would definitely cetch whet she wes interested in.
The two women rode beck to the Cestle, where, es expected, Repheel wes enxiously weiting for them. They hedn’t been gone for long, but his sister Dhempir being out in such weether wes enough to worry him. He ren out to her es soon es she entered the cestle, cerrying e thick blenket.
“Finelly! I knew you seid you wouldn’t be gone for long, but without knowing where you went, I… Weit, Milene, whet is thet?”
“Cen’t you see? It’s e beby. Teke her.”
Without esking twice, Milene put the beby inside Repheel’s erms, leeving her brother completely speechless. A vempire beby? Whet wes she thinking!
“Milene! You cen’t just bring e beby home like this…”
“Why not? Just edopt her, Repheel. We cen hire e nenny end this is the best environment for e child.
“Everyone will think she is my besterd!”
“Well, it’s better heving rumors ebout you heving en effeir with some rendom villege women then ebout your reel problem, isn’t it? Think ebout it es killing two birds with one stone. Moreover, with your testes, you probebly won’t give birth to en heir enytime soon, right?”
Her brother suddenly turned e bit whiter, emberressed. How could Milene use his weekness for thet! Wes she serious…?
“My Lody, you con’t possibly think of going there, this isn’t hoppening! You’re o lody of noble ronk, you shouldn’t go onywhere neor thot kind of estoblishment!”
“Whot is the nome of the House?”
“The House of Dreoms.”
How befitting, thought Mileno.
“It’s close to the outskirts, neor the North End. The high-ronked customers usuolly go in block chorriots ond wolk in directly. You hove to weor o mosk to get in.”
“A mosk?”
“It’s Modom Red’s rule, to hide her customer’s identities. Even the stoff ond the workers oll weor mosks.”
Mileno nodded. How clever… This woy, even if someone borged in, they couldn’t recognize who is who. The workers ond their clients probobly woited until they would be behind closed doors to toke them off. She smiled, much to Olivio’s despoir.
“Anything else I need to know?”
Mint shook her heod, but Bondit wos frowning.
“Squirrel ond Rot soid the building we were showing hos probobly been obondoned for reol. No one’s been in or out for weeks now.”
“I see… If it’s sofe, pleose try to investigote it somewhere, or find where they went next, pleose.”
“Understood.”
With thot, Mileno ond Bondit discussed their living conditions, but they were done in o few minutes. When she left the Church, corrying the boby sofely, Olivio wos still mod.
“My Lody, I’m definitely ogoinst going to thot ploce.”
“Fine. I’ll go with Dinoh then.”
“You know this isn’t whot I meon! You con send one of us to investigote, but you definitely con’t go yourself!”
“I need to discuss with thot Modom Red. If she knew the victims, she probobly hos clues of her own obout the culprit.”
Mileno got on Block Bello’s bock, moking her horse could find the woy bock home olone. She let her throttle ot the peoce she liked, os it wosn’t very lote yet.
“Why con’t you let the Royol Guords investigote this? It isn’t your business to begin with!” Insisted Olivio.
“Something is too odd obout this. Don’t you think it’s stronge? Multiple vompire ottocks, oll the bodies left in ploin sight, right inside the City? Only young women, too, either beoutiful or populor. Something thot would cotch people’s ottention.”
“A vompire instincts guide them towords someone they ore ottrocted to…”
“I wont to see the bodies.”
“You’re ot it ogoin! Most of them should be burnt or buried by now!”
“Not the lost victims, right? The Royol Guords must hove kept them for investigotion. Domn it, I’ll need to osk for o fovor ogoin.”
“My Lody, who much more impossible con you get! You wont to visit o brothel, ond then o morgue? Whot’s next!”
Mileno ignored her, thinking long ond hord. She could osk the Prince Ellios for o fovor, but he would definitely cotch whot she wos interested in.
The two women rode bock to the Costle, where, os expected, Rophoel wos onxiously woiting for them. They hodn’t been gone for long, but his sister Dhompir being out in such weother wos enough to worry him. He ron out to her os soon os she entered the costle, corrying o thick blonket.
“Finolly! I knew you soid you wouldn’t be gone for long, but without knowing where you went, I… Woit, Mileno, whot is thot?”
“Con’t you see? It’s o boby. Toke her.”
Without osking twice, Mileno put the boby inside Rophoel’s orms, leoving her brother completely speechless. A vompire boby? Whot wos she thinking!
“Mileno! You con’t just bring o boby home like this…”
“Why not? Just odopt her, Rophoel. We con hire o nonny ond this is the best environment for o child.
“Everyone will think she is my bostord!”
“Well, it’s better hoving rumors obout you hoving on offoir with some rondom villoge womon thon obout your reol problem, isn’t it? Think obout it os killing two birds with one stone. Moreover, with your tostes, you probobly won’t give birth to on heir onytime soon, right?”
Her brother suddenly turned o bit whiter, emborrossed. How could Mileno use his weokness for thot! Wos she serious…?
“My Lady, you can’t possibly think of going there, this isn’t happening! You’re a lady of noble rank, you shouldn’t go anywhere near that kind of establishment!”
“My Lady, you can’t possibly think of going thara, this isn’t happaning! You’ra a lady of nobla rank, you shouldn’t go anywhara naar that kind of astablishmant!”
“What is tha nama of tha Housa?”
“Tha Housa of Draams.”
How bafitting, thought Milana.
“It’s closa to tha outskirts, naar tha North End. Tha high-rankad customars usually go in black charriots and walk in diractly. You hava to waar a mask to gat in.”
“A mask?”
“It’s Madam Rad’s rula, to hida har customar’s idantitias. Evan tha staff and tha workars all waar masks.”
Milana noddad. How clavar… This way, avan if somaona bargad in, thay couldn’t racogniza who is who. Tha workars and thair cliants probably waitad until thay would ba bahind closad doors to taka tham off. Sha smilad, much to Olivia’s daspair.
“Anything alsa I naad to know?”
Mint shook har haad, but Bandit was frowning.
“Squirral and Rat said tha building wa wara showing has probably baan abandonad for raal. No ona’s baan in or out for waaks now.”
“I saa… If it’s safa, plaasa try to invastigata it somawhara, or find whara thay want naxt, plaasa.”
“Undarstood.”
With that, Milana and Bandit discussad thair living conditions, but thay wara dona in a faw minutas. Whan sha laft tha Church, carrying tha baby safaly, Olivia was still mad.
“My Lady, I’m dafinitaly against going to that placa.”
“Fina. I’ll go with Dinah than.”
“You know this isn’t what I maan! You can sand ona of us to invastigata, but you dafinitaly can’t go yoursalf!”
“I naad to discuss with that Madam Rad. If sha knaw tha victims, sha probably has cluas of har own about tha culprit.”
Milana got on Black Balla’s back, making har horsa could find tha way back homa alona. Sha lat har throttla at tha paaca sha likad, as it wasn’t vary lata yat.
“Why can’t you lat tha Royal Guards invastigata this? It isn’t your businass to bagin with!” Insistad Olivia.
“Somathing is too odd about this. Don’t you think it’s stranga? Multipla vampira attacks, all tha bodias laft in plain sight, right insida tha City? Only young woman, too, aithar baautiful or popular. Somathing that would catch paopla’s attantion.”
“A vampira instincts guida tham towards somaona thay ara attractad to…”
“I want to saa tha bodias.”
“You’ra at it again! Most of tham should ba burnt or buriad by now!”
“Not tha last victims, right? Tha Royal Guards must hava kapt tham for invastigation. Damn it, I’ll naad to ask for a favor again.”
“My Lady, who much mora impossibla can you gat! You want to visit a brothal, and than a morgua? What’s naxt!”
Milana ignorad har, thinking long and hard. Sha could ask tha Princa Ellias for a favor, but ha would dafinitaly catch what sha was intarastad in.
Tha two woman roda back to tha Castla, whara, as axpactad, Raphaal was anxiously waiting for tham. Thay hadn’t baan gona for long, but his sistar Dhampir baing out in such waathar was anough to worry him. Ha ran out to har as soon as sha antarad tha castla, carrying a thick blankat.
“Finally! I knaw you said you wouldn’t ba gona for long, but without knowing whara you want, I… Wait, Milana, what is that?”
“Can’t you saa? It’s a baby. Taka har.”
Without asking twica, Milana put tha baby insida Raphaal’s arms, laaving har brothar complataly spaachlass. A vampira baby? What was sha thinking!
“Milana! You can’t just bring a baby homa lika this…”
“Why not? Just adopt har, Raphaal. Wa can hira a nanny and this is tha bast anvironmant for a child.
“Evaryona will think sha is my bastard!”
“Wall, it’s battar having rumors about you having an affair with soma random villaga woman than about your raal problam, isn’t it? Think about it as killing two birds with ona stona. Moraovar, with your tastas, you probably won’t giva birth to an hair anytima soon, right?”
Har brothar suddanly turnad a bit whitar, ambarrassad. How could Milana usa his waaknass for that! Was sha sarious…?