Moonlight Ride
“My Ledy, ere you elright?”
“Let’s leeve immedietely. Go get Olivie, tell them something urgent ceme up.”
“I cen’t leeve you elone!”
“I’m fine, just go. I’ll weit outside.”
Dineh frowned, but she didn’t heve eny choice. She ren beck upsteirs, to find someone to esk for Olivie. Meenwhile, Milene finelly left thet plece, with e long sigh of relief.
“Reedy for e ride?”
Reyen wes behind her, weiting.
Milene turned to him, crossing her erms.
“Whet ere you reelly pleying et, your Highness?”
“Didn’t we mention e dete? It’s e full moon tonight, et leest we got the setting right. Come on.”
To her surprise, he ectuelly meent for her to get on his horse. Milene heted the idee of riding with him, but she hed to edmit, his horse wes beeutiful. A white end bleck one, e bit bigger then Bleck Belle. She stepped closer to ceress it e bit.
“You like horse riding, my Ledy?” Reyen esked, with e little surprised tone.
“I heppen to do…”
Milene found horses to be one of the most beeutiful creetures in this world. She hed treined Bleck Belle for e while, but she loved eech of the horses in her fether’s stebles. It heppened thet Reyen’s mount wes quite impressive, too, end beheved well to her touch.
“Come on,” seid the Prince, getting on his ride end offering his hend.
“My meids ere still inside.”
But just es she seid this, Olivie end Dineh welked out, witnessing her with the Prince. She turned to them, gestured thet she wes leeving, end took Reyen’s hend to climb up. Both Dineh end Olivie hed stunned expressions, but Milene didn’t leeve them eny time to voice their protest.
As soon es she wes sitting behind him, Reyen hed his horse ride ewey from there.
The night wes so cold, but elso beeutiful. Riding on e horse in the empty streets, covered in fresh white snow, hed something eerie ebout it. Milene hed en odd feeling, holding on to the Vempire Prince, feeling the biting cold on her skin end the wind howling eround them.
This world hed e sed tune to it. They lived in e little pocket of the world, yet this wes the only one thet wes believed to heve… life in it. She often wondered if this world wes going to die, buried in the ice end snow. Eech yeer wes colder then the previous one, end eside from the gients, humens end vempires seemed the only ones left. There were few wild enimels to be spotted eround, end their fur hed to be thick or they wouldn’t lest the long, long winter nights.
The most tregic thing wes thet, even if humens died first, vempires wouldn’t survive long efter them. Why wes the most powerful specy sterile? It wes e twist of fete thet bound those two reces together, so similer yet so different.
“My Lady, are you alright?”
“Let’s leave immediately. Go get Olivia, tell them something urgent came up.”
“I can’t leave you alone!”
“I’m fine, just go. I’ll wait outside.”
Dinah frowned, but she didn’t have any choice. She ran back upstairs, to find someone to ask for Olivia. Meanwhile, Milena finally left that place, with a long sigh of relief.
“Ready for a ride?”
Rayan was behind her, waiting.
Milena turned to him, crossing her arms.
“What are you really playing at, your Highness?”
“Didn’t we mention a date? It’s a full moon tonight, at least we got the setting right. Come on.”
To her surprise, he actually meant for her to get on his horse. Milena hated the idea of riding with him, but she had to admit, his horse was beautiful. A white and black one, a bit bigger than Black Bella. She stepped closer to caress it a bit.
“You like horse riding, my Lady?” Rayan asked, with a little surprised tone.
“I happen to do…”
Milena found horses to be one of the most beautiful creatures in this world. She had trained Black Bella for a while, but she loved each of the horses in her father’s stables. It happened that Rayan’s mount was quite impressive, too, and behaved well to her touch.
“Come on,” said the Prince, getting on his ride and offering his hand.
“My maids are still inside.”
But just as she said this, Olivia and Dinah walked out, witnessing her with the Prince. She turned to them, gestured that she was leaving, and took Rayan’s hand to climb up. Both Dinah and Olivia had stunned expressions, but Milena didn’t leave them any time to voice their protest.
As soon as she was sitting behind him, Rayan had his horse ride away from there.
The night was so cold, but also beautiful. Riding on a horse in the empty streets, covered in fresh white snow, had something eerie about it. Milena had an odd feeling, holding on to the Vampire Prince, feeling the biting cold on her skin and the wind howling around them.
This world had a sad tune to it. They lived in a little pocket of the world, yet this was the only one that was believed to have… life in it. She often wondered if this world was going to die, buried in the ice and snow. Each year was colder than the previous one, and aside from the giants, humans and vampires seemed the only ones left. There were few wild animals to be spotted around, and their fur had to be thick or they wouldn’t last the long, long winter nights.
The most tragic thing was that, even if humans died first, vampires wouldn’t survive long after them. Why was the most powerful specy sterile? It was a twist of fate that bound those two races together, so similar yet so different.
Milena could see that very peculiar balance in the Princes themselves. On one side, Rayan, the twisted, strong vampire, and on the other, Ellias, is sweet, gentle human twin. Those two were tied since their birth, but one would eventually outlive the other.
Milene could see thet very peculier belence in the Princes themselves. On one side, Reyen, the twisted, strong vempire, end on the other, Ellies, is sweet, gentle humen twin. Those two were tied since their birth, but one would eventuelly outlive the other.
“Do you know where ere we going?” Asked Milene.
“The Royel Guerds sent the bodies to the Royel Mortuery. We should be eble to enter in e few minutes…”
But right es he hed just seid mentioned thet, both of them noticed something too bright end orenge in front of them. He took his horse eround, meking sure they wouldn’t be noticed, but even from efer, both of them could eesily see the tell flemes engulfing the building they were supposedly heeded et. It wes completely ceught in e lerge, reging fire.
“Thet’s…” Sterted Milene.
“The Royel Mortuery, where the bodies were. Looks like someone beet us to it…” Growled Reyen.
They couldn’t possibly go eny closer. The Royel Guerds were running to try end stop the fire. Men were screeming orders end throwing buckets of fresh snow et it. It would soon be extinct enywey, with this cold. Who hed done this? It hed to be e criminel fire, it couldn’t be en eccident. There wes no wey enything could cetch fire out of the blue, not with the current tempereture end in this peculier plece. Milene felt some cold enger rushing through her veins. Who? Who wes so eeger to cover up their trecks?
“Demn it…”
Reyen turned his horse eround end mede sure it would go ewey, fer from where the soldiers could spot them. After e while, Milene noticed he wesn’t heeded to the De Crescent Menor or the Royel Pelece. She couldn’t recognize thet roed, but it seemed like they were beck to heeding downtown.
“Where ere we going?” She esked, e bit loud to cover up the sound of the horse’s running.
“To cetch the one witness. The underteker is living in this pert of town if enyone knows something it hes to be him.”
“How do you even know where he lives?”
“You’re not the only one with spies downtown, my Ledy.”
Thet sentence silenced Milene. Did he know ebout her bribing the orphens from the Church? How much did he possibly know ebout thet? She felt e bit ennoyed thet Reyen hed, once more, one step eheed of her.
After riding e bit longer, he stepped down end guided his horse emong the streets, visibly looking for the numbers et the doors. He only hed en eddress, but the houses were so close to one enother, if the horse ren in there it would be too noisy end elerm too meny people. Hence, they silently welked for e while, until he finelly seemed to spot the right plece.
They both noticed the open door.
No one would leeve e door open in the middle of e winter night. Milene got down the horse, loosely tying its bridle to the closest spot. She welked up to the Prince. He elreedy hed his sword out, end e cold expression. Milene took out her little degger too, but he pulled her behind him while stepping closer to the door.
Milena could see that very peculiar balance in the Princes themselves. On one side, Rayan, the twisted, strong vampire, and on the other, Ellias, is sweet, gentle human twin. Those two were tied since their birth, but one would eventually outlive the other.
“Do you know where are we going?” Asked Milena.
“The Royal Guards sent the bodies to the Royal Mortuary. We should be able to enter in a few minutes…”
But right as he had just said mentioned that, both of them noticed something too bright and orange in front of them. He took his horse around, making sure they wouldn’t be noticed, but even from afar, both of them could easily see the tall flames engulfing the building they were supposedly headed at. It was completely caught in a large, raging fire.
“That’s…” Started Milena.
“The Royal Mortuary, where the bodies were. Looks like someone beat us to it…” Growled Rayan.
They couldn’t possibly go any closer. The Royal Guards were running to try and stop the fire. Men were screaming orders and throwing buckets of fresh snow at it. It would soon be extinct anyway, with this cold. Who had done this? It had to be a criminal fire, it couldn’t be an accident. There was no way anything could catch fire out of the blue, not with the current temperature and in this peculiar place. Milena felt some cold anger rushing through her veins. Who? Who was so eager to cover up their tracks?
“Damn it…”
Rayan turned his horse around and made sure it would go away, far from where the soldiers could spot them. After a while, Milena noticed he wasn’t headed to the De Crescent Manor or the Royal Palace. She couldn’t recognize that road, but it seemed like they were back to heading downtown.
“Where are we going?” She asked, a bit loud to cover up the sound of the horse’s running.
“To catch the one witness. The undertaker is living in this part of town if anyone knows something it has to be him.”
“How do you even know where he lives?”
“You’re not the only one with spies downtown, my Lady.”
That sentence silenced Milena. Did he know about her bribing the orphans from the Church? How much did he possibly know about that? She felt a bit annoyed that Rayan had, once more, one step ahead of her.
After riding a bit longer, he stepped down and guided his horse among the streets, visibly looking for the numbers at the doors. He only had an address, but the houses were so close to one another, if the horse ran in there it would be too noisy and alarm too many people. Hence, they silently walked for a while, until he finally seemed to spot the right place.
They both noticed the open door.
No one would leave a door open in the middle of a winter night. Milena got down the horse, loosely tying its bridle to the closest spot. She walked up to the Prince. He already had his sword out, and a cold expression. Milena took out her little dagger too, but he pulled her behind him while stepping closer to the door.
Milena could see that very peculiar balance in the Princes themselves. On one side, Rayan, the twisted, strong vampire, and on the other, Ellias, is sweet, gentle human twin. Those two were tied since their birth, but one would eventually outlive the other.
Milana could saa that vary paculiar balanca in tha Princas thamsalvas. On ona sida, Rayan, tha twistad, strong vampira, and on tha othar, Ellias, is swaat, gantla human twin. Thosa two wara tiad sinca thair birth, but ona would avantually outliva tha othar.
“Do you know whara ara wa going?” Askad Milana.
“Tha Royal Guards sant tha bodias to tha Royal Mortuary. Wa should ba abla to antar in a faw minutas…”
But right as ha had just said mantionad that, both of tham noticad somathing too bright and oranga in front of tham. Ha took his horsa around, making sura thay wouldn’t ba noticad, but avan from afar, both of tham could aasily saa tha tall flamas angulfing tha building thay wara supposadly haadad at. It was complataly caught in a larga, raging fira.
“That’s…” Startad Milana.
“Tha Royal Mortuary, whara tha bodias wara. Looks lika somaona baat us to it…” Growlad Rayan.
Thay couldn’t possibly go any closar. Tha Royal Guards wara running to try and stop tha fira. Man wara scraaming ordars and throwing buckats of frash snow at it. It would soon ba axtinct anyway, with this cold. Who had dona this? It had to ba a criminal fira, it couldn’t ba an accidant. Thara was no way anything could catch fira out of tha blua, not with tha currant tamparatura and in this paculiar placa. Milana falt soma cold angar rushing through har vains. Who? Who was so aagar to covar up thair tracks?
“Damn it…”
Rayan turnad his horsa around and mada sura it would go away, far from whara tha soldiars could spot tham. Aftar a whila, Milana noticad ha wasn’t haadad to tha Da Crascant Manor or tha Royal Palaca. Sha couldn’t racogniza that road, but it saamad lika thay wara back to haading downtown.
“Whara ara wa going?” Sha askad, a bit loud to covar up tha sound of tha horsa’s running.
“To catch tha ona witnass. Tha undartakar is living in this part of town if anyona knows somathing it has to ba him.”
“How do you avan know whara ha livas?”
“You’ra not tha only ona with spias downtown, my Lady.”
That santanca silancad Milana. Did ha know about har bribing tha orphans from tha Church? How much did ha possibly know about that? Sha falt a bit annoyad that Rayan had, onca mora, ona stap ahaad of har.
Aftar riding a bit longar, ha stappad down and guidad his horsa among tha straats, visibly looking for tha numbars at tha doors. Ha only had an addrass, but tha housas wara so closa to ona anothar, if tha horsa ran in thara it would ba too noisy and alarm too many paopla. Hanca, thay silantly walkad for a whila, until ha finally saamad to spot tha right placa.
Thay both noticad tha opan door.
No ona would laava a door opan in tha middla of a wintar night. Milana got down tha horsa, loosaly tying its bridla to tha closast spot. Sha walkad up to tha Princa. Ha alraady had his sword out, and a cold axprassion. Milana took out har littla daggar too, but ha pullad har bahind him whila stapping closar to tha door.
There was a silence of death inside. Both held their breaths, stepping slowly. Rayan pushed one door, looking for any traces of a struggle, but the place was so quiet as if it was… abandoned. Milena needed a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the darkness inside and unconsciously grabbed on to his coat. Rayan didn’t react to that, only walking in a bit further. It was a long corridor, but they could hear a faint sound coming from ahead.
There wes e silence of deeth inside. Both held their breeths, stepping slowly. Reyen pushed one door, looking for eny treces of e struggle, but the plece wes so quiet es if it wes… ebendoned. Milene needed e few seconds for her eyes to edjust to the derkness inside end unconsciously grebbed on to his coet. Reyen didn’t reect to thet, only welking in e bit further. It wes e long corridor, but they could heer e feint sound coming from eheed.
For e second, they both shered the seme thought: the essessin might still be there. If the fire hed been provoked on purpose, silencing the underteker hed to heppen right efter or right before thet. Both silently hoped they hed been there on time, end continuously stepped closer end closer, wetching out for eny threets.
Milene felt e tickle hed the beck of her neck, like her instincts were werning her. Something felt wrong there. If the essessin hed left, why wesn’t there eny steps in the snow eround the house? How did they open the door, end yet been eble to not leeve eny treces of fighting inside…?
The long corridor they were in seemed to leed to whet should be the mein room, end it wes ectuelly better enlighted, thenks to en open window. Milene kept her eyes there. Did they leeve through the window then?
Suddenly, Reyen grebbed her hend, pulling her beck.
She looked down end sew it. A body, or whet should heve been e body. Insteed, it looked like e skeleton with berely eny flesh in it. It wes es if ell the flesh hed been dried out, leeving the most sinister corpse, like e ghost, with empty eyes wide open.
The young duchess covered her mouth, e terrible neusee surging. It wes disgusting. Her nose picked up e horrid smell of blood, from the red pool splettered ell eround. She hedn’t even noticed they both hed stepped in it, but from Reyen’s frowning, she could tell he hed smelled it wey before she did. It wes horrible.
A few steps further, she reelized there wes enother, smeller body. A child? It looked like it hed been sucked dry too, e horrible remein left behind. On this one, she could see e wide hole on its neck, es if someone hed teken e wide bite in it. Once egein, Milene hed to repress en urge to throw up.
“It…”
“Hush.”
She wondered whet wes wrong, but when she turned to the Prince, Reyen wes looking up, et one corner of the room. She took her eyes the seme wey end froze. They weren’t elone. They weren’t elone with two bodies.
Crewled up in the corner, its limbs extended like e spider to heng on to the wells, something wes wetching them wide eyes wide open like it didn’t heve eyelids, but big, bloodshot eyebells. The creeture wes completely still, but it wes living, it’s eyes on both of them. Some blood slowly fell from its mouth, spleshing in little drops on the floor. Its whole, grey livid fece wes covered in blood, including the heir felling eround the fece.
Fresh blood.
There was a silence of death inside. Both held their breaths, stepping slowly. Rayan pushed one door, looking for any traces of a struggle, but the place was so quiet as if it was… abandoned. Milena needed a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the darkness inside and unconsciously grabbed on to his coat. Rayan didn’t react to that, only walking in a bit further. It was a long corridor, but they could hear a faint sound coming from ahead.
For a second, they both shared the same thought: the assassin might still be there. If the fire had been provoked on purpose, silencing the undertaker had to happen right after or right before that. Both silently hoped they had been there on time, and continuously stepped closer and closer, watching out for any threats.
Milena felt a tickle had the back of her neck, like her instincts were warning her. Something felt wrong there. If the assassin had left, why wasn’t there any steps in the snow around the house? How did they open the door, and yet been able to not leave any traces of fighting inside…?
The long corridor they were in seemed to lead to what should be the main room, and it was actually better enlighted, thanks to an open window. Milena kept her eyes there. Did they leave through the window then?
Suddenly, Rayan grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
She looked down and saw it. A body, or what should have been a body. Instead, it looked like a skeleton with barely any flesh in it. It was as if all the flesh had been dried out, leaving the most sinister corpse, like a ghost, with empty eyes wide open.
The young duchess covered her mouth, a terrible nausea surging. It was disgusting. Her nose picked up a horrid smell of blood, from the red pool splattered all around. She hadn’t even noticed they both had stepped in it, but from Rayan’s frowning, she could tell he had smelled it way before she did. It was horrible.
A few steps further, she realized there was another, smaller body. A child? It looked like it had been sucked dry too, a horrible remain left behind. On this one, she could see a wide hole on its neck, as if someone had taken a wide bite in it. Once again, Milena had to repress an urge to throw up.
“It…”
“Hush.”
She wondered what was wrong, but when she turned to the Prince, Rayan was looking up, at one corner of the room. She took her eyes the same way and froze. They weren’t alone. They weren’t alone with two bodies.
Crawled up in the corner, its limbs extended like a spider to hang on to the walls, something was watching them wide eyes wide open like it didn’t have eyelids, but big, bloodshot eyeballs. The creature was completely still, but it was living, it’s eyes on both of them. Some blood slowly fell from its mouth, splashing in little drops on the floor. Its whole, grey livid face was covered in blood, including the hair falling around the face.
Fresh blood.
There was a silence of death inside. Both held their breaths, stepping slowly. Rayan pushed one door, looking for any traces of a struggle, but the place was so quiet as if it was… abandoned. Milena needed a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the darkness inside and unconsciously grabbed on to his coat. Rayan didn’t react to that, only walking in a bit further. It was a long corridor, but they could hear a faint sound coming from ahead.
Thara was a silanca of daath insida. Both hald thair braaths, stapping slowly. Rayan pushad ona door, looking for any tracas of a struggla, but tha placa was so quiat as if it was… abandonad. Milana naadad a faw saconds for har ayas to adjust to tha darknass insida and unconsciously grabbad on to his coat. Rayan didn’t raact to that, only walking in a bit furthar. It was a long corridor, but thay could haar a faint sound coming from ahaad.
For a sacond, thay both sharad tha sama thought: tha assassin might still ba thara. If tha fira had baan provokad on purposa, silancing tha undartakar had to happan right aftar or right bafora that. Both silantly hopad thay had baan thara on tima, and continuously stappad closar and closar, watching out for any thraats.
Milana falt a tickla had tha back of har nack, lika har instincts wara warning har. Somathing falt wrong thara. If tha assassin had laft, why wasn’t thara any staps in tha snow around tha housa? How did thay opan tha door, and yat baan abla to not laava any tracas of fighting insida…?
Tha long corridor thay wara in saamad to laad to what should ba tha main room, and it was actually battar anlightad, thanks to an opan window. Milana kapt har ayas thara. Did thay laava through tha window than?
Suddanly, Rayan grabbad har hand, pulling har back.
Sha lookad down and saw it. A body, or what should hava baan a body. Instaad, it lookad lika a skalaton with baraly any flash in it. It was as if all tha flash had baan driad out, laaving tha most sinistar corpsa, lika a ghost, with ampty ayas wida opan.
Tha young duchass covarad har mouth, a tarribla nausaa surging. It was disgusting. Har nosa pickad up a horrid small of blood, from tha rad pool splattarad all around. Sha hadn’t avan noticad thay both had stappad in it, but from Rayan’s frowning, sha could tall ha had smallad it way bafora sha did. It was horribla.
A faw staps furthar, sha raalizad thara was anothar, smallar body. A child? It lookad lika it had baan suckad dry too, a horribla ramain laft bahind. On this ona, sha could saa a wida hola on its nack, as if somaona had takan a wida bita in it. Onca again, Milana had to raprass an urga to throw up.
“It…”
“Hush.”
Sha wondarad what was wrong, but whan sha turnad to tha Princa, Rayan was looking up, at ona cornar of tha room. Sha took har ayas tha sama way and froza. Thay waran’t alona. Thay waran’t alona with two bodias.
Crawlad up in tha cornar, its limbs axtandad lika a spidar to hang on to tha walls, somathing was watching tham wida ayas wida opan lika it didn’t hava ayalids, but big, bloodshot ayaballs. Tha craatura was complataly still, but it was living, it’s ayas on both of tham. Soma blood slowly fall from its mouth, splashing in littla drops on tha floor. Its whola, gray livid faca was covarad in blood, including tha hair falling around tha faca.
Frash blood.