Lady Dhampir
Chapter 254

"How is he?" Milena asked the second her foot landed on the De Crescent Manor's terrace.

The usually so stern Digory's dark expression couldn't mean anything good. Milena had never seen their capable Butler simply shrug helplessly to a question asked by their master.

"Lord Raphael is in a strange state, my Lady," he confessed while rushing behind her up the stairs. "The doctors said he has a... unusual kind of fever. Something completely impossible for a young vampire." "Vampires don't have fevers," grunted Milena.

Their usually low body temperature made it technically impossible. Even herself, she could remember as a dhampir child how the smallest temperature peak was worrisome, for they had no idea what the normal temperature for a dhampir baby was, nor how a young girl with vampire traits could experience fevers. There were little to no archives about dhampirs, or they hadn't found any record of a fever.

But there were no instances of a vampire having any fever. Even Milena couldn't feel any heat from her vampire husband; it usually came from herself, as Rayan could adjust to her own temperature, or to the heat in the room, rather than to be constantly cold, but it was never his own heat; he was simply mirroring his environment. For Raphael to experience an actual fever couldn't mean anything good at all.

Milena rushed to her brother's bedroom, almost running into their family doctor.

"How's he?" Milena asked without catching her breath.

"Stable, my Lady," muttered the doctor. "However, I can't say he's fine. Those symptoms I have never seen before in a male vampire. He has a fever akin to the ones my Lady experienced several times as a child. It's not as high in temperature as a human, but..." "But?" Milena insisted, frowning.

"For a vampire? He shouldn't be alive with this kind of temperature. I'm very sorry, my Lady. We're doing everything in our power to cool him, but we have no idea what's going on. I wanted to go and enquire with colleagues..."

"No," she objected. "It might be better no one knows for now. If he is enduring it... First, let me see him. Has he drunk?"

"No, my Lady. I asked his personal servant to bring him some fresh blood, but Lord Raphael refused to take it." "He refused it?"

Milena was confused once again. She knew Raphael's personal servant would know about her brother's peculiar preferences, there was little room for the possibility he might have been offered female human blood. Yet, he was refusing it? It was a vampire's instinct to look for blood when they were wounded, or unwell. Like a predator, they'd seek something that gave them strength. For Raphael to refuse to even drink blood was confusing...

She suddenly heard him throw up loudly, and walked past the doctor to witness his state for herself. Raphael was lying on the edge of his bed, his upper body bent over as he was throwing up loudly, mostly blood. The smell was unpleasant, to say the least. Milena felt disgusted although most of it was probably her own blood being thrown up. From the look on Raphael's servant's face, this wasn't his first time throwing up either. She walked over, but when he raised his head, she was in for a shock again; he looked like he had lost a ton of weight in just a couple of minutes. Milena couldn't believe it. She had never see her brother so skinny. His cheeks were suddenly carved in, and his dark circles had gone much worse... like a wendigo. She experienced a chill. She didn't know if she'd be able to handle such a thing happening to her brother. Not that. This felt like the worse way to go, and she wouldn't wish that for anybody, certainly not her older brother.

"Raphael," she muttered, rushing to his side to wipe his chin and mouth with her handkerchief. "How are you feeling? Talk to me. Are you feeling pain anywhere?"

"I feel like... utter s**t," he muttered.

Milena grimaced. She had never heard him use such language, which spoke volumes about his current state. "Won't you drink a bit?"

"I'm going to throw it up, Millie," he grunted. "I... I don't even feel like it at all. It... disgusts me."

It disgusted him? Milena frowned. She would have thought he would crave blood, not the other way around. Or was this just a phase? She glanced at the bucket full of blood. No, Raphael was really rejecting blood. Was it because he had drunk her blood, as a woman? No matter how much he hated it, he should have at least been able to hold it in. Vampires drank blood according to their s****l preferences, as far as she knew, but it wasn't completely black or white. Eventually, they were able to drink even from a person they weren't attracted to if it was for their own survival. From what she had learned from Raphael, it was among the worse tastes in the world, and made him sick with indigestion, hence why he'd rather never have it. However, given the taste he was in now, he should have been able to take it in... Or was it because they were blood-related? It was taboo for vampires to drink from their own family, but this had more to do with ethical beliefs than actual biology. Since drinking blood from someone meant there was s****l attraction, no vampire ever openly admitted having drunk from a relative closer than an estranged cousin...

"You do have a fever," she muttered, her hand on his forehead.

"Wow," he chuckled. "I never thought I'd feel your hand as cold one day... Ah, no, please keep it there. It feels good..."

"You need ice rather than my hand," said Milena, glancing at Olivia for her maid to go and get some. "Are you feeling in pain elsewhere?"

"No... I'm feeling numb, a bit."

"Numb?"

"Yeah... And freaking tired. I feel like I'm going to sleep a hundred years." "Don't you dare do that."

He chuckled. It was odd to see him still able to joke and smile despite the circumstances. Milena's heart clenched. It didn't look like her brother was going to die, or turn into some nightmarish creature... She sighed, and put a kiss on his forehead, helping him lie down. "Rest a bit," she muttered. "I have a few things to take care of for now."

"As always," he chuckled, obediently lying down.

Milena sighed and pulled the cover over him, then watched as Olivia and his personal servant prepared some fresh snow to help bring his temperature down. She stepped away from the bed, crossing her arms and rubbing her index against her chin pensively. Didn't it take several days for someone to turn into a Wendigo? She had a vague memory of the Oracle poisoning the Queen on a long-term basis. Or was it about the quantity of blood? She had never experienced someone being turned into a wendigo by another wendigo, but it was most likely what had happened in the forest. The vampires wouldn't have turned on each other before eating their human counterparts, and given the time frame, they shouldn't have needed to feed on them so soon either. If there were truly two ways of turning vampires into Wendigos, either by a bite or by them feeding on someone else's blood, then the first method might be working much faster...

"...I need to talk to the Sevira sisters," she finally grumbled. "You two stay here and watch over him."

"But, My lady..."

"I'll just take Dinah with me," said Milena. "Olivia, I'd rather have you here with my brother. Don't let anyone but our people and doctor near him."

"I understand, my Lady."

Milena stepped out of the room, meeting with the flustered Doctor and Digory again. The De Crescent skilled butler bowed.

"I'm extremely sorry to not be able to help you more, my Lady."

"No, you've done well, Digory. I just don't know if it's some twisted fate hitting our house over and over again, or we are somehow ripping the results of years of faithfulness to the wrong Royal Family..."

Milena closed her fists, angry. She knew it was far-fetched and unreasonable, but she couldn't help but resent the previous King and Queen for their wrongs. If the King had been more decisive or Queen Lyriana more held back, perhaps things wouldn't have turned so wrong. Now, the Kingdom was so weak that wolves were rising up from all sides, trying to topple the current order and instigate a civil war on top of another one.

"Milena!"

Eugenie arrived, visibly in a hurry and out of breath. To Milena's surprise, her sister-in-law was carrying a bottle of blood, unopened and fresh.

"Sorry," she muttered. "I tried to replace some fresh blood that might convene to Raphael as soon as possible..."

Milena was surprised. Eugenie had gone this far to get Raphael some blood? She knew how blood consumption usually disgusted her, although she did her very best not to show her repugnance. To think she had even gone to get some. "Where did you get this from?" Milena asked.

"From the cave. I made sure to take something that was ours, but since he wasn't drinking blood, I figured we might need some ready when he could eat....This is one of his favorites."

"Thank you, Eugenie. I think he's just going to sleep for now, but can I trouble you with looking over him?"

The two sisters-in-law were now talking perfectly calmly, and moreover, their former bond seemed to have been repaired back to what it had once been. There wasn't a hint of mistrust or doubt in either one's eyes. Eugenie seemed calm, confident and ready to do anything to help her. She wasn't bowing down to Milena's leadership, but relying on her knowledgeable sister-in-law, who knew better on the matter.

"Of course, but where will you be going?" She asked.

"I need to see the Sevira sisters. We caught a Wendigo in the forest, and analyzing that thing might help us fight whatever is happening to Raphael, or at least understand how dangerous this could be." Eugenie glanced towards the door.

"I got a quick explanation of what had happened, but... How is he?"

"Stable, for now. His fever won't go down, but he didn't seem very ill to me. More light-headed, and surprisingly eloquent, considering his state."

"I see... Milena, you have to tell me if you think he could get dangerous. I love Raphael, but if there's any risk, you ought to tell me. I will make sure the Manor is prepared for it."

Milena hesitated. Eugenie was right, although it was painful to admit it. If the worst happened, and her brother turned into a Wendigo, this whole place would be an uproar with a monsters in its walls. Milena already knew Raphael turning into a Wendigo would mean they had truly lost him. There was no cure, and she would have to bury her brother in her heart while killing the monster that had taken over him. Although she hated herself for it, she was a pragmatic woman, she knew she wouldn't hesitate to shoot him down. Especially since she had seen the damage a Wendigo could do...

"... Get ready. Keep him away from the children, and ask a few knights to guard this area tight. We should post them in the corridor, and..."

Milena interrupted herself. This pattern felt familiar. Somebody confined in their room. Guards in the halls... She got lost in her thoughts for a while. Ellias had gotten mad upon seeing his wife out of her bedroom. There was little to nobody allowed to visit her... He had pretexted it was security, but didn't the security felt too heavy inside the Castle, rather than outside? If it had been an external threat, he should have put more guards on the way to the Queen's apartments. But he was doing exactly what Milena was doing to contain her brother with his wife. What did that mean...?

"Milena?"

Eugenie gently called her out of her deep thinking, and Milena blinked twice.

"Sorry, I... Eugenie, could you send a couple of letters for me? Urgently."

"What is it?"

"I need to contact Briseis and Prudence, without his Majesty knowing. Ask them to give me as detailed reports as they can on since when the Queen has been confined to her room, receiving less visitors and since when the Saint left her side. It's very important they try to be as accurate as possible. And who the King has allowed to visit her, too. Tell them to investigate with the maids, if needed. They can take a few days to answer, as long as it's accurate."

"Understood, I'll have it sent right away, and take care of things here."

"Thank you Eugenie."

"You're more than welcome, this is what I should do. Do you know when Father-in-Law will be back?"

"I just received word that Master was spotted at the entrance of our lands, just minutes ago, my Ladies," said Digory, stepping forward. "It seems the Lord will be home any minute now."

"Good," said Milena. "He can help you out. I'll get going then, I need to get to the Sevira House as quickly as I can and see if they found anything helpful yet. Who knows, we might get some answers we need in time. I'm only taking Dinah and Matheus with me. Send word if anything happens here."

"Milena, you should take more guards with you!" Insisted Eugenie. "You were shot just days ago, and after what happened this morning..."

"No one will mess with me today," Scoffed Milena, putting a hand on her hip. "And if they do, I'll shoot on sight. I've had enough for one day, and for years even. Moreover, no one knows I just got home and will be leaving again, unless they've been tailing me and if that's the case, they should have shot me on my way here already. The Sevira mansion is secure enough. I'm more worried about security here, hence why I'm not taking more people."

"...You're not wrong," sighed Eugenie. "I understand, then. You should get going quickly. Digory, could you see that the children are taken to their rooms and give their servants instructions not to let them out under any circumstances? I know Raphael wouldn't do anything to them, but..."

"Don't feel sorry," said Milena. "He'd be the first one to tell you to do it. I'll see you later."

After this, Milena turned around and left, Blanche running ahead of her. She simply sent a maid to fetch Dinah, but there was no need. Despite her bandaged arm, her maid appeared in the lobby, looking determined.

"My Lady! I heard what happened! Are you alright? And Master Raphael?"

"I'm alright, but we're headed to the Sevira Mansion to see if they have found anything useful. Will you be alright?"

As she was putting a new coat on, she couldn't help but be worried over Dinah's injury. She wasn't taking her maid really to serve her, but more as a helpful extra person if she needed to ask something or send her back to give information. Still, Milena really liked Dinah, and didn't want to have her injury get worst. However, Dinah strongly nodded.

"Yes! This is nothing. My Lady is brave enough to get back up right after being shot three times! What kind of personal servant would I be if I complained about this much! If you're going somewhere, I'm coming!"

"Good girl," smiled Milena. "Then let's get going. Matheus, take Dinah with you on your horse, and have a separate one follow us just in case."

"Yes, my Lady."

They left the Manor just as Milena's father was getting back in. Father and daughter barely exchanged a glance, and Milena left. That was enough to establish there was no need for them to stop and explain. Both she and Anton knew that if she was leaving in a hurry, it meant she had to. In any case, there would be someone in the Manor to update the Duke on the situation. Such was the dynamic of the De Crescent Family; each family member trusted the next to do what had to be done, blindly. Their three horses took the direction to the Sevira House, as quickly as possible. Luckily, it was one of those rare times when the snow had calmed down a bit, and the horses had no issues running up the road. They only slowed down upon crossing paths with a carriage or another rider, which only happened twice. In normal times, there would have been more people on their way, as they were headed towards the center of the Capital. The Sevira Family owned three residences, including a main one outside of the city, but Milena knew the older sisters kept their business in town. Because it was essential for them to keep up to date with the current scientific advancements, the latest plants, chemicals and materials found, they had to stay in the heart of the Capital. They had no issues arriving in front of the closed doors of the study. The Sevira sisters usually recruited skilled assistants within the commoners, but in times when they had to work on complicated or highly confidential matters, the doors of the study would be closed to the public like this. Milena De Crescent was one of the few people who needed no special permit to be allowed in. As soon as Black Bella was seen by the young man guarding the door, he quickly ran inside to announce her arrival. Euphoria, the youngest sister, almost ran outside.

"Lady Milena! We weren't expecting you so soon, but we're happy you're here. The specimen you brought us is absolutely fascinating. My older sister said to have you in right away."

Milena nodded, and went inside followed by Dinah, while the young servant took care of the horses, Matheus keeping the door in his stead. Euphoria hadn't lied about being excited; she wouldn't stop talking all the way while she brought Milena to her sisters. "We began studying it right away. It's... such a new specimen, we will make sure to get everything we know about those, as soon as we can." "Did you replace out who it was... before it was turned?"

"We have cut some of its uniform to be analyzed on the side by one of the students! But as far as we could study physically, it would be impossible. The transformation from its previous form is too great. It would take something very specific like a birthmark or something to recognize the vampire it used to be."

"So it was a vampire?"

"A vampire, yes. Transformed by a bite from another Wendigo, our theory was correct. According to what we have seen so far, it only took a few hours for it to be transformed into a Wendigo."

"A few hours?" Muttered Milena, terrified.

"Yes. We're almost entirely sure. Up to a full day, but no longer. We are still analyzing the content of its stomach, the dirt on the clothes and everything else we can, so it will get more precise. But this thing wasn't... savage until yesterday, at the latest. The fangs and nails are too clean, considering what your knights told us."

Milena felt a chill run down her spine. This could mean Raphael could turn into one of those things in less than a day. Unless they replace a way to revert the process, or cure him. Her brother would be gone by the next day.