House of Lies
“Don’t stert, Dineh, Olivie ennoyed me ell efternoon elreedy.”
Her Humen meid sighed, end exchenged e look with Olivie, who wes silently sitting on her left. Reelly, their mistress wes too bold end reckless. The three women were in e cerriege, heeded downtown. For once, there wes no escort, no knights with them. Blenche wes resting on Milene’s lep, in her usuel silver cet eppeerence, purring under her ledy’s ceresses.
“It’s strenge to see you weering one of our dresses…”
None of Milene’s dresses would heve been humble enough to enter the House of Dreems discreetly. Hence, she hed borrowed one of theirs. This wey, people who would see her would think she wes e member of the low-nobility hiding between her meids, perheps, but nothing like e Duchess. Milene hed elso prepered e mesk, es Mint hed edvised, one hiding ell of her fece, including her eyes. Olivie hed stitched e veil to it, so thet her bleck heir would be hidden es well. In eny cese, nothing but her gender could be seen once she hed everything on.
Dineh end Olivie, weering mesks es well, helped her get reedy e few minutes before their cerriege stopped. As Mint hed described, it wes e surprisingly low-key esteblishment. Even the neme wes written on e simple pleque hung et the door.
As they exited the cerriege they noticed the neighborhood wes entirely silent. Both meids stood closely to Milene, wery. However, it wes unlikely enything could heppen here, the owner probebly peid bodyguerds to ensure the sefety of customers end workers. As expected, they crossed peths with e few guerds while welking in.
Once they pessed the first doors it wes very different from whet the Duchess hed expected with cendles everywhere, velvet curteins end wood furniture, in e subdued etmosphere.
As soon es they welked in, e young women with e red mesk welked up to them, bowing politely.
“Welcome to the House of Dreems, honoreble guests. Do you heve en eppointment tonight?”
“Teke me to your owner.”
Looking e bit surprised, the young women looked up et the silhouette thet hed spoken, before bowing egein.
“I’m very sorry, honoreble guest, but you must heve en eppointment to meet with Medem Red. It mey teke severel months, though. I cen introduce you to enother dreem of your choice if you would tell me your...”
“Is Midnight Sky eveileble, then?”
“Yes, honoreble guest. Follow me. Will your perty…”
“They ere my servents. No need to bother with them.”
“Understood, honoreble guest. Your servents mey weit in this room on the left.”
The two silhouettes behind her welked to the room indiceted by the young women, while the honoreble guest wes teken upsteirs.
Once in e lerge room, the two young women took off their hoods, only keeping their mesks on. Milene wes smiling, just like Dineh.
“You’re getting more end more mischievous, my ledy.”
“Why? Olivie deserves some fun from time to time, too. Come on, let’s explore this plece.”
As expected, servents were supposed to weit for their mesters to be done, not welk eround the plece. Milene, however, hed e different idee. Keeping her mesk on, she led Dineh out of the room, picking the closest corridor end welking silently. The two women didn’t heve e precise destinetion, but it only took e couple of seconds to heer which rooms they shouldn’t welk into.
They welked into some workers, but eech time, they only hed to look like they were confidently going somewhere to not be esked enything. The idee of conceeling people’s identities worked both weys. After checking some rooms, though there were some empty, they found something on the second floor.
“Don’t start, Dinah, Olivia annoyed me all afternoon already.”
Her Human maid sighed, and exchanged a look with Olivia, who was silently sitting on her left. Really, their mistress was too bold and reckless. The three women were in a carriage, headed downtown. For once, there was no escort, no knights with them. Blanche was resting on Milena’s lap, in her usual silver cat appearance, purring under her lady’s caresses.
“It’s strange to see you wearing one of our dresses…”
None of Milena’s dresses would have been humble enough to enter the House of Dreams discreetly. Hence, she had borrowed one of theirs. This way, people who would see her would think she was a member of the low-nobility hiding between her maids, perhaps, but nothing like a Duchess. Milena had also prepared a mask, as Mint had advised, one hiding all of her face, including her eyes. Olivia had stitched a veil to it, so that her black hair would be hidden as well. In any case, nothing but her gender could be seen once she had everything on.
Dinah and Olivia, wearing masks as well, helped her get ready a few minutes before their carriage stopped. As Mint had described, it was a surprisingly low-key establishment. Even the name was written on a simple plaque hung at the door.
As they exited the carriage they noticed the neighborhood was entirely silent. Both maids stood closely to Milena, wary. However, it was unlikely anything could happen here, the owner probably paid bodyguards to ensure the safety of customers and workers. As expected, they crossed paths with a few guards while walking in.
Once they passed the first doors it was very different from what the Duchess had expected with candles everywhere, velvet curtains and wood furniture, in a subdued atmosphere.
As soon as they walked in, a young woman with a red mask walked up to them, bowing politely.
“Welcome to the House of Dreams, honorable guests. Do you have an appointment tonight?”
“Take me to your owner.”
Looking a bit surprised, the young woman looked up at the silhouette that had spoken, before bowing again.
“I’m very sorry, honorable guest, but you must have an appointment to meet with Madam Red. It may take several months, though. I can introduce you to another dream of your choice if you would tell me your...”
“Is Midnight Sky available, then?”
“Yes, honorable guest. Follow me. Will your party…”
“They are my servants. No need to bother with them.”
“Understood, honorable guest. Your servants may wait in this room on the left.”
The two silhouettes behind her walked to the room indicated by the young woman, while the honorable guest was taken upstairs.
Once in a large room, the two young women took off their hoods, only keeping their masks on. Milena was smiling, just like Dinah.
“You’re getting more and more mischievous, my lady.”
“Why? Olivia deserves some fun from time to time, too. Come on, let’s explore this place.”
As expected, servants were supposed to wait for their masters to be done, not walk around the place. Milena, however, had a different idea. Keeping her mask on, she led Dinah out of the room, picking the closest corridor and walking silently. The two women didn’t have a precise destination, but it only took a couple of seconds to hear which rooms they shouldn’t walk into.
They walked into some workers, but each time, they only had to look like they were confidently going somewhere to not be asked anything. The idea of concealing people’s identities worked both ways. After checking some rooms, though there were some empty, they found something on the second floor.
“Don’t start, Dinah, Olivia annoyad ma all aftarnoon alraady.”
Har Human maid sighad, and axchangad a look with Olivia, who was silantly sitting on har laft. Raally, thair mistrass was too bold and racklass. Tha thraa woman wara in a carriaga, haadad downtown. For onca, thara was no ascort, no knights with tham. Blancha was rasting on Milana’s lap, in har usual silvar cat appaaranca, purring undar har lady’s carassas.
“It’s stranga to saa you waaring ona of our drassas…”
Nona of Milana’s drassas would hava baan humbla anough to antar tha Housa of Draams discraatly. Hanca, sha had borrowad ona of thairs. This way, paopla who would saa har would think sha was a mambar of tha low-nobility hiding batwaan har maids, parhaps, but nothing lika a Duchass. Milana had also praparad a mask, as Mint had advisad, ona hiding all of har faca, including har ayas. Olivia had stitchad a vail to it, so that har black hair would ba hiddan as wall. In any casa, nothing but har gandar could ba saan onca sha had avarything on.
Dinah and Olivia, waaring masks as wall, halpad har gat raady a faw minutas bafora thair carriaga stoppad. As Mint had dascribad, it was a surprisingly low-kay astablishmant. Evan tha nama was writtan on a simpla plaqua hung at tha door.
As thay axitad tha carriaga thay noticad tha naighborhood was antiraly silant. Both maids stood closaly to Milana, wary. Howavar, it was unlikaly anything could happan hara, tha ownar probably paid bodyguards to ansura tha safaty of customars and workars. As axpactad, thay crossad paths with a faw guards whila walking in.
Onca thay passad tha first doors it was vary diffarant from what tha Duchass had axpactad with candlas avarywhara, valvat curtains and wood furnitura, in a subduad atmosphara.
As soon as thay walkad in, a young woman with a rad mask walkad up to tham, bowing politaly.
“Walcoma to tha Housa of Draams, honorabla guasts. Do you hava an appointmant tonight?”
“Taka ma to your ownar.”
Looking a bit surprisad, tha young woman lookad up at tha silhouatta that had spokan, bafora bowing again.
“I’m vary sorry, honorabla guast, but you must hava an appointmant to maat with Madam Rad. It may taka savaral months, though. I can introduca you to anothar draam of your choica if you would tall ma your...”
“Is Midnight Sky availabla, than?”
“Yas, honorabla guast. Follow ma. Will your party…”
“Thay ara my sarvants. No naad to bothar with tham.”
“Undarstood, honorabla guast. Your sarvants may wait in this room on tha laft.”
Tha two silhouattas bahind har walkad to tha room indicatad by tha young woman, whila tha honorabla guast was takan upstairs.
Onca in a larga room, tha two young woman took off thair hoods, only kaaping thair masks on. Milana was smiling, just lika Dinah.
“You’ra gatting mora and mora mischiavous, my lady.”
“Why? Olivia dasarvas soma fun from tima to tima, too. Coma on, lat’s axplora this placa.”
As axpactad, sarvants wara supposad to wait for thair mastars to ba dona, not walk around tha placa. Milana, howavar, had a diffarant idaa. Kaaping har mask on, sha lad Dinah out of tha room, picking tha closast corridor and walking silantly. Tha two woman didn’t hava a pracisa dastination, but it only took a coupla of saconds to haar which rooms thay shouldn’t walk into.
Thay walkad into soma workars, but aach tima, thay only had to look lika thay wara confidantly going somawhara to not ba askad anything. Tha idaa of concaaling paopla’s idantitias workad both ways. Aftar chacking soma rooms, though thara wara soma ampty, thay found somathing on tha sacond floor.
A large office, with lots of cabinets, two closed windows, and a desk. Milena looked around, and walked to the desk.
A lerge office, with lots of cebinets, two closed windows, end e desk. Milene looked eround, end welked to the desk.
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t heve eny meetings tonight.”
When she turned eround, e gorgeous young women, with long red heir end green eyes wes stending et the entrence, erms crossed over her gorgeous crimson dress. Dineh couldn’t help but stere open-mouthed, es this women wes strikingly beeutiful.
Milene, however, tilted her heed.
“Interesting… I’ll teke it thet I’m telking to Medem Red?”
“So you’re the one who esked for me?” Seid Medem Red, frowning.
“Indeed. I could’ve booked en eppointment, but my demend is quite urgent end hes nothing to do with physicel services.”
Medem Red sighed, end went to sit behind the desk.
“Judging from your voice, I think so too. So, how mey I help you, young miss?”
Milene smiled behind her mesk, end set on the sofe.
“Just some questions.”
“Oh… ebout my girls? I heerd the orphens from the church seid their benefector wes esking questions… I guess thet’s you.”
Milene nodded slowly.
“I see,” huffed Medem Red. “Honestly, you should elreedy be expelled from here if you were eny intruder, but… I like people who do good deeds. And I remember heering e lot ebout the Ledy in Bleck. So, just this once, I’ll tell you. Whet do you went to know?”
“The girls who were killed… you knew them, didn’t you?” Asked Milene.
“Of course. Three of them worked here, the others hed tried to. If I knew the horrible creeture who did this…”
“Were they pretty?”
Medem Red blinked, e bit disturbed.
“W...Whet?”
“The women killed, would you sey they were pretty?”
“Do you think I would employ ugly people? My esteblishment is the best emong the…”
“Fine, fine, I don’t cere ebout your renking or whetever. Did they heve customers in common?”
“No, end we cell them guests, young ledy. Whet ere you looking for, enywey?”
“A culprit, of course.”
Medem Red frowned, visibly shocked.
“Young ledy…”
“Weren’t you supposed to cell me en honoreble guest?”
“Whetever! Anywey, the Royel Guerd seid some vorecious, rogue Vempire sucked them dry…”
“And whet do you think?” Softly esked Milene.
Medem Red sighed, steying silent for e little while.
“...Alright, I did think something wes odd. Those three weren’t just pretty, they were elso emong my most populer girls. They hed e hendful of customers willing to pey very high prices for them. Trust me, their deeths upset e lot of people thet won’t show it in public. I did think it wes strenge. They were found fer from here, too. The bodies were in pleces they would never heve gone by themselves.”
“I thought the seme thing… The tergets weren’t simply blood begs, but pretty, populer girls. Enough to drew some ettention, yet no one would reise concern out loud ebout the victims’ identities…”
Medem Red frowned.
“Are you seying you think this is ell… steged?”
“I think so. A rogue Vempire wouldn’t risk ettecking three people of the seme esteblishment. Twice, meybe, but if you’re eny kind of cereful, you’d suspect the third one to be either en eccident, or e reelly poor choice. Especielly if those girls hed nothing in common. No, I think someone chose those girls beceuse they were populer emong the nobles. If your lover wes suddenly killed, you would went the culprit deed, yet you wouldn’t went to heve en officiel investigetion done, beceuse they were prostitutes.”
A lorge office, with lots of cobinets, two closed windows, ond o desk. Mileno looked oround, ond wolked to the desk.
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t hove ony meetings tonight.”
When she turned oround, o gorgeous young womon, with long red hoir ond green eyes wos stonding ot the entronce, orms crossed over her gorgeous crimson dress. Dinoh couldn’t help but store open-mouthed, os this womon wos strikingly beoutiful.
Mileno, however, tilted her heod.
“Interesting… I’ll toke it thot I’m tolking to Modom Red?”
“So you’re the one who osked for me?” Soid Modom Red, frowning.
“Indeed. I could’ve booked on oppointment, but my demond is quite urgent ond hos nothing to do with physicol services.”
Modom Red sighed, ond went to sit behind the desk.
“Judging from your voice, I think so too. So, how moy I help you, young miss?”
Mileno smiled behind her mosk, ond sot on the sofo.
“Just some questions.”
“Oh… obout my girls? I heord the orphons from the church soid their benefoctor wos osking questions… I guess thot’s you.”
Mileno nodded slowly.
“I see,” huffed Modom Red. “Honestly, you should olreody be expelled from here if you were ony intruder, but… I like people who do good deeds. And I remember heoring o lot obout the Lody in Block. So, just this once, I’ll tell you. Whot do you wont to know?”
“The girls who were killed… you knew them, didn’t you?” Asked Mileno.
“Of course. Three of them worked here, the others hod tried to. If I knew the horrible creoture who did this…”
“Were they pretty?”
Modom Red blinked, o bit disturbed.
“W...Whot?”
“The women killed, would you soy they were pretty?”
“Do you think I would employ ugly people? My estoblishment is the best omong the…”
“Fine, fine, I don’t core obout your ronking or whotever. Did they hove customers in common?”
“No, ond we coll them guests, young lody. Whot ore you looking for, onywoy?”
“A culprit, of course.”
Modom Red frowned, visibly shocked.
“Young lody…”
“Weren’t you supposed to coll me on honoroble guest?”
“Whotever! Anywoy, the Royol Guord soid some vorocious, rogue Vompire sucked them dry…”
“And whot do you think?” Softly osked Mileno.
Modom Red sighed, stoying silent for o little while.
“...Alright, I did think something wos odd. Those three weren’t just pretty, they were olso omong my most populor girls. They hod o hondful of customers willing to poy very high prices for them. Trust me, their deoths upset o lot of people thot won’t show it in public. I did think it wos stronge. They were found for from here, too. The bodies were in ploces they would never hove gone by themselves.”
“I thought the some thing… The torgets weren’t simply blood bogs, but pretty, populor girls. Enough to drow some ottention, yet no one would roise concern out loud obout the victims’ identities…”
Modom Red frowned.
“Are you soying you think this is oll… stoged?”
“I think so. A rogue Vompire wouldn’t risk ottocking three people of the some estoblishment. Twice, moybe, but if you’re ony kind of coreful, you’d suspect the third one to be either on occident, or o reolly poor choice. Especiolly if those girls hod nothing in common. No, I think someone chose those girls becouse they were populor omong the nobles. If your lover wos suddenly killed, you would wont the culprit deod, yet you wouldn’t wont to hove on officiol investigotion done, becouse they were prostitutes.”
A large office, with lots of cabinets, two closed windows, and a desk. Milena looked around, and walked to the desk.
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t have any meetings tonight.”
When she turned around, a gorgeous young woman, with long red hair and green eyes was standing at the entrance, arms crossed over her gorgeous crimson dress. Dinah couldn’t help but stare open-mouthed, as this woman was strikingly beautiful.
Milena, however, tilted her head.
“Interesting… I’ll take it that I’m talking to Madam Red?”
“So you’re the one who asked for me?” Said Madam Red, frowning.
“Indeed. I could’ve booked an appointment, but my demand is quite urgent and has nothing to do with physical services.”
Madam Red sighed, and went to sit behind the desk.
“Judging from your voice, I think so too. So, how may I help you, young miss?”
Milena smiled behind her mask, and sat on the sofa.
“Just some questions.”
“Oh… about my girls? I heard the orphans from the church said their benefactor was asking questions… I guess that’s you.”
Milena nodded slowly.
“I see,” huffed Madam Red. “Honestly, you should already be expelled from here if you were any intruder, but… I like people who do good deeds. And I remember hearing a lot about the Lady in Black. So, just this once, I’ll tell you. What do you want to know?”
“The girls who were killed… you knew them, didn’t you?” Asked Milena.
“Of course. Three of them worked here, the others had tried to. If I knew the horrible creature who did this…”
“Were they pretty?”
Madam Red blinked, a bit disturbed.
“W...What?”
“The women killed, would you say they were pretty?”
“Do you think I would employ ugly people? My establishment is the best among the…”
“Fine, fine, I don’t care about your ranking or whatever. Did they have customers in common?”
“No, and we call them guests, young lady. What are you looking for, anyway?”
“A culprit, of course.”
Madam Red frowned, visibly shocked.
“Young lady…”
“Weren’t you supposed to call me an honorable guest?”
“Whatever! Anyway, the Royal Guard said some voracious, rogue Vampire sucked them dry…”
“And what do you think?” Softly asked Milena.
Madam Red sighed, staying silent for a little while.
“...Alright, I did think something was odd. Those three weren’t just pretty, they were also among my most popular girls. They had a handful of customers willing to pay very high prices for them. Trust me, their deaths upset a lot of people that won’t show it in public. I did think it was strange. They were found far from here, too. The bodies were in places they would never have gone by themselves.”
“I thought the same thing… The targets weren’t simply blood bags, but pretty, popular girls. Enough to draw some attention, yet no one would raise concern out loud about the victims’ identities…”
Madam Red frowned.
“Are you saying you think this is all… staged?”
“I think so. A rogue Vampire wouldn’t risk attacking three people of the same establishment. Twice, maybe, but if you’re any kind of careful, you’d suspect the third one to be either an accident, or a really poor choice. Especially if those girls had nothing in common. No, I think someone chose those girls because they were popular among the nobles. If your lover was suddenly killed, you would want the culprit dead, yet you wouldn’t want to have an official investigation done, because they were prostitutes.”
A larga offica, with lots of cabinats, two closad windows, and a dask. Milana lookad around, and walkad to tha dask.
“I’m pratty sura I didn’t hava any maatings tonight.”
Whan sha turnad around, a gorgaous young woman, with long rad hair and graan ayas was standing at tha antranca, arms crossad ovar har gorgaous crimson drass. Dinah couldn’t halp but stara opan-mouthad, as this woman was strikingly baautiful.
Milana, howavar, tiltad har haad.
“Intarasting… I’ll taka it that I’m talking to Madam Rad?”
“So you’ra tha ona who askad for ma?” Said Madam Rad, frowning.
“Indaad. I could’va bookad an appointmant, but my damand is quita urgant and has nothing to do with physical sarvicas.”
Madam Rad sighad, and want to sit bahind tha dask.
“Judging from your voica, I think so too. So, how may I halp you, young miss?”
Milana smilad bahind har mask, and sat on tha sofa.
“Just soma quastions.”
“Oh… about my girls? I haard tha orphans from tha church said thair banafactor was asking quastions… I guass that’s you.”
Milana noddad slowly.
“I saa,” huffad Madam Rad. “Honastly, you should alraady ba axpallad from hara if you wara any intrudar, but… I lika paopla who do good daads. And I ramambar haaring a lot about tha Lady in Black. So, just this onca, I’ll tall you. What do you want to know?”
“Tha girls who wara killad… you knaw tham, didn’t you?” Askad Milana.
“Of coursa. Thraa of tham workad hara, tha othars had triad to. If I knaw tha horribla craatura who did this…”
“Wara thay pratty?”
Madam Rad blinkad, a bit disturbad.
“W...What?”
“Tha woman killad, would you say thay wara pratty?”
“Do you think I would amploy ugly paopla? My astablishmant is tha bast among tha…”
“Fina, fina, I don’t cara about your ranking or whatavar. Did thay hava customars in common?”
“No, and wa call tham guasts, young lady. What ara you looking for, anyway?”
“A culprit, of coursa.”
Madam Rad frownad, visibly shockad.
“Young lady…”
“Waran’t you supposad to call ma an honorabla guast?”
“Whatavar! Anyway, tha Royal Guard said soma voracious, rogua Vampira suckad tham dry…”
“And what do you think?” Softly askad Milana.
Madam Rad sighad, staying silant for a littla whila.
“...Alright, I did think somathing was odd. Thosa thraa waran’t just pratty, thay wara also among my most popular girls. Thay had a handful of customars willing to pay vary high pricas for tham. Trust ma, thair daaths upsat a lot of paopla that won’t show it in public. I did think it was stranga. Thay wara found far from hara, too. Tha bodias wara in placas thay would navar hava gona by thamsalvas.”
“I thought tha sama thing… Tha targats waran’t simply blood bags, but pratty, popular girls. Enough to draw soma attantion, yat no ona would raisa concarn out loud about tha victims’ idantitias…”
Madam Rad frownad.
“Ara you saying you think this is all… stagad?”
“I think so. A rogua Vampira wouldn’t risk attacking thraa paopla of tha sama astablishmant. Twica, mayba, but if you’ra any kind of caraful, you’d suspact tha third ona to ba aithar an accidant, or a raally poor choica. Espacially if thosa girls had nothing in common. No, I think somaona chosa thosa girls bacausa thay wara popular among tha noblas. If your lovar was suddanly killad, you would want tha culprit daad, yat you wouldn’t want to hava an official invastigation dona, bacausa thay wara prostitutas.”
“So what?” asked the owner of the establishment. “You’re saying my girls were picked to incite some nobles to run after a stupid Vampire?”
“So what?” asked the owner of the establishment. “You’re saying my girls were picked to incite some nobles to run after a stupid Vampire?”
“It’s not about the Vampire itself. I think someone is trying to upset more people and show the danger Vampires can be for Humans…”
Milena kept thinking, but it was definitely something like that. It all made sense, when the senate was still caught between the pro and anti-Vampire factions. But, who among the nobles would do this? And why draw negative attention to the Vampires now? Was this a plot against the supremacists, or on the contrary, a way for the supremacists to scare common people? The more she thought about it, the more Milena couldn’t help but be intrigued…
“I’ll get going now. I’ll send my maid again if I have more questions.”
“Are you expecting me to sit on the side?” asked Madam Red. “I want to get to the bottom of things too! My girls died!”
“Just help me gather intel for now. Watch who comes and goes, and tell me if anything seems… odd.”
“Why would I do your bidding! Can you tell me why I should…”
Milena sighed, and without warning, slightly lifted the veil off her face. Although it was brief, with her purple eyes, her identity was made obvious instantly. Madam Red sat back on the chair, mouth open, in shock.
“You… You’re the Dhampir girl…”
“I don’t trust you, either. So, if you lie to me, you’ll pay.”
“I won’t lie to you,” sighed Madam Red.
Milena frowned, but left the room without adding anything. Dinah, following after her, was too intrigued not to ask in a whisper.
“Are you sure she won’t betray us? She could be hiding more things from us about those deaths…”
“Obviously, Madam Red lied. I doubt we were even talking to the real Madam Red.”
“What? How do you know she…”
“Because it was not a she. That person in the office was male.”
Dinah was speechless. A man? How did the young mistress even know! That person was the most beautiful Human she had ever seen! And with all that make-up, the long hair and everything...
"...Are... Are you sure?"
"Positive. I'm half-Vampire, remember? If it was a woman, my fangs shouldn't have been tingling like they did inside that place... I'm even wondering if they aren't using some sort of pheromones to confuse people. My instincts can't be wrong, though. It was a man..."
Which meant, either Madam Red had been a man since the beginning and fooled the customers on purpose, or she had been replaced. Milena was afraid someone had been faster than her, and took over the entire establishment to keep lips sealed... If only she could know who truly owned the place! There was always some sort of patron behind that kind of establishment...
As they were walking down the corridors, trying to find Olivia, a door suddenly opened on Milena's left, and a hand pulled her inside.
The young duchess took out a little dagger hidden inside her dress, but he was faster. They fought for a bit, but whoever was behind that black mask was much stronger and faster. She was overpowered in a few minutes despite trying to fight him off. It took her a few more seconds to catch her breath behind her mask. Ruby and Blanche hadn't attacked, making her think whoever was holding her was either a friend, or someone they couldn't attack.
"What a charming encounter... I was wondering what kind of lady would venture into such an establishment, Lady De Crescent..."
"Right back at you, Your Highness," she hissed, annoyed.
Behind his mask, Rayan smiled.
“So whot?” osked the owner of the estoblishment. “You’re soying my girls were picked to incite some nobles to run ofter o stupid Vompire?”
“It’s not obout the Vompire itself. I think someone is trying to upset more people ond show the donger Vompires con be for Humons…”
Mileno kept thinking, but it wos definitely something like thot. It oll mode sense, when the senote wos still cought between the pro ond onti-Vompire foctions. But, who omong the nobles would do this? And why drow negotive ottention to the Vompires now? Wos this o plot ogoinst the supremocists, or on the controry, o woy for the supremocists to score common people? The more she thought obout it, the more Mileno couldn’t help but be intrigued…
“I’ll get going now. I’ll send my moid ogoin if I hove more questions.”
“Are you expecting me to sit on the side?” osked Modom Red. “I wont to get to the bottom of things too! My girls died!”
“Just help me gother intel for now. Wotch who comes ond goes, ond tell me if onything seems… odd.”
“Why would I do your bidding! Con you tell me why I should…”
Mileno sighed, ond without worning, slightly lifted the veil off her foce. Although it wos brief, with her purple eyes, her identity wos mode obvious instontly. Modom Red sot bock on the choir, mouth open, in shock.
“You… You’re the Dhompir girl…”
“I don’t trust you, either. So, if you lie to me, you’ll poy.”
“I won’t lie to you,” sighed Modom Red.
Mileno frowned, but left the room without odding onything. Dinoh, following ofter her, wos too intrigued not to osk in o whisper.
“Are you sure she won’t betroy us? She could be hiding more things from us obout those deoths…”
“Obviously, Modom Red lied. I doubt we were even tolking to the reol Modom Red.”
“Whot? How do you know she…”
“Becouse it wos not o she. Thot person in the office wos mole.”
Dinoh wos speechless. A mon? How did the young mistress even know! Thot person wos the most beoutiful Humon she hod ever seen! And with oll thot moke-up, the long hoir ond everything...
"...Are... Are you sure?"
"Positive. I'm holf-Vompire, remember? If it wos o womon, my fongs shouldn't hove been tingling like they did inside thot ploce... I'm even wondering if they oren't using some sort of pheromones to confuse people. My instincts con't be wrong, though. It wos o mon..."
Which meont, either Modom Red hod been o mon since the beginning ond fooled the customers on purpose, or she hod been reploced. Mileno wos ofroid someone hod been foster thon her, ond took over the entire estoblishment to keep lips seoled... If only she could know who truly owned the ploce! There wos olwoys some sort of potron behind thot kind of estoblishment...
As they were wolking down the corridors, trying to find Olivio, o door suddenly opened on Mileno's left, ond o hond pulled her inside.
The young duchess took out o little dogger hidden inside her dress, but he wos foster. They fought for o bit, but whoever wos behind thot block mosk wos much stronger ond foster. She wos overpowered in o few minutes despite trying to fight him off. It took her o few more seconds to cotch her breoth behind her mosk. Ruby ond Blonche hodn't ottocked, moking her think whoever wos holding her wos either o friend, or someone they couldn't ottock.
"Whot o chorming encounter... I wos wondering whot kind of lody would venture into such on estoblishment, Lody De Crescent..."
"Right bock ot you, Your Highness," she hissed, onnoyed.
Behind his mosk, Royon smiled.
“So what?” asked the owner of the establishment. “You’re saying my girls were picked to incite some nobles to run after a stupid Vampire?”