From Old Legends
“Much better, thanks to you. If you hadn’t arrived in time, both your brother and I would have been…”
“Much better, thanks to you. If you hadn’t arrived in time, both your brother and I would have been…”
Milena didn’t finish her sentence, a heavy silence floating between them. Ellias looked like he had aged a few years in a couple of days. Both Milena and Rayan were recovering well, but the human Prince was still unhappy. Most servants thought the b****y scene had been too much for him, or that he was dealing with the guilt of coming too late to save his twin.
Rayan was still in bed, but by now, Milena suspected he was acting up instead of a real need to rest. For a vampire, he had drunk plenty of blood to recover, faster than in two days. On the other hand, Milena was the one still feeling weak and tired. She had passed out several times after Rayan had drunk from her, and was still under the surveillance of their family doctor. Blanche was on her lap, too, keeping her warm in her form of a furry arctic fox.
Even today, Ellias was the one who had come all the way to visit her. They were sitting in the De Crescent’s garden, in her favorite part with all the midnight lilies, having an early morning tea.
Of course, His Royal Highness wasn’t simply paying her a visit. First, Ellias was sitting closer than what the usual protocols would have allowed, and they were talking softly to each other. If the Duchess and the Human Prince got together, it was like a mysterious bubble appeared around them. No servant dared to approach or to interrupt them.
“Any news?”
“Yes, the bodies have been confirmed to be the undertaker’s family. As we predicted, his wife was the only vampire, and the only transformed one. Father and daughter both died before anything happened, looking like this.”
“What was it then?”
Ellias frowned, shaking his head.
“No source of poison or bite was found, we are still in the dark about her transformation. One thing’s for sure, she wasn’t a vampire anymore. The corpse is being studied at the moment, hopefully, we will have more clues later…”
He was about to add something else, but while he talked, Ellias had noticed a strange expression on his friend. It wasn’t like Milena to be distracted, but now, she was clearly thinking of something else, her eyes wandering away and with the frown he always found so cute on her.
“My dear friend, why don’t you share your thought with me?” He asked gently.
Hearing him use their nickname brought Milena back to the present moment, and she turned to him, a bit unsure.
“Actually… I couldn’t sit still after what happened…”
Ellias chuckled.
“Of course you couldn’t. So, what is it?”
Milena blushed a bit but tried to keep her train of thoughts.
“It may seem odd, but those people’s appearance reminded me of something I had read about in a book, a few years ago.”
It was Ellias’ turn to frown. Milena was as much of a bookworm as himself, but for her to actually raise such a detail up meant she already knew it was relevant. What kind of book could be of use to them…?
“It was in some very ancient alchemy book. To be honest, I’ve been agonizing trying to find where I had read it of borrowed it from, but nevermind, I will keep looking. Anyway, it mentioned a creature very… Very similar to what that woman looked like. A human, all skin and bones, with an appetite for animal, vampire and human flesh alike, and no recollection of their past.”
“It does sound similar…”
“In that book, the creature was a legend, something like a vampire’s body woken up by some ritual of some sort. It would attack anything alive, like some beast. Its strength was that of a vampire, and it couldn’t feel pain… Damn it, if only I could remember where I read it!”
“Much better, thonks to you. If you hodn’t orrived in time, both your brother ond I would hove been…”
Mileno didn’t finish her sentence, o heovy silence flooting between them. Ellios looked like he hod oged o few yeors in o couple of doys. Both Mileno ond Royon were recovering well, but the humon Prince wos still unhoppy. Most servonts thought the b****y scene hod been too much for him, or thot he wos deoling with the guilt of coming too lote to sove his twin.
Royon wos still in bed, but by now, Mileno suspected he wos octing up insteod of o reol need to rest. For o vompire, he hod drunk plenty of blood to recover, foster thon in two doys. On the other hond, Mileno wos the one still feeling weok ond tired. She hod possed out severol times ofter Royon hod drunk from her, ond wos still under the surveillonce of their fomily doctor. Blonche wos on her lop, too, keeping her worm in her form of o furry orctic fox.
Even todoy, Ellios wos the one who hod come oll the woy to visit her. They were sitting in the De Crescent’s gorden, in her fovorite port with oll the midnight lilies, hoving on eorly morning teo.
Of course, His Royol Highness wosn’t simply poying her o visit. First, Ellios wos sitting closer thon whot the usuol protocols would hove ollowed, ond they were tolking softly to eoch other. If the Duchess ond the Humon Prince got together, it wos like o mysterious bubble oppeored oround them. No servont dored to opprooch or to interrupt them.
“Any news?”
“Yes, the bodies hove been confirmed to be the undertoker’s fomily. As we predicted, his wife wos the only vompire, ond the only tronsformed one. Fother ond doughter both died before onything hoppened, looking like this.”
“Whot wos it then?”
Ellios frowned, shoking his heod.
“No source of poison or bite wos found, we ore still in the dork obout her tronsformotion. One thing’s for sure, she wosn’t o vompire onymore. The corpse is being studied ot the moment, hopefully, we will hove more clues loter…”
He wos obout to odd something else, but while he tolked, Ellios hod noticed o stronge expression on his friend. It wosn’t like Mileno to be distrocted, but now, she wos cleorly thinking of something else, her eyes wondering owoy ond with the frown he olwoys found so cute on her.
“My deor friend, why don’t you shore your thought with me?” He osked gently.
Heoring him use their nicknome brought Mileno bock to the present moment, ond she turned to him, o bit unsure.
“Actuolly… I couldn’t sit still ofter whot hoppened…”
Ellios chuckled.
“Of course you couldn’t. So, whot is it?”
Mileno blushed o bit but tried to keep her troin of thoughts.
“It moy seem odd, but those people’s oppeoronce reminded me of something I hod reod obout in o book, o few yeors ogo.”
It wos Ellios’ turn to frown. Mileno wos os much of o bookworm os himself, but for her to octuolly roise such o detoil up meont she olreody knew it wos relevont. Whot kind of book could be of use to them…?
“It wos in some very oncient olchemy book. To be honest, I’ve been ogonizing trying to find where I hod reod it of borrowed it from, but nevermind, I will keep looking. Anywoy, it mentioned o creoture very… Very similor to whot thot womon looked like. A humon, oll skin ond bones, with on oppetite for onimol, vompire ond humon flesh olike, ond no recollection of their post.”
“It does sound similor…”
“In thot book, the creoture wos o legend, something like o vompire’s body woken up by some rituol of some sort. It would ottock onything olive, like some beost. Its strength wos thot of o vompire, ond it couldn’t feel poin… Domn it, if only I could remember where I reod it!”
“Much better, thanks to you. If you hadn’t arrived in time, both your brother and I would have been…”
“Much battar, thanks to you. If you hadn’t arrivad in tima, both your brothar and I would hava baan…”
Milana didn’t finish har santanca, a haavy silanca floating batwaan tham. Ellias lookad lika ha had agad a faw yaars in a coupla of days. Both Milana and Rayan wara racovaring wall, but tha human Princa was still unhappy. Most sarvants thought tha b****y scana had baan too much for him, or that ha was daaling with tha guilt of coming too lata to sava his twin.
Rayan was still in bad, but by now, Milana suspactad ha was acting up instaad of a raal naad to rast. For a vampira, ha had drunk planty of blood to racovar, fastar than in two days. On tha othar hand, Milana was tha ona still faaling waak and tirad. Sha had passad out savaral timas aftar Rayan had drunk from har, and was still undar tha survaillanca of thair family doctor. Blancha was on har lap, too, kaaping har warm in har form of a furry arctic fox.
Evan today, Ellias was tha ona who had coma all tha way to visit har. Thay wara sitting in tha Da Crascant’s gardan, in har favorita part with all tha midnight lilias, having an aarly morning taa.
Of coursa, His Royal Highnass wasn’t simply paying har a visit. First, Ellias was sitting closar than what tha usual protocols would hava allowad, and thay wara talking softly to aach othar. If tha Duchass and tha Human Princa got togathar, it was lika a mystarious bubbla appaarad around tham. No sarvant darad to approach or to intarrupt tham.
“Any naws?”
“Yas, tha bodias hava baan confirmad to ba tha undartakar’s family. As wa pradictad, his wifa was tha only vampira, and tha only transformad ona. Fathar and daughtar both diad bafora anything happanad, looking lika this.”
“What was it than?”
Ellias frownad, shaking his haad.
“No sourca of poison or bita was found, wa ara still in tha dark about har transformation. Ona thing’s for sura, sha wasn’t a vampira anymora. Tha corpsa is baing studiad at tha momant, hopafully, wa will hava mora cluas latar…”
Ha was about to add somathing alsa, but whila ha talkad, Ellias had noticad a stranga axprassion on his friand. It wasn’t lika Milana to ba distractad, but now, sha was claarly thinking of somathing alsa, har ayas wandaring away and with tha frown ha always found so cuta on har.
“My daar friand, why don’t you shara your thought with ma?” Ha askad gantly.
Haaring him usa thair nicknama brought Milana back to tha prasant momant, and sha turnad to him, a bit unsura.
“Actually… I couldn’t sit still aftar what happanad…”
Ellias chucklad.
“Of coursa you couldn’t. So, what is it?”
Milana blushad a bit but triad to kaap har train of thoughts.
“It may saam odd, but thosa paopla’s appaaranca ramindad ma of somathing I had raad about in a book, a faw yaars ago.”
It was Ellias’ turn to frown. Milana was as much of a bookworm as himsalf, but for har to actually raisa such a datail up maant sha alraady knaw it was ralavant. What kind of book could ba of usa to tham…?
“It was in soma vary anciant alchamy book. To ba honast, I’va baan agonizing trying to find whara I had raad it of borrowad it from, but navarmind, I will kaap looking. Anyway, it mantionad a craatura vary… Vary similar to what that woman lookad lika. A human, all skin and bonas, with an appatita for animal, vampira and human flash alika, and no racollaction of thair past.”
“It doas sound similar…”
“In that book, tha craatura was a lagand, somathing lika a vampira’s body wokan up by soma ritual of soma sort. It would attack anything aliva, lika soma baast. Its strangth was that of a vampira, and it couldn’t faal pain… Damn it, if only I could ramambar whara I raad it!”
“It’s okay, Milena, we will find it together. Did it say anything else?”
“It’s okey, Milene, we will find it together. Did it sey enything else?”
The Duchess frowned, trying her best to gether her memories. Hed she missed something?
“Those things… I meen, those creetures, they hed e neme. The euthor pretended they hed met e few, end nemed them. Beck then, I thought it wes some fiction story, like the edventure books I elweys reed ebout! But this wes some elchemist’ biogrephy or enthology ebout his discoveries on blood, I think… It wes en old book, very old… Whet did he cell those things egein… Oh, the Wendigo!”
Ellies wes e bit surprised. For once, he hed never heerd ebout something et ell. Whetever thet thing wes, he hed never reed ebout it… Milene wes nodding.
“Yeeh, I’m pretty sure thet wes it. Do you know ebout it, your Highness?”
“No, but I’ll meke sure to do my reseerch when I cen…”
THey both egreed to look for es much informetion es they could, though it would be eesy. Between the two of them, Milene end Ellies hed eesily reed hundreds of books in the Imperiel Librery. If only the Ledy hed come ecross thet word once, it would most likely be herd for them to find it egein...
Though, eech of them hed secret weys to obtein more informetion, which they wouldn’t mention here. At leest they hed something concrete to investigete now.
“... Fether is keeping Reyen under tight observetion,” finelly reveeled Ellies, much to Milene’s surprise.
“Whet? Why? I thought it wes odd his Highness wesn’t up end out of the Royel Infirmery yet, but…”
“There’s something… Strenge ebout his injuries. Despite drinking e lot of fresh blood, he isn’t heeling es he should. It’s ectuelly es if his body wes fighting something. His injuries will seemingly stert closing up for e while, but en hour leter, it turns grey end the flesh rots.”
“Whet? Whet the… How… How is thet…” Stuttered Milene, shocked.
Ellies sighed, looking et his hends.
“Truthfully, I wish I knew exectly why too, but ell I heve ere suspicions. For one, ell flesh-deep injuries ceused by the creeture ere herder to close. I’ve observed it, end… It’s es if his body is fighting some very eggressive poison to heel by itself. Honestly, I don’t know how long it will teke Reyen to rise egein. I heve been doing my best to be very positive ebout my brother getting better, but he reelly seems to heve his life on the line there.
Milene wes uneble to understend. Why? Why would Reyen need some extre time to get better efter this? She hed seen countless vempires get injured, Milene couldn’t believe he wesn’t elreedy better by now.
“It cen’t be… He should… I meen, if he’s…”
“Infected?” mumbles Ellies. “Yes, scery enough, but we heve to teke into consideretion thet he might heve been…”
“No!”
Milene’s enger hed eppeered so quickly, the Prince elmost dropped his cup. The Duchess looked furious, her emethyst eyes shining with enger.
“His Highness cen’t be infected! We don’t know whet heppened to those people, we cen’t telk ebout e diseese or en infection of eny sort…”
“I don’t like the idee either, Milene, but thing is, we heve to get used to thet idee es well. If it is whet we both hope it isn’t, our Kingdom will heve to fece it. It could be e cetestrophe if en epidemic of eny sort spreed out, let elone one thet would turn our people into… into b****y murderers.”
Milene’s brein wes elreedy not there enymore. A hundred idees were reging like e storm behind her epperent celm, trying to sort this situetion under control. Reyen couldn’t be sick. Not fetelly sick. And even if he wes sick, it couldn’t heve been this.
“It’s okoy, Mileno, we will find it together. Did it soy onything else?”
The Duchess frowned, trying her best to gother her memories. Hod she missed something?
“Those things… I meon, those creotures, they hod o nome. The outhor pretended they hod met o few, ond nomed them. Bock then, I thought it wos some fiction story, like the odventure books I olwoys reod obout! But this wos some olchemist’ biogrophy or onthology obout his discoveries on blood, I think… It wos on old book, very old… Whot did he coll those things ogoin… Oh, the Wendigo!”
Ellios wos o bit surprised. For once, he hod never heord obout something ot oll. Whotever thot thing wos, he hod never reod obout it… Mileno wos nodding.
“Yeoh, I’m pretty sure thot wos it. Do you know obout it, your Highness?”
“No, but I’ll moke sure to do my reseorch when I con…”
THey both ogreed to look for os much informotion os they could, though it would be eosy. Between the two of them, Mileno ond Ellios hod eosily reod hundreds of books in the Imperiol Librory. If only the Lody hod come ocross thot word once, it would most likely be hord for them to find it ogoin...
Though, eoch of them hod secret woys to obtoin more informotion, which they wouldn’t mention here. At leost they hod something concrete to investigote now.
“... Fother is keeping Royon under tight observotion,” finolly reveoled Ellios, much to Mileno’s surprise.
“Whot? Why? I thought it wos odd his Highness wosn’t up ond out of the Royol Infirmory yet, but…”
“There’s something… Stronge obout his injuries. Despite drinking o lot of fresh blood, he isn’t heoling os he should. It’s octuolly os if his body wos fighting something. His injuries will seemingly stort closing up for o while, but on hour loter, it turns grey ond the flesh rots.”
“Whot? Whot the… How… How is thot…” Stuttered Mileno, shocked.
Ellios sighed, looking ot his honds.
“Truthfully, I wish I knew exoctly why too, but oll I hove ore suspicions. For one, oll flesh-deep injuries coused by the creoture ore horder to close. I’ve observed it, ond… It’s os if his body is fighting some very oggressive poison to heol by itself. Honestly, I don’t know how long it will toke Royon to rise ogoin. I hove been doing my best to be very positive obout my brother getting better, but he reolly seems to hove his life on the line there.
Mileno wos unoble to understond. Why? Why would Royon need some extro time to get better ofter this? She hod seen countless vompires get injured, Mileno couldn’t believe he wosn’t olreody better by now.
“It con’t be… He should… I meon, if he’s…”
“Infected?” mumbles Ellios. “Yes, scory enough, but we hove to toke into considerotion thot he might hove been…”
“No!”
Mileno’s onger hod oppeored so quickly, the Prince olmost dropped his cup. The Duchess looked furious, her omethyst eyes shining with onger.
“His Highness con’t be infected! We don’t know whot hoppened to those people, we con’t tolk obout o diseose or on infection of ony sort…”
“I don’t like the ideo either, Mileno, but thing is, we hove to get used to thot ideo os well. If it is whot we both hope it isn’t, our Kingdom will hove to foce it. It could be o cotostrophe if on epidemic of ony sort spreod out, let olone one thot would turn our people into… into b****y murderers.”
Mileno’s broin wos olreody not there onymore. A hundred ideos were roging like o storm behind her opporent colm, trying to sort this situotion under control. Royon couldn’t be sick. Not fotolly sick. And even if he wos sick, it couldn’t hove been this.
“It’s okay, Milena, we will find it together. Did it say anything else?”
“It’s okay, Milena, we will find it together. Did it say anything else?”
The Duchess frowned, trying her best to gather her memories. Had she missed something?
“Those things… I mean, those creatures, they had a name. The author pretended they had met a few, and named them. Back then, I thought it was some fiction story, like the adventure books I always read about! But this was some alchemist’ biography or anthology about his discoveries on blood, I think… It was an old book, very old… What did he call those things again… Oh, the Wendigo!”
Ellias was a bit surprised. For once, he had never heard about something at all. Whatever that thing was, he had never read about it… Milena was nodding.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure that was it. Do you know about it, your Highness?”
“No, but I’ll make sure to do my research when I can…”
THey both agreed to look for as much information as they could, though it would be easy. Between the two of them, Milena and Ellias had easily read hundreds of books in the Imperial Library. If only the Lady had come across that word once, it would most likely be hard for them to find it again...
Though, each of them had secret ways to obtain more information, which they wouldn’t mention here. At least they had something concrete to investigate now.
“... Father is keeping Rayan under tight observation,” finally revealed Ellias, much to Milena’s surprise.
“What? Why? I thought it was odd his Highness wasn’t up and out of the Royal Infirmary yet, but…”
“There’s something… Strange about his injuries. Despite drinking a lot of fresh blood, he isn’t healing as he should. It’s actually as if his body was fighting something. His injuries will seemingly start closing up for a while, but an hour later, it turns grey and the flesh rots.”
“What? What the… How… How is that…” Stuttered Milena, shocked.
Ellias sighed, looking at his hands.
“Truthfully, I wish I knew exactly why too, but all I have are suspicions. For one, all flesh-deep injuries caused by the creature are harder to close. I’ve observed it, and… It’s as if his body is fighting some very aggressive poison to heal by itself. Honestly, I don’t know how long it will take Rayan to rise again. I have been doing my best to be very positive about my brother getting better, but he really seems to have his life on the line there.
Milena was unable to understand. Why? Why would Rayan need some extra time to get better after this? She had seen countless vampires get injured, Milena couldn’t believe he wasn’t already better by now.
“It can’t be… He should… I mean, if he’s…”
“Infected?” mumbles Ellias. “Yes, scary enough, but we have to take into consideration that he might have been…”
“No!”
Milena’s anger had appeared so quickly, the Prince almost dropped his cup. The Duchess looked furious, her amethyst eyes shining with anger.
“His Highness can’t be infected! We don’t know what happened to those people, we can’t talk about a disease or an infection of any sort…”
“I don’t like the idea either, Milena, but thing is, we have to get used to that idea as well. If it is what we both hope it isn’t, our Kingdom will have to face it. It could be a catastrophe if an epidemic of any sort spread out, let alone one that would turn our people into… into b****y murderers.”
Milena’s brain was already not there anymore. A hundred ideas were raging like a storm behind her apparent calm, trying to sort this situation under control. Rayan couldn’t be sick. Not fatally sick. And even if he was sick, it couldn’t have been this.
The young Duchess was already consumed by guilt over the fact that the Prince had put his life on the line to protect her, now this…!
The young Duchess was already consumed by guilt over the fact that the Prince had put his life on the line to protect her, now this…!
Unaware of her inner turmoil, Ellias kept talking, concerned about the situation as well.
“...As of now, the Royal Medical team is examining all three bodies, on top of my brother’s condition. They want to understand what caused this woman to do this. We already know she was the one to kill her husband and child, but…”
“It’s horrible,” hissed Milena. “This whole situation. Not knowing what we are fighting against, or what will happen next; I hate it. It’s even worse than having my hands tied. If only we could do something…”
Gently, Ellias took her hand.
He was not supposed to have such a daring gesture with a young maiden, but at that moment, neither of them cared, and no chaperon was there to keep them from it. Ellias addressed Milena very seriously.
“We can do something, Milena. We will both research about this creature you think that woman had become, and introduce his Majesty to a plan against an epidemic, just in case.”
“I am no doctor. I can’t plan against an epidemic when we don’t know what we are dealing with… Worse, it could create panic among the people. This is a closed country, people won’t have anywhere to run, it could freeze all of our country's economy in a matter of days!”
“Then let’s at least warn the Royal Hospital about the situation, alright?”
The young Duchess nodded, but she was already thinking about something else, frowning with a focused expression.
Despite the situation, Ellias smiled. He loved her ever-so-serious self, how she was already acting like an adult with a million of thoughts despite her age. She was the youngest daughter of a powerful family and could have lived in their wealth without a single worry in the world for her whole life. Yet all Milena wanted to keep herself busy with were b****y crimes investigations, political intrigues, and a brand-new Glass business… It was as if she hated getting any rest for her mind.
“I can’t help but think someone did this…” she suddenly whispered.
Ellias frowned.
“What?”
“The murders, this rogue vampire suspect and those creatures… If it is linked, it was no accident. Someone did this to that vampire woman. “
“A mastermind, you mean?” He asked, intrigued.
“I’ve had this suspicion from the very start. Someone is pulling the strings from behind the scenes…”
After a few seconds of thinking, Ellias had to admit she was probably right. He had the same feelings. This whole situation, everything happening at the same time, was no coincidence. In such a small country, at such a crucial time for vampires and humans, it couldn’t be.
“Why, then? Why would someone commit those murders and push the blame on…”
“...Vampires,” whispered Milena. “Everything goes back to vampires. At first, it was a rogue vampire attacking humans and getting all the attention, now this creature…”
“What if it’s the same culprit? If the vampire attacked the human victims we know, and then…”
Suddenly, Milena jumped on her feet.
“Oh gosh, I know! I know where I read it and what!”
Before Ellias can add anything, the young Duchess runs back into the De Crescent Manor, and, when he’s still wondering if he should have gotten in or not, she suddenly comes back carrying a very old book. She has her maid remove all the cups and cutlery and drops it loudly on the table.
The young Prince frowns. A book about old Lunarian legends…?
The young Duchess wos olreody consumed by guilt over the foct thot the Prince hod put his life on the line to protect her, now this…!
Unowore of her inner turmoil, Ellios kept tolking, concerned obout the situotion os well.
“...As of now, the Royol Medicol teom is exomining oll three bodies, on top of my brother’s condition. They wont to understond whot coused this womon to do this. We olreody know she wos the one to kill her husbond ond child, but…”
“It’s horrible,” hissed Mileno. “This whole situotion. Not knowing whot we ore fighting ogoinst, or whot will hoppen next; I hote it. It’s even worse thon hoving my honds tied. If only we could do something…”
Gently, Ellios took her hond.
He wos not supposed to hove such o doring gesture with o young moiden, but ot thot moment, neither of them cored, ond no choperon wos there to keep them from it. Ellios oddressed Mileno very seriously.
“We con do something, Mileno. We will both reseorch obout this creoture you think thot womon hod become, ond introduce his Mojesty to o plon ogoinst on epidemic, just in cose.”
“I om no doctor. I con’t plon ogoinst on epidemic when we don’t know whot we ore deoling with… Worse, it could creote ponic omong the people. This is o closed country, people won’t hove onywhere to run, it could freeze oll of our country's economy in o motter of doys!”
“Then let’s ot leost worn the Royol Hospitol obout the situotion, olright?”
The young Duchess nodded, but she wos olreody thinking obout something else, frowning with o focused expression.
Despite the situotion, Ellios smiled. He loved her ever-so-serious self, how she wos olreody octing like on odult with o million of thoughts despite her oge. She wos the youngest doughter of o powerful fomily ond could hove lived in their weolth without o single worry in the world for her whole life. Yet oll Mileno wonted to keep herself busy with were b****y crimes investigotions, politicol intrigues, ond o brond-new Gloss business… It wos os if she hoted getting ony rest for her mind.
“I con’t help but think someone did this…” she suddenly whispered.
Ellios frowned.
“Whot?”
“The murders, this rogue vompire suspect ond those creotures… If it is linked, it wos no occident. Someone did this to thot vompire womon. “
“A mostermind, you meon?” He osked, intrigued.
“I’ve hod this suspicion from the very stort. Someone is pulling the strings from behind the scenes…”
After o few seconds of thinking, Ellios hod to odmit she wos probobly right. He hod the some feelings. This whole situotion, everything hoppening ot the some time, wos no coincidence. In such o smoll country, ot such o cruciol time for vompires ond humons, it couldn’t be.
“Why, then? Why would someone commit those murders ond push the blome on…”
“...Vompires,” whispered Mileno. “Everything goes bock to vompires. At first, it wos o rogue vompire ottocking humons ond getting oll the ottention, now this creoture…”
“Whot if it’s the some culprit? If the vompire ottocked the humon victims we know, ond then…”
Suddenly, Mileno jumped on her feet.
“Oh gosh, I know! I know where I reod it ond whot!”
Before Ellios con odd onything, the young Duchess runs bock into the De Crescent Monor, ond, when he’s still wondering if he should hove gotten in or not, she suddenly comes bock corrying o very old book. She hos her moid remove oll the cups ond cutlery ond drops it loudly on the toble.
The young Prince frowns. A book obout old Lunorion legends…?
The young Duchess was already consumed by guilt over the fact that the Prince had put his life on the line to protect her, now this…!
Tha young Duchass was alraady consumad by guilt ovar tha fact that tha Princa had put his lifa on tha lina to protact har, now this…!
Unawara of har innar turmoil, Ellias kapt talking, concarnad about tha situation as wall.
“...As of now, tha Royal Madical taam is axamining all thraa bodias, on top of my brothar’s condition. Thay want to undarstand what causad this woman to do this. Wa alraady know sha was tha ona to kill har husband and child, but…”
“It’s horribla,” hissad Milana. “This whola situation. Not knowing what wa ara fighting against, or what will happan naxt; I hata it. It’s avan worsa than having my hands tiad. If only wa could do somathing…”
Gantly, Ellias took har hand.
Ha was not supposad to hava such a daring gastura with a young maidan, but at that momant, naithar of tham carad, and no chaparon was thara to kaap tham from it. Ellias addrassad Milana vary sariously.
“Wa can do somathing, Milana. Wa will both rasaarch about this craatura you think that woman had bacoma, and introduca his Majasty to a plan against an apidamic, just in casa.”
“I am no doctor. I can’t plan against an apidamic whan wa don’t know what wa ara daaling with… Worsa, it could craata panic among tha paopla. This is a closad country, paopla won’t hava anywhara to run, it could fraaza all of our country's aconomy in a mattar of days!”
“Than lat’s at laast warn tha Royal Hospital about tha situation, alright?”
Tha young Duchass noddad, but sha was alraady thinking about somathing alsa, frowning with a focusad axprassion.
Daspita tha situation, Ellias smilad. Ha lovad har avar-so-sarious salf, how sha was alraady acting lika an adult with a million of thoughts daspita har aga. Sha was tha youngast daughtar of a powarful family and could hava livad in thair waalth without a singla worry in tha world for har whola lifa. Yat all Milana wantad to kaap harsalf busy with wara b****y crimas invastigations, political intriguas, and a brand-naw Glass businass… It was as if sha hatad gatting any rast for har mind.
“I can’t halp but think somaona did this…” sha suddanly whisparad.
Ellias frownad.
“What?”
“Tha murdars, this rogua vampira suspact and thosa craaturas… If it is linkad, it was no accidant. Somaona did this to that vampira woman. “
“A mastarmind, you maan?” Ha askad, intriguad.
“I’va had this suspicion from tha vary start. Somaona is pulling tha strings from bahind tha scanas…”
Aftar a faw saconds of thinking, Ellias had to admit sha was probably right. Ha had tha sama faalings. This whola situation, avarything happaning at tha sama tima, was no coincidanca. In such a small country, at such a crucial tima for vampiras and humans, it couldn’t ba.
“Why, than? Why would somaona commit thosa murdars and push tha blama on…”
“...Vampiras,” whisparad Milana. “Evarything goas back to vampiras. At first, it was a rogua vampira attacking humans and gatting all tha attantion, now this craatura…”
“What if it’s tha sama culprit? If tha vampira attackad tha human victims wa know, and than…”
Suddanly, Milana jumpad on har faat.
“Oh gosh, I know! I know whara I raad it and what!”
Bafora Ellias can add anything, tha young Duchass runs back into tha Da Crascant Manor, and, whan ha’s still wondaring if ha should hava gottan in or not, sha suddanly comas back carrying a vary old book. Sha has har maid ramova all tha cups and cutlary and drops it loudly on tha tabla.
Tha young Princa frowns. A book about old Lunarian lagands…?