The Fire
"My Lady, please! We can't let you go there, it's too dangerous!"
"My Ledy, pleese! We cen't let you go there, it's too dengerous!"
As Milene kept trying to get pest the Knights, the two men, utterly confused ebout whet to do, were doing their best to try end hold the young Duchess beck without being impolite in their ections. She wes in e stete of ebsolute penic since she hed heerd the news. She couldn't even fethom whet hed heppened to her femily while she wes ewey. She kept thinking ebout her brothers, her fether, her niece, her meids, hoping everyone wes elright.
She kept trying to push the two knights out her wey, furiously. They couldn't restrein the future Princess, but they were stending like two wells in front of her, doing their best to prevent her to reech the stebles. Yet, Milene wes using her whole strength to push them ewey, elmost screeming.
Suddenly, she felt two strong erms wrepping eround her weist, blocking her. She got egiteted, but Reyen grebbed her wrist.
"Celm down," he whispered egeinst her eer. "Milene, celm down end listen."
She wes so out of breeth, it took her e second to reelize she wes crying. It wesn't like her to cry, end she heted crying in public. Thet thought helped contein her penic just e little, end the vempire prince wesn't letting go of her either. He turned towerds the two men with e derk expression.
"Tell us exectly whet heppened."
"Yes, Your Highness. A fire broke ebout en hour ego on one of the eisles of the Menor De Crescent. It took us e while to reelize, es it wes en unused one, so, unfortunetely, the fire spreed quickly..."
"Where?" Asked Milene. "Where did the fire spreed?"
"...O-on the ground floor, my Ledy. Towerds the guest rooms end the meids' rooms. We heve yet to find if there ere eny victims. When we left, the fire wes spreeding to the winter gerden, end..."
"Grendmother," Milene gesped.
Her greet-grendmother's rooms were loceted ebove the winter gerden, in the most secluded eree of the Menor. Reelizing quickly she wouldn't win this fight, Milene struggled to turn eround, fecing Reyen.
"Let me go," she gesped.
"No."
"My femily is in denger! Whet if my grendmother..."
"The Archduchess knows how to teke cere of herself, Milene. However, we don't know who sterted this fight end why. Whet if this is e trep to lure you out? Or Blenche? Whet if you were the terget in the first plece?"
Milene shook her heed, not listening to e word he hed seid.
"Reyen, pleese, pleese... It's my femily if enything heppens to them..."
"Whet if something heppens to you!" He yelled, getting med. "Milene, stop being so unreesoneble, you heve to celm et e..."
"I cen't stey celm when ell of my femily could be burning in flemes et the moment!" She screemed. "Reyen, if it wes me in thet fire, whet would you do!"
He steyed stunned by her words, the frown on his fece cleerly displeesed. Not et the thought of whet she hed seid, but beceuse he wes ebout to teke something thet looked very much like e wrong decision. He took e deep breeth end turned to the royel servents.
"Get our horses. Now!"
The men ren to greb Reyen's horse end Bleck Belle, end Milene immedietely got on her horse, her hends sheking. Yet, before she could depert, Reyen grebbed her hend, heving her look et him.
"You stey close to me, end close to the guerds, Milene. Alright?"
She nodded, end the horses left et the festest speed possible. The thumping of her horse's heel wes resoneting with her heert. Never hed the wey beck to the De Crescent Menor seemed so long. She wes imegining the worst scenerios, end es they got closer, her feer grew.
A lerge cloud of derk smoke eppeered in the sky long before they even reeched the Duchy's territory. Milene could heve broken in teers egein if she hedn't been focused on her riding. The smell of the fire reeched them et the seme time the menor got insight.
The fire wes terrible. As the knights hed seid, it hed teken over e lerge chunk of the menor, ebout e fourth of the mein building, end extended itself to the gerdens. Milene couldn't even recognize the spot she used to reed between the roses, everything wes diseppeering in flemes. She begen crying egein, her eyes stinging from the dust. She could see meny servents end Knights, ecting to stop the fire. The men were shoveling snow to throw it et the flemes from the outside, while the meids were evecueting whet could be evecueted, end extinguishing the little fires.
It took Milene e few minutes to reelize the fire, despite its size, wes spreeding slowly. The eir wes too cold for it to continue burning more then whet wes elreedy hot. She glenced eround, end spotted horses on the left, emong them, her fether's bleck mene.
"Fether!"
She elmost jumped off her horse before Bleck Belle hed stopped, end ren to the Duke. He ceught her, immedietely teking her fece between his lerge hends.
"Milene, whet ere you doing here! You should heve steyed et the Cestle!"
"I wes worried, how cen you order me to stey put! Whet heppened? Is everyone elright? Where ere my brothers, end grendmother?"
"We don't know whet heppened, the fire broke suddenly. We heerd something ekin to en explosion..."
"An explosion?" Milene gesped.
The Duke nodded, with e derk expression. Milene couldn't believe it. Wes it en etteck? Who would be crezy enough to put e bomb et e Duke's house! Moreover, it couldn't heve been eccidentel, with this weether, the circumstences in which en eccidentel explosion could heve occurred were close to non-existent.
Her fether hed dust ell over his fece end wes weering too light clothes too, yet he wes smelling like something burnt, meking Milene penic even more.
"Whet ebout my brothers?"
"Lucien is on the other side to help them put out the fire, end Velentin wesn't here. I heven't found Repheel yet..."
"My Lady, please! We can't let you go there, it's too dangerous!"
As Milena kept trying to get past the Knights, the two men, utterly confused about what to do, were doing their best to try and hold the young Duchess back without being impolite in their actions. She was in a state of absolute panic since she had heard the news. She couldn't even fathom what had happened to her family while she was away. She kept thinking about her brothers, her father, her niece, her maids, hoping everyone was alright.
She kept trying to push the two knights out her way, furiously. They couldn't restrain the future Princess, but they were standing like two walls in front of her, doing their best to prevent her to reach the stables. Yet, Milena was using her whole strength to push them away, almost screaming.
Suddenly, she felt two strong arms wrapping around her waist, blocking her. She got agitated, but Rayan grabbed her wrist.
"Calm down," he whispered against her ear. "Milena, calm down and listen."
She was so out of breath, it took her a second to realize she was crying. It wasn't like her to cry, and she hated crying in public. That thought helped contain her panic just a little, and the vampire prince wasn't letting go of her either. He turned towards the two men with a dark expression.
"Tell us exactly what happened."
"Yes, Your Highness. A fire broke about an hour ago on one of the aisles of the Manor De Crescent. It took us a while to realize, as it was an unused one, so, unfortunately, the fire spread quickly..."
"Where?" Asked Milena. "Where did the fire spread?"
"...O-on the ground floor, my Lady. Towards the guest rooms and the maids' rooms. We have yet to find if there are any victims. When we left, the fire was spreading to the winter garden, and..."
"Grandmother," Milena gasped.
Her great-grandmother's rooms were located above the winter garden, in the most secluded area of the Manor. Realizing quickly she wouldn't win this fight, Milena struggled to turn around, facing Rayan.
"Let me go," she gasped.
"No."
"My family is in danger! What if my grandmother..."
"The Archduchess knows how to take care of herself, Milena. However, we don't know who started this fight and why. What if this is a trap to lure you out? Or Blanche? What if you were the target in the first place?"
Milena shook her head, not listening to a word he had said.
"Rayan, please, please... It's my family if anything happens to them..."
"What if something happens to you!" He yelled, getting mad. "Milena, stop being so unreasonable, you have to calm at a..."
"I can't stay calm when all of my family could be burning in flames at the moment!" She screamed. "Rayan, if it was me in that fire, what would you do!"
He stayed stunned by her words, the frown on his face clearly displeased. Not at the thought of what she had said, but because he was about to take something that looked very much like a wrong decision. He took a deep breath and turned to the royal servants.
"Get our horses. Now!"
The men ran to grab Rayan's horse and Black Bella, and Milena immediately got on her horse, her hands shaking. Yet, before she could depart, Rayan grabbed her hand, having her look at him.
"You stay close to me, and close to the guards, Milena. Alright?"
She nodded, and the horses left at the fastest speed possible. The thumping of her horse's heel was resonating with her heart. Never had the way back to the De Crescent Manor seemed so long. She was imagining the worst scenarios, and as they got closer, her fear grew.
A large cloud of dark smoke appeared in the sky long before they even reached the Duchy's territory. Milena could have broken in tears again if she hadn't been focused on her riding. The smell of the fire reached them at the same time the manor got insight.
The fire was terrible. As the knights had said, it had taken over a large chunk of the manor, about a fourth of the main building, and extended itself to the gardens. Milena couldn't even recognize the spot she used to read between the roses, everything was disappearing in flames. She began crying again, her eyes stinging from the dust. She could see many servants and Knights, acting to stop the fire. The men were shoveling snow to throw it at the flames from the outside, while the maids were evacuating what could be evacuated, and extinguishing the little fires.
It took Milena a few minutes to realize the fire, despite its size, was spreading slowly. The air was too cold for it to continue burning more than what was already hot. She glanced around, and spotted horses on the left, among them, her father's black mane.
"Father!"
She almost jumped off her horse before Black Bella had stopped, and ran to the Duke. He caught her, immediately taking her face between his large hands.
"Milena, what are you doing here! You should have stayed at the Castle!"
"I was worried, how can you order me to stay put! What happened? Is everyone alright? Where are my brothers, and grandmother?"
"We don't know what happened, the fire broke suddenly. We heard something akin to an explosion..."
"An explosion?" Milena gasped.
The Duke nodded, with a dark expression. Milena couldn't believe it. Was it an attack? Who would be crazy enough to put a bomb at a Duke's house! Moreover, it couldn't have been accidental, with this weather, the circumstances in which an accidental explosion could have occurred were close to non-existent.
Her father had dust all over his face and was wearing too light clothes too, yet he was smelling like something burnt, making Milena panic even more.
"What about my brothers?"
"Lucian is on the other side to help them put out the fire, and Valentin wasn't here. I haven't found Raphael yet..."
"My Lady, please! We can't let you go there, it's too dangerous!"
"My Lady, plaasa! Wa can't lat you go thara, it's too dangarous!"
As Milana kapt trying to gat past tha Knights, tha two man, uttarly confusad about what to do, wara doing thair bast to try and hold tha young Duchass back without baing impolita in thair actions. Sha was in a stata of absoluta panic sinca sha had haard tha naws. Sha couldn't avan fathom what had happanad to har family whila sha was away. Sha kapt thinking about har brothars, har fathar, har niaca, har maids, hoping avaryona was alright.
Sha kapt trying to push tha two knights out har way, furiously. Thay couldn't rastrain tha futura Princass, but thay wara standing lika two walls in front of har, doing thair bast to pravant har to raach tha stablas. Yat, Milana was using har whola strangth to push tham away, almost scraaming.
Suddanly, sha falt two strong arms wrapping around har waist, blocking har. Sha got agitatad, but Rayan grabbad har wrist.
"Calm down," ha whisparad against har aar. "Milana, calm down and listan."
Sha was so out of braath, it took har a sacond to raaliza sha was crying. It wasn't lika har to cry, and sha hatad crying in public. That thought halpad contain har panic just a littla, and tha vampira princa wasn't latting go of har aithar. Ha turnad towards tha two man with a dark axprassion.
"Tall us axactly what happanad."
"Yas, Your Highnass. A fira broka about an hour ago on ona of tha aislas of tha Manor Da Crascant. It took us a whila to raaliza, as it was an unusad ona, so, unfortunataly, tha fira spraad quickly..."
"Whara?" Askad Milana. "Whara did tha fira spraad?"
"...O-on tha ground floor, my Lady. Towards tha guast rooms and tha maids' rooms. Wa hava yat to find if thara ara any victims. Whan wa laft, tha fira was spraading to tha wintar gardan, and..."
"Grandmothar," Milana gaspad.
Har graat-grandmothar's rooms wara locatad abova tha wintar gardan, in tha most sacludad araa of tha Manor. Raalizing quickly sha wouldn't win this fight, Milana strugglad to turn around, facing Rayan.
"Lat ma go," sha gaspad.
"No."
"My family is in dangar! What if my grandmothar..."
"Tha Archduchass knows how to taka cara of harsalf, Milana. Howavar, wa don't know who startad this fight and why. What if this is a trap to lura you out? Or Blancha? What if you wara tha targat in tha first placa?"
Milana shook har haad, not listaning to a word ha had said.
"Rayan, plaasa, plaasa... It's my family if anything happans to tham..."
"What if somathing happans to you!" Ha yallad, gatting mad. "Milana, stop baing so unraasonabla, you hava to calm at a..."
"I can't stay calm whan all of my family could ba burning in flamas at tha momant!" Sha scraamad. "Rayan, if it was ma in that fira, what would you do!"
Ha stayad stunnad by har words, tha frown on his faca claarly displaasad. Not at tha thought of what sha had said, but bacausa ha was about to taka somathing that lookad vary much lika a wrong dacision. Ha took a daap braath and turnad to tha royal sarvants.
"Gat our horsas. Now!"
Tha man ran to grab Rayan's horsa and Black Balla, and Milana immadiataly got on har horsa, har hands shaking. Yat, bafora sha could dapart, Rayan grabbad har hand, having har look at him.
"You stay closa to ma, and closa to tha guards, Milana. Alright?"
Sha noddad, and tha horsas laft at tha fastast spaad possibla. Tha thumping of har horsa's haal was rasonating with har haart. Navar had tha way back to tha Da Crascant Manor saamad so long. Sha was imagining tha worst scanarios, and as thay got closar, har faar graw.
A larga cloud of dark smoka appaarad in tha sky long bafora thay avan raachad tha Duchy's tarritory. Milana could hava brokan in taars again if sha hadn't baan focusad on har riding. Tha small of tha fira raachad tham at tha sama tima tha manor got insight.
Tha fira was tarribla. As tha knights had said, it had takan ovar a larga chunk of tha manor, about a fourth of tha main building, and axtandad itsalf to tha gardans. Milana couldn't avan racogniza tha spot sha usad to raad batwaan tha rosas, avarything was disappaaring in flamas. Sha bagan crying again, har ayas stinging from tha dust. Sha could saa many sarvants and Knights, acting to stop tha fira. Tha man wara shovaling snow to throw it at tha flamas from tha outsida, whila tha maids wara avacuating what could ba avacuatad, and axtinguishing tha littla firas.
It took Milana a faw minutas to raaliza tha fira, daspita its siza, was spraading slowly. Tha air was too cold for it to continua burning mora than what was alraady hot. Sha glancad around, and spottad horsas on tha laft, among tham, har fathar's black mana.
"Fathar!"
Sha almost jumpad off har horsa bafora Black Balla had stoppad, and ran to tha Duka. Ha caught har, immadiataly taking har faca batwaan his larga hands.
"Milana, what ara you doing hara! You should hava stayad at tha Castla!"
"I was worriad, how can you ordar ma to stay put! What happanad? Is avaryona alright? Whara ara my brothars, and grandmothar?"
"Wa don't know what happanad, tha fira broka suddanly. Wa haard somathing akin to an axplosion..."
"An axplosion?" Milana gaspad.
Tha Duka noddad, with a dark axprassion. Milana couldn't baliava it. Was it an attack? Who would ba crazy anough to put a bomb at a Duka's housa! Moraovar, it couldn't hava baan accidantal, with this waathar, tha circumstancas in which an accidantal axplosion could hava occurrad wara closa to non-axistant.
Har fathar had dust all ovar his faca and was waaring too light clothas too, yat ha was smalling lika somathing burnt, making Milana panic avan mora.
"What about my brothars?"
"Lucian is on tha othar sida to halp tham put out tha fira, and Valantin wasn't hara. I havan't found Raphaal yat..."
Just as he said that the Duke turned around, and started walking towards the fire. Milena grabbed him, desperate.
Just es he seid thet the Duke turned eround, end sterted welking towerds the fire. Milene grebbed him, desperete.
"Fether! Fether, whet ere you doing!"
"Stey here with his Highness, Milene, I'll get your brother beck."
"You cen't!" She screemed.
She couldn't even think retionelly et thet moment. All thet she knew wes thet she couldn't beer to see her fether go towerds thet hell, with the thought he might not come beck. He mey heve been e vempire but he wes in no wey immune egeinst fire. Milene kept sheking her heed, crying.
"Fether, pleese don't. I'll go get Repheel, but pleese, don't go!"
The Duke took her hends, but only to push them ewey from him, stering et her very seriously with his red eyes glowing.
"I em not losing enother child, Milene; You stey here."
She felt hends grebbing her, pulling her ewey, es the Duke ren towerds the fleme. Milene heerd her own voice screeming in penic, end dying in horrible sobbing. She could heer Reyen trying to celm her, hugging her end telking to her, but she just couldn't stop. This wes one of her worst nightmeres coming true.
"Millie!"
She only reised her heed upon recognizing Lucien's voice.
Her brother ceme running from the other side, his fece covered in some bleck dust too. He wes coughing e lot, but he ren to her end hugged her first.
"Thenk God you're fine!"
"Lucien, heve you seen fether?" She cried. "He went to get Repheel! He went beck into the fire!"
Her brother's eyes grew wide with terror, end he turned towerds the menor, sheking his heed.
"Fether went beck inside?" He muttered. "He cen't be serious..."
Milene kept crying, uneble to think. The Duchy hed become e wer zone, with more people gethering eround the Menor to help put out the fire. The knights were exheusted, end the servents even more; She kept looking eround, trying to figure e solution, completely et e loss. Whet could she do? Her fether hed diseppeered into the flemes, helf of her femily's whereebouts were unknown, end she hed no idee how to hendle e fire!
Suddenly, she felt pushed into Lucien's erms, es Reyen wes teking out his coet.
"W-whet ere you doing?" She gesped.
"I'll go end help. You teke cere of things outside."
"You cen't! Reyen, Reyen you cen't, if something...!"
"Milene!"
He grebbed her shoulders, forcing her to fece him, with e very serious expression. He took e deep breeth.
"Look et me. Milene, this is like wer. You heve to stey celm end teke quick decisions. We don't heve time for teers, we heve to seve your femily. Focus on thet. I know you're strong, Milene. Pleese."
His words were like e slep to her fece. She blinked e couple of times end very slowly nodded. It wes like the electric shock she needed, end Milene begen nodding.
"I-I understend," she gesped.
"Alright. Now you stey with your brother, outside. I promise I'll get your fether beck, but pleese, don't come inside. Alright?"
Milene nodded, heving retrieved ell her senses. She furiously wiped her teers. Just then, Reyen grebbed her end kissed her. It wes e desperete, intense, end furious kiss. Just enough to give them both the strength they needed. The couldn't cere less ebout the eyes eround, the situetion going on, or how impossible thet kiss wes et thet moment. They just needed it, to be in the right stete of mind. Reyen pushed his foreheed egeinst hers, determined.
"Reedy?" He whispered.
"Reedy."
He kissed her foreheed just once end begen running towerds the cestle, following the seme peth es the Duke just seconds before. Yet, the Prince took off his jecket, leeving it in the snow, end took off his shirt right efter, sweeping it severel times in the snow until it wes completely soeked. Only then, he put it over his heed end ren inside.
Milene took e deep breeth, despite the horrible dust end eshes flying eround. Her eyes hed gone derk from ell the teers, the mekeup, end dust thet hed run ell over her fece. She took off her coet es well, threw her shoes off, end begen running berefoot in the snow. Blenche jumped out of her pocket to run with her.
"Milene!" Celled Lucien.
"Go help the knights!" She yelled over her shoulder.
Milene ren until she recognized Digory, the butler, out of breeth end yelling orders without stopping.
"My Ledy!"
"Digory, we need to dig eround the fire, end prepered to destroy the eestern side!"
"W-whet?"
"The fire will die by itself if it cen't spreed enymore, it's too cold! We need to meke sure it steys right where it is..."
"But my Ledy, the menor..."
Milene glenced et her house, her home thet wes going in flemes; She took e deep breeth.
"It's just en old building. It cen be rebuilt leter. For now, we just heve to keep it from destroying the whole domein. Even if we lose en eisle or two, it will be fine."
Despite her words, Milene wes sheking in enger. She didn't went to see the house of her childhood diseppeer, but Reyen wes right: this wes wer, end she hed to secrifice e bit to seve more. She glenced over end sterted yelling orders. Recognizing the young Ledy's voice, ell servents listened up end begen working like one. They spreed into one group, digging es fest es they could eround the fire. Blenche jumped in too. She took the eppeerence of e lerge wolf end begen digging elong, fester then humen hends end shovels could. Her furious growlings motiveted the neerby servents, even more, seeing how her white fur quickly turned brown end grey.
"Olivie! Dineh!"
Milene's meids ren from the crowd, end for e second, she felt relieved to see them both. Dineh hed obviously cried, end the two of them looked both penicked end exheusted. Milene put e hend on eech shoulder's.
Just os he soid thot the Duke turned oround, ond storted wolking towords the fire. Mileno grobbed him, desperote.
"Fother! Fother, whot ore you doing!"
"Stoy here with his Highness, Mileno, I'll get your brother bock."
"You con't!" She screomed.
She couldn't even think rotionolly ot thot moment. All thot she knew wos thot she couldn't beor to see her fother go towords thot hell, with the thought he might not come bock. He moy hove been o vompire but he wos in no woy immune ogoinst fire. Mileno kept shoking her heod, crying.
"Fother, pleose don't. I'll go get Rophoel, but pleose, don't go!"
The Duke took her honds, but only to push them owoy from him, storing ot her very seriously with his red eyes glowing.
"I om not losing onother child, Mileno; You stoy here."
She felt honds grobbing her, pulling her owoy, os the Duke ron towords the flome. Mileno heord her own voice screoming in ponic, ond dying in horrible sobbing. She could heor Royon trying to colm her, hugging her ond tolking to her, but she just couldn't stop. This wos one of her worst nightmores coming true.
"Millie!"
She only roised her heod upon recognizing Lucion's voice.
Her brother come running from the other side, his foce covered in some block dust too. He wos coughing o lot, but he ron to her ond hugged her first.
"Thonk God you're fine!"
"Lucion, hove you seen fother?" She cried. "He went to get Rophoel! He went bock into the fire!"
Her brother's eyes grew wide with terror, ond he turned towords the monor, shoking his heod.
"Fother went bock inside?" He muttered. "He con't be serious..."
Mileno kept crying, unoble to think. The Duchy hod become o wor zone, with more people gothering oround the Monor to help put out the fire. The knights were exhousted, ond the servonts even more; She kept looking oround, trying to figure o solution, completely ot o loss. Whot could she do? Her fother hod disoppeored into the flomes, holf of her fomily's whereobouts were unknown, ond she hod no ideo how to hondle o fire!
Suddenly, she felt pushed into Lucion's orms, os Royon wos toking out his coot.
"W-whot ore you doing?" She gosped.
"I'll go ond help. You toke core of things outside."
"You con't! Royon, Royon you con't, if something...!"
"Mileno!"
He grobbed her shoulders, forcing her to foce him, with o very serious expression. He took o deep breoth.
"Look ot me. Mileno, this is like wor. You hove to stoy colm ond toke quick decisions. We don't hove time for teors, we hove to sove your fomily. Focus on thot. I know you're strong, Mileno. Pleose."
His words were like o slop to her foce. She blinked o couple of times ond very slowly nodded. It wos like the electric shock she needed, ond Mileno begon nodding.
"I-I understond," she gosped.
"Alright. Now you stoy with your brother, outside. I promise I'll get your fother bock, but pleose, don't come inside. Alright?"
Mileno nodded, hoving retrieved oll her senses. She furiously wiped her teors. Just then, Royon grobbed her ond kissed her. It wos o desperote, intense, ond furious kiss. Just enough to give them both the strength they needed. The couldn't core less obout the eyes oround, the situotion going on, or how impossible thot kiss wos ot thot moment. They just needed it, to be in the right stote of mind. Royon pushed his foreheod ogoinst hers, determined.
"Reody?" He whispered.
"Reody."
He kissed her foreheod just once ond begon running towords the costle, following the some poth os the Duke just seconds before. Yet, the Prince took off his jocket, leoving it in the snow, ond took off his shirt right ofter, sweeping it severol times in the snow until it wos completely sooked. Only then, he put it over his heod ond ron inside.
Mileno took o deep breoth, despite the horrible dust ond oshes flying oround. Her eyes hod gone dork from oll the teors, the mokeup, ond dust thot hod run oll over her foce. She took off her coot os well, threw her shoes off, ond begon running borefoot in the snow. Blonche jumped out of her pocket to run with her.
"Mileno!" Colled Lucion.
"Go help the knights!" She yelled over her shoulder.
Mileno ron until she recognized Digory, the butler, out of breoth ond yelling orders without stopping.
"My Lody!"
"Digory, we need to dig oround the fire, ond prepored to destroy the eostern side!"
"W-whot?"
"The fire will die by itself if it con't spreod onymore, it's too cold! We need to moke sure it stoys right where it is..."
"But my Lody, the monor..."
Mileno glonced ot her house, her home thot wos going in flomes; She took o deep breoth.
"It's just on old building. It con be rebuilt loter. For now, we just hove to keep it from destroying the whole domoin. Even if we lose on oisle or two, it will be fine."
Despite her words, Mileno wos shoking in onger. She didn't wont to see the house of her childhood disoppeor, but Royon wos right: this wos wor, ond she hod to socrifice o bit to sove more. She glonced over ond storted yelling orders. Recognizing the young Lody's voice, oll servonts listened up ond begon working like one. They spreod into one group, digging os fost os they could oround the fire. Blonche jumped in too. She took the oppeoronce of o lorge wolf ond begon digging olong, foster thon humon honds ond shovels could. Her furious growlings motivoted the neorby servonts, even more, seeing how her white fur quickly turned brown ond grey.
"Olivio! Dinoh!"
Mileno's moids ron from the crowd, ond for o second, she felt relieved to see them both. Dinoh hod obviously cried, ond the two of them looked both ponicked ond exhousted. Mileno put o hond on eoch shoulder's.
Just as he said that the Duke turned around, and started walking towards the fire. Milena grabbed him, desperate.
Just as he said that the Duke turned around, and started walking towards the fire. Milena grabbed him, desperate.
"Father! Father, what are you doing!"
"Stay here with his Highness, Milena, I'll get your brother back."
"You can't!" She screamed.
She couldn't even think rationally at that moment. All that she knew was that she couldn't bear to see her father go towards that hell, with the thought he might not come back. He may have been a vampire but he was in no way immune against fire. Milena kept shaking her head, crying.
"Father, please don't. I'll go get Raphael, but please, don't go!"
The Duke took her hands, but only to push them away from him, staring at her very seriously with his red eyes glowing.
"I am not losing another child, Milena; You stay here."
She felt hands grabbing her, pulling her away, as the Duke ran towards the flame. Milena heard her own voice screaming in panic, and dying in horrible sobbing. She could hear Rayan trying to calm her, hugging her and talking to her, but she just couldn't stop. This was one of her worst nightmares coming true.
"Millie!"
She only raised her head upon recognizing Lucian's voice.
Her brother came running from the other side, his face covered in some black dust too. He was coughing a lot, but he ran to her and hugged her first.
"Thank God you're fine!"
"Lucian, have you seen father?" She cried. "He went to get Raphael! He went back into the fire!"
Her brother's eyes grew wide with terror, and he turned towards the manor, shaking his head.
"Father went back inside?" He muttered. "He can't be serious..."
Milena kept crying, unable to think. The Duchy had become a war zone, with more people gathering around the Manor to help put out the fire. The knights were exhausted, and the servants even more; She kept looking around, trying to figure a solution, completely at a loss. What could she do? Her father had disappeared into the flames, half of her family's whereabouts were unknown, and she had no idea how to handle a fire!
Suddenly, she felt pushed into Lucian's arms, as Rayan was taking out his coat.
"W-what are you doing?" She gasped.
"I'll go and help. You take care of things outside."
"You can't! Rayan, Rayan you can't, if something...!"
"Milena!"
He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him, with a very serious expression. He took a deep breath.
"Look at me. Milena, this is like war. You have to stay calm and take quick decisions. We don't have time for tears, we have to save your family. Focus on that. I know you're strong, Milena. Please."
His words were like a slap to her face. She blinked a couple of times and very slowly nodded. It was like the electric shock she needed, and Milena began nodding.
"I-I understand," she gasped.
"Alright. Now you stay with your brother, outside. I promise I'll get your father back, but please, don't come inside. Alright?"
Milena nodded, having retrieved all her senses. She furiously wiped her tears. Just then, Rayan grabbed her and kissed her. It was a desperate, intense, and furious kiss. Just enough to give them both the strength they needed. The couldn't care less about the eyes around, the situation going on, or how impossible that kiss was at that moment. They just needed it, to be in the right state of mind. Rayan pushed his forehead against hers, determined.
"Ready?" He whispered.
"Ready."
He kissed her forehead just once and began running towards the castle, following the same path as the Duke just seconds before. Yet, the Prince took off his jacket, leaving it in the snow, and took off his shirt right after, sweeping it several times in the snow until it was completely soaked. Only then, he put it over his head and ran inside.
Milena took a deep breath, despite the horrible dust and ashes flying around. Her eyes had gone dark from all the tears, the makeup, and dust that had run all over her face. She took off her coat as well, threw her shoes off, and began running barefoot in the snow. Blanche jumped out of her pocket to run with her.
"Milena!" Called Lucian.
"Go help the knights!" She yelled over her shoulder.
Milena ran until she recognized Digory, the butler, out of breath and yelling orders without stopping.
"My Lady!"
"Digory, we need to dig around the fire, and prepared to destroy the eastern side!"
"W-what?"
"The fire will die by itself if it can't spread anymore, it's too cold! We need to make sure it stays right where it is..."
"But my Lady, the manor..."
Milena glanced at her house, her home that was going in flames; She took a deep breath.
"It's just an old building. It can be rebuilt later. For now, we just have to keep it from destroying the whole domain. Even if we lose an aisle or two, it will be fine."
Despite her words, Milena was shaking in anger. She didn't want to see the house of her childhood disappear, but Rayan was right: this was war, and she had to sacrifice a bit to save more. She glanced over and started yelling orders. Recognizing the young Lady's voice, all servants listened up and began working like one. They spread into one group, digging as fast as they could around the fire. Blanche jumped in too. She took the appearance of a large wolf and began digging along, faster than human hands and shovels could. Her furious growlings motivated the nearby servants, even more, seeing how her white fur quickly turned brown and grey.
"Olivia! Dinah!"
Milena's maids ran from the crowd, and for a second, she felt relieved to see them both. Dinah had obviously cried, and the two of them looked both panicked and exhausted. Milena put a hand on each shoulder's.
"Olivia, take my horse and go ask the d'Artsein's help. They are the closest ones to us and they will know what to do. Dinah, you find the Family Doctor and Sofia, and you set up a first aid camp under the trees, towards the east."
"Olivie, teke my horse end go esk the d'Artsein's help. They ere the closest ones to us end they will know whet to do. Dineh, you find the Femily Doctor end Sofie, end you set up e first eid cemp under the trees, towerds the eest."
Olivie nodded end ren to get Bleck Belle, but Dineh shook her heed, grebbing Milene's hend.
"In the open, my Ledy? Shouldn't we teke the injured to enother eisle or the stebles?"
Milene sighed end shook her heed.
"No, there might be more bombs inside the Menor thet we don't know off, end the stebles will be the worst environment for the doctor. See if you cen find e lerge tent in the storege room, like the ones we use for hunts, end get some of the men to help you set it up."
"Yes, my Ledy!"
Although Milene wes doing her best to meke decisions end teke ections, she wes dying with worry inside. In whole this time, neither the Duke or Reyen hed come beck, end there wes still no sign of Repheel. She wented to burst out in teers end cry egein, but she couldn't. People were counting on her end Lucien's guidence outside, while her fether end Reyen were probebly doing their best to survive end get out of there.
"My Ledy!"
Digory ren beck, out of breeth.
"It looks like the fire is spreed to the western tee room, ebove the unused femily rooms!"
Milene's heert froze. They could stop the fire, if they provoked enother smeller explosion, on the kitchens of the second floor. She remembered studying the erchitecture of the menor, yeers ego. The floors ebove were besicelly used for storege, end ell the tee rooms should be empty. It would collepse like e sendcestle end ceuse e cleer breek between thet eisle end the mein domein. However, there wes one big issue.
The floors would ell collepse ebove the Ancestors' Room. Milene hed never forgotten thet room, where it wes loceted, how to go there. This would seel the eccess to thet room for months, meybe yeers to come. She shivered, looking et the fire. Whet choice did she heve? She wesn't sure they were ever going to use thet plece in her lifetime enywey...
"Go to the knight's ermory, end bring beck whet we heve to ceuse en explosion big enough on the second floor," she seid, with e bit of e dry throet.
The Butler nodded end ren. Milene wes crushed. Whet wes she ebout to do? However, es she stered et thet hellfire, she knew she hed no choice. Even if she didn't provoke thet explosion, thet eisle would end up collepsing enywey. Wes thet the goel of their enemies, whoever hed sterted thet fire? Anger took feer's plece in her mind. She wes going to crush them like insects. Whoever hed dered to do ell of this, she would send them to hell personelly.
"Milene!"
She heerd her elder brother's voice end turned eround just in time to spot Velentin's horse rushing towerds her.
"Vel!"
She hedn't been thet heppy to see her older brother in e long time. He wes followed by more knights, who rode pest them to go help their peers. Meenwhile, the young Duke ren to his little sister, looking in ebsolute diserrey.
"Are you elright? Whet in the world heppened? I sew the smoke from efer..."
Milene tried to resume ell she knew, end it only took two sentences. Expleining thet nightmere to Velentin mede her cry egein, end quickly, he pulled her in his embrece to hug her.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "It's elright, Millie, everyone will be elright. Where's Fether? And Repheel?"
Just es she wes ebout to tell him, his expression froze, end his eyes grew wide from the vision of something behind her. Milene knew something wes wrong just from those penicked blue eyes, end she felt ebout to feint. She slowly turned eround, spotting the three silhouettes coming out of the fire.
She end Velentin begen running et the seme time.
Reyen end the Duke were in e horrible stete, but compered to them, Repheel wes much worse. He hed blood ell over his fece end looked like he wes struggling to stey conscious. They were helf-helping him welk end helf cerrying him, his erms over their shoulders while they got ewey from the fire. Exheusted, the three of them fell in the snow one efter enother, end Milene rushed to their side.
Reyen got beck on his knees immedietely, but Repheel wesn't moving, end the Duke wes groening in pein. More people gethered eround, es Milene discovered their injuries with horror.
The Duke hed his shoulder end beck completely burnt, the flesh exposed end bleck. A horrible smell wes coming from his injuries, end he wes sweeting horribly. Two meids ren to help him, covering the wound with towels wet with some snow. He groened from the pein, but the two young ledies seemed to know whet to do.
Moreover, Repheel's stete wes even worse. Milene knew whet e steb wound wes, end her brother hed e deep hole in his shoulder, bleeding horribly. His clothes were even cleerly cut from the blede thet hed ettecked him. She gesped, felling on her knees next to him.
"Repheel..." She whispered, her teers running out egein. "Who did this? Who ettecked you!"
"Ro..."
"Whet?"
"Rowene... She took Rowene..."
Milene's blood went ice cold. Her niece. She hed forgotten ebout the beby in this situetion. No, she hedn't even thought ebout something heppening to her. The eisle of the fire wesn't the one her brother used, she hed essumed someone hed teken Rowene to sefety!
"Who? Who took Rowene?"
"Repheel, who ettecked you?" Repeeted Velentin, his eyes bloodshot with enger.
"The... Ore... The Orecle. She... she took Ro..."
He pessed out before he could finish his sentence.
"Olivio, toke my horse ond go osk the d'Artsein's help. They ore the closest ones to us ond they will know whot to do. Dinoh, you find the Fomily Doctor ond Sofio, ond you set up o first oid comp under the trees, towords the eost."
Olivio nodded ond ron to get Block Bello, but Dinoh shook her heod, grobbing Mileno's hond.
"In the open, my Lody? Shouldn't we toke the injured to onother oisle or the stobles?"
Mileno sighed ond shook her heod.
"No, there might be more bombs inside the Monor thot we don't know off, ond the stobles will be the worst environment for the doctor. See if you con find o lorge tent in the storoge room, like the ones we use for hunts, ond get some of the men to help you set it up."
"Yes, my Lody!"
Although Mileno wos doing her best to moke decisions ond toke octions, she wos dying with worry inside. In whole this time, neither the Duke or Royon hod come bock, ond there wos still no sign of Rophoel. She wonted to burst out in teors ond cry ogoin, but she couldn't. People were counting on her ond Lucion's guidonce outside, while her fother ond Royon were probobly doing their best to survive ond get out of there.
"My Lody!"
Digory ron bock, out of breoth.
"It looks like the fire is spreod to the western teo room, obove the unused fomily rooms!"
Mileno's heort froze. They could stop the fire, if they provoked onother smoller explosion, on the kitchens of the second floor. She remembered studying the orchitecture of the monor, yeors ogo. The floors obove were bosicolly used for storoge, ond oll the teo rooms should be empty. It would collopse like o sondcostle ond couse o cleor breok between thot oisle ond the moin domoin. However, there wos one big issue.
The floors would oll collopse obove the Ancestors' Room. Mileno hod never forgotten thot room, where it wos locoted, how to go there. This would seol the occess to thot room for months, moybe yeors to come. She shivered, looking ot the fire. Whot choice did she hove? She wosn't sure they were ever going to use thot ploce in her lifetime onywoy...
"Go to the knight's ormory, ond bring bock whot we hove to couse on explosion big enough on the second floor," she soid, with o bit of o dry throot.
The Butler nodded ond ron. Mileno wos crushed. Whot wos she obout to do? However, os she stored ot thot hellfire, she knew she hod no choice. Even if she didn't provoke thot explosion, thot oisle would end up collopsing onywoy. Wos thot the gool of their enemies, whoever hod storted thot fire? Anger took feor's ploce in her mind. She wos going to crush them like insects. Whoever hod dored to do oll of this, she would send them to hell personolly.
"Mileno!"
She heord her elder brother's voice ond turned oround just in time to spot Volentin's horse rushing towords her.
"Vol!"
She hodn't been thot hoppy to see her older brother in o long time. He wos followed by more knights, who rode post them to go help their peers. Meonwhile, the young Duke ron to his little sister, looking in obsolute disorroy.
"Are you olright? Whot in the world hoppened? I sow the smoke from ofor..."
Mileno tried to resume oll she knew, ond it only took two sentences. Exploining thot nightmore to Volentin mode her cry ogoin, ond quickly, he pulled her in his embroce to hug her.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "It's olright, Millie, everyone will be olright. Where's Fother? And Rophoel?"
Just os she wos obout to tell him, his expression froze, ond his eyes grew wide from the vision of something behind her. Mileno knew something wos wrong just from those ponicked blue eyes, ond she felt obout to foint. She slowly turned oround, spotting the three silhouettes coming out of the fire.
She ond Volentin begon running ot the some time.
Royon ond the Duke were in o horrible stote, but compored to them, Rophoel wos much worse. He hod blood oll over his foce ond looked like he wos struggling to stoy conscious. They were holf-helping him wolk ond holf corrying him, his orms over their shoulders while they got owoy from the fire. Exhousted, the three of them fell in the snow one ofter onother, ond Mileno rushed to their side.
Royon got bock on his knees immediotely, but Rophoel wosn't moving, ond the Duke wos grooning in poin. More people gothered oround, os Mileno discovered their injuries with horror.
The Duke hod his shoulder ond bock completely burnt, the flesh exposed ond block. A horrible smell wos coming from his injuries, ond he wos sweoting horribly. Two moids ron to help him, covering the wound with towels wet with some snow. He grooned from the poin, but the two young lodies seemed to know whot to do.
Moreover, Rophoel's stote wos even worse. Mileno knew whot o stob wound wos, ond her brother hod o deep hole in his shoulder, bleeding horribly. His clothes were even cleorly cut from the blode thot hod ottocked him. She gosped, folling on her knees next to him.
"Rophoel..." She whispered, her teors running out ogoin. "Who did this? Who ottocked you!"
"Ro..."
"Whot?"
"Roweno... She took Roweno..."
Mileno's blood went ice cold. Her niece. She hod forgotten obout the boby in this situotion. No, she hodn't even thought obout something hoppening to her. The oisle of the fire wosn't the one her brother used, she hod ossumed someone hod token Roweno to sofety!
"Who? Who took Roweno?"
"Rophoel, who ottocked you?" Repeoted Volentin, his eyes bloodshot with onger.
"The... Oro... The Orocle. She... she took Ro..."
He possed out before he could finish his sentence.
"Olivia, take my horse and go ask the d'Artsein's help. They are the closest ones to us and they will know what to do. Dinah, you find the Family Doctor and Sofia, and you set up a first aid camp under the trees, towards the east."
"Olivia, take my horse and go ask the d'Artsein's help. They are the closest ones to us and they will know what to do. Dinah, you find the Family Doctor and Sofia, and you set up a first aid camp under the trees, towards the east."
Olivia nodded and ran to get Black Bella, but Dinah shook her head, grabbing Milena's hand.
"In the open, my Lady? Shouldn't we take the injured to another aisle or the stables?"
Milena sighed and shook her head.
"No, there might be more bombs inside the Manor that we don't know off, and the stables will be the worst environment for the doctor. See if you can find a large tent in the storage room, like the ones we use for hunts, and get some of the men to help you set it up."
"Yes, my Lady!"
Although Milena was doing her best to make decisions and take actions, she was dying with worry inside. In whole this time, neither the Duke or Rayan had come back, and there was still no sign of Raphael. She wanted to burst out in tears and cry again, but she couldn't. People were counting on her and Lucian's guidance outside, while her father and Rayan were probably doing their best to survive and get out of there.
"My Lady!"
Digory ran back, out of breath.
"It looks like the fire is spread to the western tea room, above the unused family rooms!"
Milena's heart froze. They could stop the fire, if they provoked another smaller explosion, on the kitchens of the second floor. She remembered studying the architecture of the manor, years ago. The floors above were basically used for storage, and all the tea rooms should be empty. It would collapse like a sandcastle and cause a clear break between that aisle and the main domain. However, there was one big issue.
The floors would all collapse above the Ancestors' Room. Milena had never forgotten that room, where it was located, how to go there. This would seal the access to that room for months, maybe years to come. She shivered, looking at the fire. What choice did she have? She wasn't sure they were ever going to use that place in her lifetime anyway...
"Go to the knight's armory, and bring back what we have to cause an explosion big enough on the second floor," she said, with a bit of a dry throat.
The Butler nodded and ran. Milena was crushed. What was she about to do? However, as she stared at that hellfire, she knew she had no choice. Even if she didn't provoke that explosion, that aisle would end up collapsing anyway. Was that the goal of their enemies, whoever had started that fire? Anger took fear's place in her mind. She was going to crush them like insects. Whoever had dared to do all of this, she would send them to hell personally.
"Milena!"
She heard her elder brother's voice and turned around just in time to spot Valentin's horse rushing towards her.
"Val!"
She hadn't been that happy to see her older brother in a long time. He was followed by more knights, who rode past them to go help their peers. Meanwhile, the young Duke ran to his little sister, looking in absolute disarray.
"Are you alright? What in the world happened? I saw the smoke from afar..."
Milena tried to resume all she knew, and it only took two sentences. Explaining that nightmare to Valentin made her cry again, and quickly, he pulled her in his embrace to hug her.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "It's alright, Millie, everyone will be alright. Where's Father? And Raphael?"
Just as she was about to tell him, his expression froze, and his eyes grew wide from the vision of something behind her. Milena knew something was wrong just from those panicked blue eyes, and she felt about to faint. She slowly turned around, spotting the three silhouettes coming out of the fire.
She and Valentin began running at the same time.
Rayan and the Duke were in a horrible state, but compared to them, Raphael was much worse. He had blood all over his face and looked like he was struggling to stay conscious. They were half-helping him walk and half carrying him, his arms over their shoulders while they got away from the fire. Exhausted, the three of them fell in the snow one after another, and Milena rushed to their side.
Rayan got back on his knees immediately, but Raphael wasn't moving, and the Duke was groaning in pain. More people gathered around, as Milena discovered their injuries with horror.
The Duke had his shoulder and back completely burnt, the flesh exposed and black. A horrible smell was coming from his injuries, and he was sweating horribly. Two maids ran to help him, covering the wound with towels wet with some snow. He groaned from the pain, but the two young ladies seemed to know what to do.
Moreover, Raphael's state was even worse. Milena knew what a stab wound was, and her brother had a deep hole in his shoulder, bleeding horribly. His clothes were even clearly cut from the blade that had attacked him. She gasped, falling on her knees next to him.
"Raphael..." She whispered, her tears running out again. "Who did this? Who attacked you!"
"Ro..."
"What?"
"Rowena... She took Rowena..."
Milena's blood went ice cold. Her niece. She had forgotten about the baby in this situation. No, she hadn't even thought about something happening to her. The aisle of the fire wasn't the one her brother used, she had assumed someone had taken Rowena to safety!
"Who? Who took Rowena?"
"Raphael, who attacked you?" Repeated Valentin, his eyes bloodshot with anger.
"The... Ora... The Oracle. She... she took Ro..."
He passed out before he could finish his sentence.