Lady Dhampir
Chapter 150

As she gently escorted Philomenie out of there, Milena didn't have the time or strength to be crying herself. His Highness wasn't dead yet, but she knew his sons would certainly be quick to fight each other over what had just been decided. Indeed, as soon as they stepped out of the King's apartments, they crossed the paths of pale servants who had probably heard what they shouldn't have. Ellias' voice could be heard even from the corridor, making Milena sigh. "Lady Philomenie, you should go back..."

"No," said the Princess, to her surprise. "I... I want to be by his side."

Just as she said that, Philomenie seemed to regain a bit of her spirit, and slowed down her tears. Milena nodded, and let go of her shoulders, letting the Princess regain her composure before they both walked inside the room, both ready. Inside, Rayan was standing to the side, his arms crossed, while Ellias was pacing left and right, shouting. It seemed they had thrown all the servants out, seeing how the room was empty aside from them. Milena and Philomenie walked in slowly and made sure the door was closed behind them.

"Never!" Ellias was yelling. "Father never favored me over you! I've worked hard, I've done everything right, and now it all goes away with one word of him! I can't believe he really did that!"

"Our father's words are final," said Rayan, his crimson eyes throwing daggers at his brother. "I get you're upset, but you could have at least pretended to honor our father's wishes for one more minute before he..."

"To honor his wishes?" Retorted Ellias. "I've been doing whatever our parents wanted our whole life, Rayan! Every lesson, every protocol, every damn book I learned them by heart! I played every part of the perfect son they wanted while you were running away from your duties to play with your little vampire friends! I accompanied Mother all the time! Do you think she favored me? She was crazy about me always being the perfect Prince, while father couldn't seem to have cared less!"

He suddenly pointed out his index at both princesses.

"Our parents were kinder to other people's children than to us!" He shouted.

"We were born Princes," hissed Rayan. "What do you think, we were going to have it easy? Would you rather have been born in a poor family?"

"I would rather have been born in a loving one! How many times did our parents actually care about us, Rayan? How many times did Father say he was proud, how many times did Mother reward us? We are just their two pawns, born with their blood! Now what, he's

on his death-bed and he still has the strength to send me to war? There was always going to be one of us expendable, Rayan, but I didn't think he would actually send me to die without blinking!"

"That's a disappointing statement from the new Commander-in-chief," said Rayan. "Are you simply going to lay there and let them kill you? You heard father. It's your chance to be a Hero to our people."

"f**k being a Hero! I already am popular, Rayan, more popular than you! Why did it have to be me? I'm so tired of always getting the lesser end of our duo! Why were you always the one to get away with everything?" His green eyes suddenly glared at Milena.

"Even when we were children, you got to play around, make friends with the De Crescent daughter while I was working all day long to become the perfect prince my mother wanted! Do you even know what it was like to have to endure all that crap, while my twin could just play around?"

"Don't you dare play pitiful," hissed Rayan. "Mother always favored you, she could barely bear to look at me! You were her perfect human son, and I was just the vampire she didn't want to give birth to. What would you have wanted, to be the one no one cared about?"

"If no one cared about you, why are you the one named King!" Shouted Ellias. "Why all these years of working hard, for them to be given to you on a golden plate! I'm done with being the sacrificial lamb, Rayan! How can they name a man who shot down his own mother? You'll never be liked by our people! They already view you as an Anarchist, a vampire traitor! Even the Council! They won't agree to that!"

"They will agree to the Royal Decree. Also, may I remind you half the Council isn't human, for good reasons. Our Father's orders will be final. This isn't something your popularity will help you with, Ellias."

"Oh, just you watch! I am so done being everyone's pawn. I deserve that throne, Rayan, it should have been given to me. I don't give a f**k about you being firstborn, about you being a vampire, or about our goddamn prophecies!" Milena was surprised. So what she had been suspecting so far was real. They really knew their own prophecies, but unlike their parents, the twins didn't care about it. Had they decided to ignore it on purpose? If so, what did it say...

"...You're ready to create a civil war for your own selfishness?" Said Rayan, his fists clenched. "Don't you have enough with the one at our doors? Our people need us, Ellias, you can't simply throw one of your tantrums just because Father didn't..."

"A tantrum? Listen to yourself, Rayan! You've always been looking down on me! I was the hard-working one, and not once did I complain! I even tried not to resent you so hard! I thought this was all because our parents had a plan for us, to keep you away from the spotlight and me in it, to have everyone's support once I'd become King! I was..."

He was out of breath, and suddenly stopped shaking his head. After a few seconds, he covered his eyes, laughing hysterically. Next to Milena, Philomenie took a few steps forward, but she didn't dare go all the way to him.

"I was certain there was a reason our parents made me endure all this instead of you, their First Born, Rayan. I was ready to accept anything as long as I became King. I convinced myself this was for the greater good, to make me the King our parents would want!" "Whatever our parents' original plan was, Ellias, they don't owe it to you to hand you the crown on a silver plate," retorted Rayan. "Things have changed, people, too. Our Kingdom is going to war, our whole world could end and the only thing you're focused on is your damn self-pity!"

"This isn't self-pity, Rayan, this is freaking justice! You've done nothing to deserve that throne! Just because I am popular, father sends me to the battlefield? How unfair is that! He's naming the good-for-nothing for King! How is that saving our Kingdom?" "How about you? Do you think playing parrot with the Nobles would have made you a better King, perhaps? You think being good at politics and charming the people is all it takes, Father was right, Ellias. You're selfish..."

"Don't you lecture me on selfishness, Rayan! Anyone but you!"

"Enough!"

All eyes turned to Philomenie, surprised to have the Princess, of all people, intervene now. Even Milena was standing to the side, her arms crossed, with no wish to partake in this. This was a feud between the siblings, it didn't involve their wives. She didn't even have the strength to have them stop right now, but Philomenie stepped in first. "His Majesty is living his last hours and you're fighting over his throne that hasn't even gone cold!" She claimed, her eyes full of tears. "Prince Rayan, if you'll excuse us, I think my... Prince Ellias and I could use a bit of a break."

"I do think so as well," coldly retorted Rayan, his eyes still sending daggers at his twin.

"You'll see, Rayan," hissed Ellias. "This isn't over and I won't let you steal what is rightfully mine."

"Prince Ellias, I do think you should follow your wife," said Milena, exhausted by his attitude.

As if Milena had given her an extra push, Philomenie walked to her husband, and with all the courage she could gather, she grabbed his arm. Ellias didn't push her away, but he walked first out of there, making Philomenie follow him instead. She and Milena exchanged one last look, before the door was closed on them. A heavy silence followed.

"Rayan..."

"Come."

Before she could add a word, Rayan walked up to her, grabbed her hand and, in complete silence, he took her back to their apartments.

Milena felt strange, staring at that back in front of her. His Father was dying, and his brother was absolutely furious. She couldn't even imagine what her Prince ought to be going through right then. She followed in silence, a knot in her throat. After a wedding, she hadn't imagined they'd have to gear up for a funeral so soon.

Rayan finally walked into their apartments, chased the maids away with one glare, and let go of her hand.

Milena wasn't sure what to say, or how to console someone who was losing their father. Not like this. She watched Rayan as he took a few steps inside, and, without warning, he violently sent flying everything that was on the table. The horrible ruckus of wood, glass and silver breaking made Milena jump. She covered her mouth, as her husband let out a long scream of frustration. Milena closed her eyes, waiting for it to pass. She couldn't understand Rayan's feelings, but she could understand he couldn't contain it anymore. His violent fit wasn't directed at anyone. Or at their parents, perhaps. There was no one to blame for Fate spinning its wheels over their destinies, tearing families apart. The weight of Duty, War and Death was just too much to bear tonight. Waiting, she just let him be until his heavy breathing became a little more regular, and his venting stopped with a lot of broken furniture.

Standing there, Rayan was still panting, his shoulders going up and down like a wounded beast.

Then, he suddenly threw away his jacket, and sat down on the floor, his head in his hands. Milena couldn't tell if he was crying, but she slowly approached, her heart just as heavy. She couldn't see his face, but she could tell, by the way his shoulders seemed heavy, his head was lowered. Slowly crouching down to his level despite her dress, she gently put a hand on his shoulders.

"Damn it..." She heard him whisper. "I never wanted this to really happen to Ellias... I know he's right... Mother wanted him to become King..."

"It's not your fault," Milena answered. "He should have known there was always this possibility. He just held on to this too strong instead of opposing your parents like you did..."

"That was my mistake, Milena. I made him think I was giving up. I made my brother think his path was already all written, and his hardships meant something. He thought I was out of his way. Even with you. I had no remorse taking you from him, Milena, and I still don't."

Milena took a deep breath, and moved to sit down in front of him, grabbing his wrists for him to look her in the eyes.

"Rayan, enough. First, you did not take me away from your brother. Regardless of your actions, Ellias made his own choices, and we both knew that. I am not some prize either of you had to win, so don't you dare apologize for that. You didn't steal me, I married you of my own accord. Secondly, I understand you feel sorry for Ellias, as he's still your brother. But regardless of what scheme your mother had in mind, things don't always work out that simply, and you both had to be prepared for that. Your Father himself acknowledged that. In other circumstances, in times of peace and wealth, Ellias may have been the king this Kingdom needed. At the moment, he isn't, Rayan. Regardless of his selfishness or yours."

Milena caught her breath, and snuck a little bit closer to him, still holding on to his arms. Rayan had never let himself look so vulnerable before, and for once, that made her truly glad. She could act as his wife, his moral support, and a partner who could pull him up when he was down, just like he had done for her before.

"Rayan, you have just as much right as Ellias to be named King. Regardless of what Ellias convinced himself of, that is the truth you both ought to realize. You can't afford to be weak, not now, please... They will all need you tomorrow."

Her husband closed his eyes, and slowly, breathed in deep. Milena's heart was breaking for him, and for his dying father a few corridors away. She slowly moved her hand to caress his cheek, and he leaned his face against her hand, as if to look for her warmth in it. They remained a long time like this, on the floor, in the middle of the debris. The shattered pieces of his anger scattered around them, and that peaceful silence between them. There was nothing but their slow breathing, and the crackling of the fire in the chimney behind them.

After a long while, Rayan let out a long sigh.

"Just... stay with me until it's over. I beg you," he whispered.

"Of course."

Somehow, neither of them found strength to go to the bed that evening. After Milena insisted, they both changed into their night robes, but they stayed on the sofa of their bedroom, one of the only pieces of furniture he hadn't wrecked. Rayan rested his head on her lap, covering his face with his arm, as if he was asleep. Milena knew that wasn't the case. She simply brushed his hair gently, waiting for the hours to pass. She knew she wouldn't have been able to sleep a wink even if she'd been on that bed. Instead, she stared at the snow falling outside the window, and waited with him for the hours to pass.

Even when some servants walked in to bring some warm wine and sweep up the debris, neither of them moved. Blanche herself went to occupy the bed and curled up alone there. It felt like a terribly long time to wait, and wait. Somehow, Milena wondered if they should have stayed by the King's side all night long, but neither of the twins would probably have had the strength to. Those two had an eerie relationship with their parents. It felt like the strange fate of the young Royal children... Milena realized she was on the verge of becoming crown princess, and Queen. That thought alone was enough to make her dizzy.

Around dawn, one of the Royal Butlers suddenly arrived.

"Your Highnesses, the King has regained consciousness, but he... has asked for his final drink. Would you be kind to make your way to the Royal bedroom by his side?"

For a second, Milena wondered if Rayan had heard that, as he wasn't moving.

"...Is my brother going?"

"I am not sure, your Highness," said the man, bowing deeply. "A request has been sent to him, as per the protocol."

Without answering, Rayan stood up. His eyes were red, and not just his irises. Milena tried to breathe, too. The final drink was a custom offered to the dying members of a Royal Family, if death was coming. They could choose to end their own suffering with a lethal potion, prepared by the Royal Doctors. It had been put in place after a beloved Queen had suffered terribly for days, and her husband had to watch in pain. Milena could understand why the King had chosen this. If he had been in a state to assist one more Council, and make his choice official, it would have been reckless, but... in the state they had seen him in the previous evening, Milena thought that potion might not have been necessary. He just wanted to accelerate the upcoming crowning with his own passing. Rayan left the room without a word, Milena following closely behind him.

When they arrived back in the King's chamber, Ellias and Philomenie were already there. Both couples didn't glance at each other, in an ice-cold silence. They simply took their respectful spots by the King's side, as the Doctor bowed to them. "His Highness just drank his cup," he whispered. "I... suggest your Highnesses say goodbye now."

"C-can he hear us?" Cried Philomenie, big tears running down her cheeks.

"No one can tell, your Highness."

She nodded silently, biting her lower lip to repress more sobbing. Philomenie glanced towards her husband, but Ellias wasn't moving at all. He was staring blankly at his father, with eyes completely inexpressive. So, Philomenie moved first, and gently took the King's hand. Hers were trembling, but she still held it, and put her forehead down, whispering something Milena guessed to be a prayer.

Rayan didn't move either. The twins were strangely immobile, unable to move. So, Milena moved to hold Rayan's hand, and at the same time, she came up to the King. She leaned above him, and gently kissed his pale cheek.

"Don't worry, Your Highness," she whispered. "I swear I'll protect them."

Then, she retreated, and with her other hand, held the old King's. She was like connecting Father and son, and for a long while, nothing was heard but Philomenie's sobbing.

A few hours later, the Kingdom of Solaris was informed of King Silverius' passing.