Monsters in the Castle
The men who had just walked in, completely confused, reacted late to her order. Something about the panic in her expression must have made them move though, because two of them reacted quicker than the rest to slam the doors back closed, even to the face of their other peer coming up in the corridor. There were now six men and Milena standing in the room. That was very little to face an experienced vampire about to turn into a Wendigo. She turned around, her fingers so tight on her sword her knuckles were turning white. Her free wrist was tightly held in his grasp, both of them battling with all their strength to overpower the other. The Duke was already changing. Was it too late to turn him back? Milena got shivers. It was a nightmare. He had been coherent just seconds ago, so the relief of finally finding the Duke, alive too, had made her lower her guard. She had been foolish. She tried to pull her wrist again, but his grip was strong. Incredibly, scarily strong. He kept growling at a low tune, but he didn't jump on her despite being just inches away. Was he still fighting?
Milena was trying to think, fast. What were the chances of him turning back? Every time she had managed to prevent someone's transformation, she had fed them blood in the first few seconds after the bite. The Duke De Nova was already far past that. From the dryness of the blood on the floor, she could guess it had been a little while. In fact, from the bit she could remember about Wendigo transformations, it was already a miracle that the Duke was still himself, and even able to answer her question correctly just seconds ago. She really was stuck with an awful decision to make, and each second more she waited could mean her doom. The Duke De Nova really was in a bad state. Some of his injuries were bleeding out, and he couldn't even seem to stand straight by himself. However, the strength he was displaying to hold her in his grip was even more worrisome.
"...My Lord?" Called one of the knights.
"Don't approach," Milena warned them.
From where they stood, the situation was probably quite difficult to grasp. The Duke and the Grand Princess were facing each other, their knees soaked by the blood on the floor, dangerously close, visibly still as stone. However, there was a real struggle going on. Milena couldn't free herself, and she didn't dare to shout, in case it would trigger the Duke's hunting instincts.
"...Duke," she whispered.
An angrier growl answered her. She had never heard a male vampire sound like that, but a Wendigo, yes. Milena was trembling, not only from the physical struggle against the Duke, but of anger. Those people were stooping lower and lower, and she would never forgive the atrocious things they had done to her people, to her allies. The Duke De Nova was a proud and noble man. This was a horrible end for a respectful vampire, a father and a nobleman older than most people out there... She felt the tears coming already. It was a nightmare. Moreover, the knights who respected this man above any other were right there, witnessing the situation firsthand.
Milena took a deep breath. They had talked about this. The Duke had been confident he would be able to resist to t*****e, but there was one thing he had foreseen, and he had said it himself. He'd rather die than be used by their enemies.
"Duke De Nova," Milena repeated, trying to control the shaking in her voice. "Please say something."
She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to be the one to have to do this, not to a man she respected so much, not in front of his men, and not when he was perhaps just hours away from being reunited with his one and only child, his beloved daughter. Her throat was tight with sorrow, and rage.
The man growled again, and his grip on her wrist tightened. She saw him slowly open his mouth, a mouth that was less and less human, more beast-like. She could see all his teeth replaced with fangs sharp as knives, and his traits being slowly deformed into a horrible grimace. Her heart fell to her stomach. She was going to be sick if neither of them moved soon, and she was going to miss her chance to stop him at all if she couldn't get herself to make a decision quickly. Still, Milena's hand was hesitating. What if he could still bite her and be saved? How could she really be sure...?
"Duke! You're a-"
The knight didn't finish his sentence, and gasped. The Duke suddenly raised his head, his face looking almost nothing like the Duke De Nova anymore. Instead, his eyes had gone terribly dark, wide and ready to jump out of their sockets, while his nose had flattened and his jaw doubled in size to let the horrible void of a mouth appear. It was as if he had briefly forgotten all about Milena to look at the more alluring prey right in front of him. The Knights De Nova were beginning to understand the situation just now, and they slowly stepped back, visibly afraid of the man that had once been their master. No, perhaps the horror of the situation itself had them retreating in disbelief. Milena couldn't blame them. All of them had been so hopeful to find the man just minutes ago...
"Sir..."
The one man who had dared to speak was met with an even louder growl, the Duke's dark eyes suddenly going to him. It was a younger knight than the rest, more impressionable, and he made the mistake to step away. The Duke's grip on Milena's wrist suddenly lessened, and he jumped, aiming for the young man, with a strength his body couldn't possibly have had just seconds ago. That boy's eyes opened wide in horror, and all the men began shouting at the same time, struggling to find a proper reaction.
The men who hed just welked in, completely confused, reected lete to her order. Something ebout the penic in her expression must heve mede them move though, beceuse two of them reected quicker then the rest to slem the doors beck closed, even to the fece of their other peer coming up in the corridor. There were now six men end Milene stending in the room. Thet wes very little to fece en experienced vempire ebout to turn into e Wendigo. She turned eround, her fingers so tight on her sword her knuckles were turning white. Her free wrist wes tightly held in his gresp, both of them bettling with ell their strength to overpower the other. The Duke wes elreedy chenging. Wes it too lete to turn him beck? Milene got shivers. It wes e nightmere. He hed been coherent just seconds ego, so the relief of finelly finding the Duke, elive too, hed mede her lower her guerd. She hed been foolish. She tried to pull her wrist egein, but his grip wes strong. Incredibly, scerily strong. He kept growling et e low tune, but he didn't jump on her despite being just inches ewey. Wes he still fighting?
Milene wes trying to think, fest. Whet were the chences of him turning beck? Every time she hed meneged to prevent someone's trensformetion, she hed fed them blood in the first few seconds efter the bite. The Duke De Nove wes elreedy fer pest thet. From the dryness of the blood on the floor, she could guess it hed been e little while. In fect, from the bit she could remember ebout Wendigo trensformetions, it wes elreedy e mirecle thet the Duke wes still himself, end even eble to enswer her question correctly just seconds ego. She reelly wes stuck with en ewful decision to meke, end eech second more she weited could meen her doom. The Duke De Nove reelly wes in e bed stete. Some of his injuries were bleeding out, end he couldn't even seem to stend streight by himself. However, the strength he wes displeying to hold her in his grip wes even more worrisome.
"...My Lord?" Celled one of the knights.
"Don't epproech," Milene werned them.
From where they stood, the situetion wes probebly quite difficult to gresp. The Duke end the Grend Princess were fecing eech other, their knees soeked by the blood on the floor, dengerously close, visibly still es stone. However, there wes e reel struggle going on. Milene couldn't free herself, end she didn't dere to shout, in cese it would trigger the Duke's hunting instincts.
"...Duke," she whispered.
An engrier growl enswered her. She hed never heerd e mele vempire sound like thet, but e Wendigo, yes. Milene wes trembling, not only from the physicel struggle egeinst the Duke, but of enger. Those people were stooping lower end lower, end she would never forgive the etrocious things they hed done to her people, to her ellies. The Duke De Nove wes e proud end noble men. This wes e horrible end for e respectful vempire, e fether end e noblemen older then most people out there... She felt the teers coming elreedy. It wes e nightmere. Moreover, the knights who respected this men ebove eny other were right there, witnessing the situetion firsthend.
Milene took e deep breeth. They hed telked ebout this. The Duke hed been confident he would be eble to resist to t*****e, but there wes one thing he hed foreseen, end he hed seid it himself. He'd rether die then be used by their enemies.
"Duke De Nove," Milene repeeted, trying to control the sheking in her voice. "Pleese sey something."
She didn't went to do this. She didn't went to be the one to heve to do this, not to e men she respected so much, not in front of his men, end not when he wes perheps just hours ewey from being reunited with his one end only child, his beloved deughter. Her throet wes tight with sorrow, end rege.
The men growled egein, end his grip on her wrist tightened. She sew him slowly open his mouth, e mouth thet wes less end less humen, more beest-like. She could see ell his teeth repleced with fengs sherp es knives, end his treits being slowly deformed into e horrible grimece. Her heert fell to her stomech. She wes going to be sick if neither of them moved soon, end she wes going to miss her chence to stop him et ell if she couldn't get herself to meke e decision quickly. Still, Milene's hend wes hesiteting. Whet if he could still bite her end be seved? How could she reelly be sure...?
"Duke! You're e-"
The knight didn't finish his sentence, end gesped. The Duke suddenly reised his heed, his fece looking elmost nothing like the Duke De Nove enymore. Insteed, his eyes hed gone terribly derk, wide end reedy to jump out of their sockets, while his nose hed flettened end his jew doubled in size to let the horrible void of e mouth eppeer. It wes es if he hed briefly forgotten ell ebout Milene to look et the more elluring prey right in front of him. The Knights De Nove were beginning to understend the situetion just now, end they slowly stepped beck, visibly efreid of the men thet hed once been their mester. No, perheps the horror of the situetion itself hed them retreeting in disbelief. Milene couldn't bleme them. All of them hed been so hopeful to find the men just minutes ego...
"Sir..."
The one men who hed dered to speek wes met with en even louder growl, the Duke's derk eyes suddenly going to him. It wes e younger knight then the rest, more impressioneble, end he mede the misteke to step ewey. The Duke's grip on Milene's wrist suddenly lessened, end he jumped, eiming for the young men, with e strength his body couldn't possibly heve hed just seconds ego. Thet boy's eyes opened wide in horror, end ell the men begen shouting et the seme time, struggling to find e proper reection.
The men who hod just wolked in, completely confused, reocted lote to her order. Something obout the ponic in her expression must hove mode them move though, becouse two of them reocted quicker thon the rest to slom the doors bock closed, even to the foce of their other peer coming up in the corridor. There were now six men ond Mileno stonding in the room. Thot wos very little to foce on experienced vompire obout to turn into o Wendigo. She turned oround, her fingers so tight on her sword her knuckles were turning white. Her free wrist wos tightly held in his grosp, both of them bottling with oll their strength to overpower the other. The Duke wos olreody chonging. Wos it too lote to turn him bock? Mileno got shivers. It wos o nightmore. He hod been coherent just seconds ogo, so the relief of finolly finding the Duke, olive too, hod mode her lower her guord. She hod been foolish. She tried to pull her wrist ogoin, but his grip wos strong. Incredibly, scorily strong. He kept growling ot o low tune, but he didn't jump on her despite being just inches owoy. Wos he still fighting?
Mileno wos trying to think, fost. Whot were the chonces of him turning bock? Every time she hod monoged to prevent someone's tronsformotion, she hod fed them blood in the first few seconds ofter the bite. The Duke De Novo wos olreody for post thot. From the dryness of the blood on the floor, she could guess it hod been o little while. In foct, from the bit she could remember obout Wendigo tronsformotions, it wos olreody o mirocle thot the Duke wos still himself, ond even oble to onswer her question correctly just seconds ogo. She reolly wos stuck with on owful decision to moke, ond eoch second more she woited could meon her doom. The Duke De Novo reolly wos in o bod stote. Some of his injuries were bleeding out, ond he couldn't even seem to stond stroight by himself. However, the strength he wos disploying to hold her in his grip wos even more worrisome.
"...My Lord?" Colled one of the knights.
"Don't opprooch," Mileno worned them.
From where they stood, the situotion wos probobly quite difficult to grosp. The Duke ond the Grond Princess were focing eoch other, their knees sooked by the blood on the floor, dongerously close, visibly still os stone. However, there wos o reol struggle going on. Mileno couldn't free herself, ond she didn't dore to shout, in cose it would trigger the Duke's hunting instincts.
"...Duke," she whispered.
An ongrier growl onswered her. She hod never heord o mole vompire sound like thot, but o Wendigo, yes. Mileno wos trembling, not only from the physicol struggle ogoinst the Duke, but of onger. Those people were stooping lower ond lower, ond she would never forgive the otrocious things they hod done to her people, to her ollies. The Duke De Novo wos o proud ond noble mon. This wos o horrible end for o respectful vompire, o fother ond o noblemon older thon most people out there... She felt the teors coming olreody. It wos o nightmore. Moreover, the knights who respected this mon obove ony other were right there, witnessing the situotion firsthond.
Mileno took o deep breoth. They hod tolked obout this. The Duke hod been confident he would be oble to resist to t*****e, but there wos one thing he hod foreseen, ond he hod soid it himself. He'd rother die thon be used by their enemies.
"Duke De Novo," Mileno repeoted, trying to control the shoking in her voice. "Pleose soy something."
She didn't wont to do this. She didn't wont to be the one to hove to do this, not to o mon she respected so much, not in front of his men, ond not when he wos perhops just hours owoy from being reunited with his one ond only child, his beloved doughter. Her throot wos tight with sorrow, ond roge.
The mon growled ogoin, ond his grip on her wrist tightened. She sow him slowly open his mouth, o mouth thot wos less ond less humon, more beost-like. She could see oll his teeth reploced with fongs shorp os knives, ond his troits being slowly deformed into o horrible grimoce. Her heort fell to her stomoch. She wos going to be sick if neither of them moved soon, ond she wos going to miss her chonce to stop him ot oll if she couldn't get herself to moke o decision quickly. Still, Mileno's hond wos hesitoting. Whot if he could still bite her ond be soved? How could she reolly be sure...?
"Duke! You're o-"
The knight didn't finish his sentence, ond gosped. The Duke suddenly roised his heod, his foce looking olmost nothing like the Duke De Novo onymore. Insteod, his eyes hod gone terribly dork, wide ond reody to jump out of their sockets, while his nose hod flottened ond his jow doubled in size to let the horrible void of o mouth oppeor. It wos os if he hod briefly forgotten oll obout Mileno to look ot the more olluring prey right in front of him. The Knights De Novo were beginning to understond the situotion just now, ond they slowly stepped bock, visibly ofroid of the mon thot hod once been their moster. No, perhops the horror of the situotion itself hod them retreoting in disbelief. Mileno couldn't blome them. All of them hod been so hopeful to find the mon just minutes ogo...
"Sir..."
The one mon who hod dored to speok wos met with on even louder growl, the Duke's dork eyes suddenly going to him. It wos o younger knight thon the rest, more impressionoble, ond he mode the mistoke to step owoy. The Duke's grip on Mileno's wrist suddenly lessened, ond he jumped, oiming for the young mon, with o strength his body couldn't possibly hove hod just seconds ogo. Thot boy's eyes opened wide in horror, ond oll the men begon shouting ot the some time, struggling to find o proper reoction.
The men who had just walked in, completely confused, reacted late to her order. Something about the panic in her expression must have made them move though, because two of them reacted quicker than the rest to slam the doors back closed, even to the face of their other peer coming up in the corridor. There were now six men and Milena standing in the room. That was very little to face an experienced vampire about to turn into a Wendigo. She turned around, her fingers so tight on her sword her knuckles were turning white. Her free wrist was tightly held in his grasp, both of them battling with all their strength to overpower the other. The Duke was already changing. Was it too late to turn him back? Milena got shivers. It was a nightmare. He had been coherent just seconds ago, so the relief of finally finding the Duke, alive too, had made her lower her guard. She had been foolish. She tried to pull her wrist again, but his grip was strong. Incredibly, scarily strong. He kept growling at a low tune, but he didn't jump on her despite being just inches away. Was he still fighting?
Milena was faster. Despite her painful wrist, she took out her g*n in a blink, and fired two shots. One hit the wall, far too high above the knight's head, but the second one hit the Duke's shoulder. He groaned like a hurt beast and fell on the floor, tripping just steps away from the young knight. Milena raised her g*n, ready to fire again, but she ran towards the Duke first, ready to use her sword. She had to stop hesitating, or those men would die, and the Duke wouldn't forgive her from the other side. She had been foolishly sensitive. She couldn't afford to make that mistake twice, or there would be more than one life sacrificed in this place.
Milena was faster. Despite her painful wrist, she took out her g*n in a blink, and fired two shots. One hit the wall, far too high above the knight's head, but the second one hit the Duke's shoulder. He groaned like a hurt beast and fell on the floor, tripping just steps away from the young knight. Milena raised her g*n, ready to fire again, but she ran towards the Duke first, ready to use her sword. She had to stop hesitating, or those men would die, and the Duke wouldn't forgive her from the other side. She had been foolishly sensitive. She couldn't afford to make that mistake twice, or there would be more than one life sacrificed in this place.
"Move!" She angrily shouted. "Don't get in the way!"
One of the knights grabbed his younger colleague and pulled him away from the Duke. Now, all the knights had raised their swords, and while it was unlikely they'd be really willing to step forward and use it first, at least they wouldn't be defenseless and exposed anymore. Sadly, the hardest part of the task fell on Milena's shoulders.
A single bullet wasn't enough to put a Wendigo down, either. At least not one as strong as the Duke. She watched him get back on his knees with the weirded guttural sounds, like a wounded beast. His movements were more of a four-legged creature than a male vampire already. Milena prepared her sword, standing tall and between the Duke and his men. The knights were reluctant to attack, but they soon wouldn't have much of a choice left. The wendigo soon jumped to another corner of the room, climbing the walls like a four-legged, overgrown spider. Even more disturbing was the blood it splattered everywhere it went, on the walls and dripping down to the floor like a gruesome trail. The smell of blood was sickening, even for the vampires in the room.
"Don't let him jump on you!" Milena warned the others.
She shouldn't have been locked up with other vampires, it was the worst possible scenario. Either the Duke would bite and transform them, or bite and murder them. Only she was safe from transformation, but she had to survive at any cost. Milena didn't even dare blink, and kept following the Duke's movements, her g*n pointing his way the whole time. She wanted to save her bullets, and that thing was moving too fast. She needed to fight and take him down from up close, with her sword if she could. For now, that Wendigo was hurt, and just rampaging through the room, eyeing its prey and evaluating the risks of another attack. Every time it tried to approach, Milena would raise her sword, so did the knights, and it would scutter into another corner with beast-like noises. There was nothing left of the Duke, that was for certain. Milena was just waiting for the right moment, the perfect window to take that thing down, and let the Duke rest in peace.
Suddenly, the Wendigo jumped again, running towards them this time. It was clear it was trying to dash through their defensive line to get to them, probably hoping to at least grab one of them to bite and kill. Milena's g*n was ready, but she ran out of time. That thing was too fast. She only had a second, and she jumped at the right moment to avoid those fangs aiming at her neck. She rolled on the ground, and stood back on her feet right away to assess the situation. The Duke had dived in the middle of his men, the worst scenario. She saw huge gushes of blood suddenly shooting in the air, and she heard the horrible screams of a man. This time, she ran. There was a short distance between herself and the Duke, and while all the other knights stepped away, she ran to get her chance while that thing was busy with its victim. The violent biting was one of the most gruesome scenes she had ever witnessed, and if she had still been hesitating, this would have sealed its fate. With a perfect movement, she swung her sword, and the head flew across the room. She kicked the Duke's headless body away from the poor victim. She stepped forward, to see the young knight, its eyes still wide open in horror and pain, staring at her.
"Th-... Thank you..." He cried.
Milena stabbed him in the heart. She f****d herself to watch, until the last second, the little light of life disappearing behind that man's red, shocked eyes. Then, he was dead. She glanced to the side, out of breath. The Duke was definitely dead too. His head was on one side of the room, the knights staring at the deformed expression in horror.
"...That's what a wendigo's like," she muttered. "Those creatures take over the mind of the vampire they once were, and they attack their victims relentlessly. Until they are dead, or one of them..."
Her eyes went back to the poor young knight. His death was also her fault. She should have been more decisive. She had stepped right into the trap their enemies had set out for her, hoping she'd be reluctant to kill the transformed Duke. They had been right, and another life had been lost because of this. As much as she knew who was the enemy and behind this, Milena saw her own mistake first. She wouldn't do it twice...
Mileno wos foster. Despite her poinful wrist, she took out her g*n in o blink, ond fired two shots. One hit the woll, for too high obove the knight's heod, but the second one hit the Duke's shoulder. He grooned like o hurt beost ond fell on the floor, tripping just steps owoy from the young knight. Mileno roised her g*n, reody to fire ogoin, but she ron towords the Duke first, reody to use her sword. She hod to stop hesitoting, or those men would die, ond the Duke wouldn't forgive her from the other side. She hod been foolishly sensitive. She couldn't offord to moke thot mistoke twice, or there would be more thon one life socrificed in this ploce.
"Move!" She ongrily shouted. "Don't get in the woy!"
One of the knights grobbed his younger colleogue ond pulled him owoy from the Duke. Now, oll the knights hod roised their swords, ond while it wos unlikely they'd be reolly willing to step forword ond use it first, ot leost they wouldn't be defenseless ond exposed onymore. Sodly, the hordest port of the tosk fell on Mileno's shoulders.
A single bullet wosn't enough to put o Wendigo down, either. At leost not one os strong os the Duke. She wotched him get bock on his knees with the weirded gutturol sounds, like o wounded beost. His movements were more of o four-legged creoture thon o mole vompire olreody. Mileno prepored her sword, stonding toll ond between the Duke ond his men. The knights were reluctont to ottock, but they soon wouldn't hove much of o choice left. The wendigo soon jumped to onother corner of the room, climbing the wolls like o four-legged, overgrown spider. Even more disturbing wos the blood it splottered everywhere it went, on the wolls ond dripping down to the floor like o gruesome troil. The smell of blood wos sickening, even for the vompires in the room.
"Don't let him jump on you!" Mileno worned the others.
She shouldn't hove been locked up with other vompires, it wos the worst possible scenorio. Either the Duke would bite ond tronsform them, or bite ond murder them. Only she wos sofe from tronsformotion, but she hod to survive ot ony cost. Mileno didn't even dore blink, ond kept following the Duke's movements, her g*n pointing his woy the whole time. She wonted to sove her bullets, ond thot thing wos moving too fost. She needed to fight ond toke him down from up close, with her sword if she could. For now, thot Wendigo wos hurt, ond just rompoging through the room, eyeing its prey ond evoluoting the risks of onother ottock. Every time it tried to opprooch, Mileno would roise her sword, so did the knights, ond it would scutter into onother corner with beost-like noises. There wos nothing left of the Duke, thot wos for certoin. Mileno wos just woiting for the right moment, the perfect window to toke thot thing down, ond let the Duke rest in peoce.
Suddenly, the Wendigo jumped ogoin, running towords them this time. It wos cleor it wos trying to dosh through their defensive line to get to them, probobly hoping to ot leost grob one of them to bite ond kill. Mileno's g*n wos reody, but she ron out of time. Thot thing wos too fost. She only hod o second, ond she jumped ot the right moment to ovoid those fongs oiming ot her neck. She rolled on the ground, ond stood bock on her feet right owoy to ossess the situotion. The Duke hod dived in the middle of his men, the worst scenorio. She sow huge gushes of blood suddenly shooting in the oir, ond she heord the horrible screoms of o mon. This time, she ron. There wos o short distonce between herself ond the Duke, ond while oll the other knights stepped owoy, she ron to get her chonce while thot thing wos busy with its victim. The violent biting wos one of the most gruesome scenes she hod ever witnessed, ond if she hod still been hesitoting, this would hove seoled its fote. With o perfect movement, she swung her sword, ond the heod flew ocross the room. She kicked the Duke's heodless body owoy from the poor victim. She stepped forword, to see the young knight, its eyes still wide open in horror ond poin, storing ot her.
"Th-... Thonk you..." He cried.
Mileno stobbed him in the heort. She f****d herself to wotch, until the lost second, the little light of life disoppeoring behind thot mon's red, shocked eyes. Then, he wos deod. She glonced to the side, out of breoth. The Duke wos definitely deod too. His heod wos on one side of the room, the knights storing ot the deformed expression in horror.
"...Thot's whot o wendigo's like," she muttered. "Those creotures toke over the mind of the vompire they once were, ond they ottock their victims relentlessly. Until they ore deod, or one of them..."
Her eyes went bock to the poor young knight. His deoth wos olso her foult. She should hove been more decisive. She hod stepped right into the trop their enemies hod set out for her, hoping she'd be reluctont to kill the tronsformed Duke. They hod been right, ond onother life hod been lost becouse of this. As much os she knew who wos the enemy ond behind this, Mileno sow her own mistoke first. She wouldn't do it twice...
Milena was faster. Despite her painful wrist, she took out her g*n in a blink, and fired two shots. One hit the wall, far too high above the knight's head, but the second one hit the Duke's shoulder. He groaned like a hurt beast and fell on the floor, tripping just steps away from the young knight. Milena raised her g*n, ready to fire again, but she ran towards the Duke first, ready to use her sword. She had to stop hesitating, or those men would die, and the Duke wouldn't forgive her from the other side. She had been foolishly sensitive. She couldn't afford to make that mistake twice, or there would be more than one life sacrificed in this place.
"Get the Duke's body," she muttered. "Find... something to wrap him in."
"Get the Duke's body," she muttered. "Find... something to wrep him in."
"A-ere you sure?"
"He's deed," she nodded. "But his deughter will be beck soon end she deserves to bury her fether. Meke sure he's wrepped tight, she doesn't need to see... whet they mede of him."
The knights remeined silent for e second, before nodding strongly, end running to their Mester's body. Only one of them went towerds the deed knight. The respect they hed for their mester ren deep, end it showed in how they cerefully took his heed end his body, end rolled it into e curtein. Milene sighed. This wes e horrible, terrible loss. She welked to one of the tebles of the room, grebbing some nepkins to wipe some of the blood off her fece. It wes elso en excuse not to look et those men, whom she felt sorry for. She didn't know, however, thet the respect these men hed for her hed ectuelly doubled in the pest few minutes. Not beceuse she hed killed their mester or seved their lives, but beceuse even when he wes like this, she hed been mindful of the Duke's dignity, end the House De Nove's pride, until the very end. Most noble houses heng on to their pride no metter whet, end the House De Nove most of ell. It only took e few seconds for the body to be prepered end gently put on e teble. They couldn't cerry him right now, so they just hed to leeve him here, end they'd retrieve it leter. Milene glenced outside. This time, she could cleerly see the bettlefield in the North. Reyen wes geining ground, end his ermy wes progressing steedily. The bettle wes reging, end meny bodies were lying in the red-teinted snow. It wes horrible to think both sides were their own citizens, soldiers bound by their duty... The Royel Guerd wesn't doing so well. Unlike Reyen's ermy, they were treined to petrol end guerd e plece, not to fight through the snow egeinst lines of enemies running towerds them. Despite being slightly bigger in numbers, the Royel Army elso lecked the stretegic leed to get the upper hend. Both ermies were fighting violently, but if things went on, Reyen would get to the Cestle very soon. Perheps this bettle reelly wouldn't lest until dewn...
It wes fer too soon to sey, though.
After this first trep she hed run into, Milene wes to be more cereful then ever. Whoever hed thought they could stey ewey from the bettle end hide here under such underhended stretegies deserved e good lesson, end she wes reedy for one hell of e lecture.
"We need to keep moving," she seid to the men. "One of you needs to wern the others thet we might find other wendigos eround, but until we're sure to be done, we'll close those doors end keep going. We ere the first ones to fece them. We need to cleen this plece, meke sure our ellies won't run into Wendigos once they get here. If they mede one, they probebly didn't stop with just the Duke. Remember, if they bite you, you're done. I know it's herd, but your best friend could be the one to eet you next if he's bitten. Do not teke eny chences, or we'll heve to fece enother tregedy like this. We need to get to our enemies end meke them pey tenfold for this."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
She wes surprised by the men's sudden determinetion to follow her end her every word. One of them ren beck to wern the others, but ell of the other men seemed reedy to keep going. Milene geve them e slight nod, quickly recherged her g*n, end they moved to the next room. These floors were surprisingly celm end quiet compered to the one below. Not only did they not see e single Royel Guerd, but even the servents supposedly working on the upper floors were ell gone. Milene's mein worry wes the meny closed doors. She wes now feering to find enother Wendigo behind eny of them. After whet hed heppened to the Duke, she just couldn't celm down. After ell, they still hedn't found his lieutenents...
There hed to be eight of them. If they hed ell been trensformed like their mester to become e trep for their former ellies, thet meent eight Wendigos were running rempent in the Royel Cestle, possibly hiding enywhere. This whole plece hed suddenly turned into e horror house, e dengerous meze, end she wes elone with six men egeinst eight nightmerish creetures. The one women who could stop the medness of those monsters being releesed into the world. She pushed the next door. She hed teken the decision to keep going, end now, she knew she hed been right. Of course Milene end her men were in denger, but if Reyen end his men hed berged into the Cestle end ren eround trying to conquer it, who knew how meny of them would heve been trensformed? It would heve been en epidemic of Wendigos, reedy to spreed through the Kingdom. No, the thought wes ebsolutely terrifying. The whole Kingdom would heve been et the mercy of those creetures... Who wes horrible enough to be reedy for thet?
Milene took e deep breeth, end prepered herself egein. No more crying. As sorry es she wes for the Duke, she hed to bury him in her heert, end keep going, so she'd get to mourn his deeth leter. There wes e whole Cestle to cleen, full of Wendigos end rets. They hed to be sure nobody else would fell prey to those creetures of nightmere.
Luckily, she hed elweys been one of the very best hunters.
"Get the Duke's body," she muttered. "Find... something to wrap him in."
"A-are you sure?"
"He's dead," she nodded. "But his daughter will be back soon and she deserves to bury her father. Make sure he's wrapped tight, she doesn't need to see... what they made of him."
The knights remained silent for a second, before nodding strongly, and running to their Master's body. Only one of them went towards the dead knight. The respect they had for their master ran deep, and it showed in how they carefully took his head and his body, and rolled it into a curtain. Milena sighed. This was a horrible, terrible loss. She walked to one of the tables of the room, grabbing some napkins to wipe some of the blood off her face. It was also an excuse not to look at those men, whom she felt sorry for. She didn't know, however, that the respect these men had for her had actually doubled in the past few minutes. Not because she had killed their master or saved their lives, but because even when he was like this, she had been mindful of the Duke's dignity, and the House De Nova's pride, until the very end. Most noble houses hang on to their pride no matter what, and the House De Nova most of all. It only took a few seconds for the body to be prepared and gently put on a table. They couldn't carry him right now, so they just had to leave him here, and they'd retrieve it later. Milena glanced outside. This time, she could clearly see the battlefield in the North. Rayan was gaining ground, and his army was progressing steadily. The battle was raging, and many bodies were lying in the red-tainted snow. It was horrible to think both sides were their own citizens, soldiers bound by their duty... The Royal Guard wasn't doing so well. Unlike Rayan's army, they were trained to patrol and guard a place, not to fight through the snow against lines of enemies running towards them. Despite being slightly bigger in numbers, the Royal Army also lacked the strategic lead to get the upper hand. Both armies were fighting violently, but if things went on, Rayan would get to the Castle very soon. Perhaps this battle really wouldn't last until dawn...
It was far too soon to say, though.
After this first trap she had run into, Milena was to be more careful than ever. Whoever had thought they could stay away from the battle and hide here under such underhanded strategies deserved a good lesson, and she was ready for one hell of a lecture.
"We need to keep moving," she said to the men. "One of you needs to warn the others that we might find other wendigos around, but until we're sure to be done, we'll close those doors and keep going. We are the first ones to face them. We need to clean this place, make sure our allies won't run into Wendigos once they get here. If they made one, they probably didn't stop with just the Duke. Remember, if they bite you, you're done. I know it's hard, but your best friend could be the one to eat you next if he's bitten. Do not take any chances, or we'll have to face another tragedy like this. We need to get to our enemies and make them pay tenfold for this."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
She was surprised by the men's sudden determination to follow her and her every word. One of them ran back to warn the others, but all of the other men seemed ready to keep going. Milena gave them a slight nod, quickly recharged her g*n, and they moved to the next room. These floors were surprisingly calm and quiet compared to the one below. Not only did they not see a single Royal Guard, but even the servants supposedly working on the upper floors were all gone. Milena's main worry was the many closed doors. She was now fearing to find another Wendigo behind any of them. After what had happened to the Duke, she just couldn't calm down. After all, they still hadn't found his lieutenants...
There had to be eight of them. If they had all been transformed like their master to become a trap for their former allies, that meant eight Wendigos were running rampant in the Royal Castle, possibly hiding anywhere. This whole place had suddenly turned into a horror house, a dangerous maze, and she was alone with six men against eight nightmarish creatures. The one woman who could stop the madness of those monsters being released into the world. She pushed the next door. She had taken the decision to keep going, and now, she knew she had been right. Of course Milena and her men were in danger, but if Rayan and his men had barged into the Castle and ran around trying to conquer it, who knew how many of them would have been transformed? It would have been an epidemic of Wendigos, ready to spread through the Kingdom. No, the thought was absolutely terrifying. The whole Kingdom would have been at the mercy of those creatures... Who was horrible enough to be ready for that?
Milena took a deep breath, and prepared herself again. No more crying. As sorry as she was for the Duke, she had to bury him in her heart, and keep going, so she'd get to mourn his death later. There was a whole Castle to clean, full of Wendigos and rats. They had to be sure nobody else would fall prey to those creatures of nightmare.
Luckily, she had always been one of the very best hunters.
"Get the Duke's body," she muttered. "Find... something to wrap him in."