Lady Dhampir
Chapter 300

His traits were definitely similar to his cousin. In fact, Milena was sure to have already seen this man before but, just from his physical resemblance to his cousin, she would have identified him even without that. He was tall, slender, with dark bags under his eyes, unusual red hair and freckles on his nose.

"Sir d'Artsein," said Milena. "Are you-"

Before she could finish her sentence, something alarmed her. Blanche was growling. Not just growling, but she had turned into a furious silver fox, furiously growling and showing her fangs at Briseis' cousin. Next to Milena, Raelius stepped forward, his red eyes glaring at the man.

"Looks like we got the wrong guest," he muttered.

"Excuse me?" Frowned Briseis' cousin, visibly lost.

Milena was now on her toes and nervous, the hair on her neck rising. Blanche wouldn't have growled if she wasn't sure that man was no ally. Lucian too had said something about the White One being easy for her to identify, because of the smell. Milena tried to breathe in, but she could only smell the characteristic smell of old books, the recently cleaned carpet and wooden shelves. If that man had a wrong smell, she had no way to tell, but she sure trusted Blanche more than anybody else there.

She tried to think quickly. According to Lucian, people possessed by the White Ones didn't have their memories, or only the recent ones. She didn't want to risk murdering Briseis' ally before she was absolutely certain. As much as she trusted Blanche that the person was supposedly under control, she also wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about this new power they didn't have all the information about yet.

"....I am sorry," she said, petting Blanche to have her calm down a bit. "I cannot seem to remember your name from when we were introduced, your cousin also did not mention it, Sir...?"

"Hypelius," he calmly answered, although his eyes went down on Blanche. "... Is your pet alright?"

Milena frowned slightly. The name was right, but that was such a slim clue, it was probably irrelevant.

"She doesn't really trust strangers," said Raelius with a faint smile.

Her ancestor was visibly also on edge, also trying to get in position to protect her if needed. He seemed to want to maintain physical contact, with his hand on her arm, as if ready to jump out of there with her, although both knew that was impossible to do. At worst, Milena hoped he'd take Blanche away and let her handle this. They had no idea of the White One's strength, but if her brother had survived their encounter, she was confident she'd make it too.

"I see..." Said Briseis' cousin.

His eyes went from Blanche to Raelius, just a second, visibly surprised by his appearance. This made much sense as even for those who knew about White Ones, Raelius' red eyes were very disturbing. Moreover, whoever was impersonating Hypelius quickly looked back at Blanche, then Milena. She could almost read the malice in those eyes. They who possessed this man had probably realized that the trio wasn't fooled by their appearance. Milena frowned slightly.

"Weren't you supposed to show us the way?" She coldly asked.

"Of course."

He smiled, and slowly put the book back; it was nothing, yet this definitely confirmed their doubts. If that man was really from the d'Artsein family, he wouldn't have put the book back so casually. Milena knew it all too well; the d'Artsein family took pride in their title of Royal Archivists. She had seen Briseis put a book back hundreds of times, and she was never, ever so casual about it, nor had her relatives. They would usually swipe the book's cover off any possible dust they had gotten on it, and softly put it back, double- checking it was at the right spot with glances, and they certainly wouldn't have put it back with half an inch off from the rest of the row like that man had just done. Even Milena, who liked books on a most moderate level, was urging to push it that half an inch into the row, to make sure all were perfectly lined. Whoever this man was, he was definitely not a member of the Artsein family.

However, she was curious as to where he was taking them. He turned his back on them without warning, which was almost more surprising than if he had attacked straight away. Milena frowned, and exchanged a glance with Raelius, as confused as she was. "...Go," she whispered.

"Are you sure?" He replied, so silently it was merely a mimic of her lips.

Milena nodded. Raelius had already lost time taking Blanche to Philomenie and back, he was probably supposed to be with another of her allies right now. She couldn't hold her ancestor back, he was an important way to relay information, and she knew all too well how crucial the timing of her plan was. She was grateful he was worried about her, but she was confident she could handle herself in this situation. Moreover, Blanche was staying with her, so it's not like she'd fall for this either. After one last glare towards the impostor, Raelius stepped back, and disappeared in a blink. No matter how many times she witnessed it, Milena always found that was such a baffling ability. There was no sound, nothing, as if she had just blinked and he was gone... Sadly, she didn't have time to admire her ancestor's gift.

She followed after Briseis' cousin, trying to figure out how to get him to talk more. If they both knew he was a fake, there was little reason for him to help her in any way. In fact, it made more sense he would lure her into a trap of some kind, or try to get rid of her. She couldn't understand why he had turned his back on her, exposing himself, and not tried anything yet. It didn't make much sense, unless he was sure she would be trapped wherever he was leading her. Milena was holding on tightly to Blanche, well-aware that the fox' injury would be an issue. She couldn't get into a battle if Blanche was in the middle, but she was also worried about letting go of her too soon... She tried to walk slowly, to delay the time. Wherever this man was guiding them to, there were little chances it was the secret passage Milena wanted to find.

"...Aren't you going to ask?" He suddenly said, with a faint chuckle.

"What?"

He suddenly stopped, and turned around, a wry smile on his lips. This definitely wasn't the expression that Briseis' cousin would have naturally made. This was the strange look of someone using the wrong body. "... Who am I, Princess De Crescent?"

Milena froze. That cold, condescending tone was not the one any noble would have used to address her. In fact, there was no one in this Kingdom who had the position to address her with such a tone. Perhaps an elder member of the Royal Family would have, but there were none left. She squinted her eyes, and very faintly, lessened her grip around Blanche, just in case, so her fox could jump out at any second. The shape-shifter had at least understood that Milena had an objective in mind...

The man turned around with a faint smile. He had strangely gone towards the end of the Library, near the door opening on a balcony, which got Milena even more confused. What was he planning to do by bringing her here? They were on the first floor, this wasn't so high that she'd possibly let herself be injured if she fell from there. It would take a very bad fall to kill her, and she knew how to jump and land without causing herself too much damage. Plus, Blanche would be able to help her... Milena took a deep breath, and ignored the balcony behind him, focusing her eyes on the mysterious being that had taken Hypelius' place.

"So you're not hiding anymore?" She muttered.

"Right back at you, Princess," he snickered. "Aren't you the one f****d to sneak into your own home? Quite impressive, by the way. I did not expect you to actually be capable of injuring the King."

A shiver went down Milena's spine. So they really weren't pretending anymore. She hated that condescending tone too. She had to stay in control of her own emotions, every minute was critical. In fact, she realized that the longer she was stuck here chatting with the impersonator, the longer it would take for her to get to the Duke De Nova; Whatever this White One had to say, she had to make them spill it fast. "What is your goal?" She asked.

Hypelius tilted his head.

"That imperious tone really runs down in the family....That is quite annoying, to be honest."

"Speak," Milena groaned, annoyed. "You're wasting my time, White One. I already know you're a fake, so what keeps me from murdering you right here and now?"

"Oh. Didn't your brother tell you? I won't be killed? That boy I'm possessing will, though. So, if you want to get rid of him, please do. Not that I care..."

Milena frowned. So Lucian's hunch was right. Whoever was possessing Hypelius right then was just borrowing the body, but they'd get out the second she killed the poor boy. Could he even be saved anymore? ...Probably not. That explained the smell of death Blanche recognized on the possessed bodies. They probably died soon after that person took possession of them, or perhaps that was even a condition to the process. "...Who are you?" She finally asked.

"I don't think I want to answer that just yet, Princess," he smiled, tilting his head with a playful expression. "It's quite funny to let you guess, isn't it? Really amusing. In fact, I believe it is my whim, I want to see you get to the end, and watch your fall as well. Yours and that of your allies, of course. Wouldn't that be quite... entertaining?"

She froze. She had heard that way of speech before, Milena was sure, and tried to remember. That honeyed voice, that way to speak in knotted rounds... Who was it she had heard speak like this, in such an annoying way of speech? He chuckled, a high-pitched snicker that was even more annoying to her ears.

"Oh, the Lady De Crescent. So smart and yet always so trapped. Isn't it about time you get sick of all this, Princess? Your dear Husband is gone, and most of your family, surely. It is lucky your... beast you treat like a pet can recognize me, but..." "The High Priest."

He shut his mouth, looking really surprised this time. It was Milena's time to smirk.

"You're the High Priest, aren't you?" She smirked. "You may have a different appearance and voice, but I know how to memorize somebody's way of speaking, and it's even easier when it's as annoying as yours. I am right, aren't I? You're the High Priest....Unless you possessed that body too?" "...Like I said," he sighed. "Too bright."

He stepped back, going to the balcony. Milena was reluctant to follow. What if this was a trap? She followed with short steps, reluctant to go there, but from the man's actions, it didn't seem to matter. He kept getting closer to the handrail, a faint smile on his lips. "I wanted to see for myself what kind of trouble you were bringing here," he sighed. "It's a bit more bothersome than anticipated, Princess. Nothing too annoying, though, I will find another way to get rid of him..."

Milena frowned. He was talking about Raelius. Whoever the High Priest was, he had not anticipated a new White One's appearance... Unless it was something else? Milena frowned. She was missing something. That man had reacted strangely to Raelius, not as if he was simply afraid, but as if he was truly... avoiding her ancestor's red eyes.

"Who are you?" Milena asked again. "You're not just an old High Priest. People mentioned you're decades old, and I don't believe for a single second this is by God's Grace. I know when I see a non-Believer. No, you're old and that's because of something more scientific... I don't know how you kept the High Priest body alive for so long, but I strongly suggest you go back to it and prepare to say goodbye. You're running out of lives, old man."

This time, the man looked truly pissed, glaring at Milena. Her insolence seemed the most efficient weapon against him, and she was always more than happy to use it. He stepped back, hitting the guardrail. A smile appeared on his face, and Milena suddenly got an ominous feeling.

"We'll see," he chuckled. "How many more of your allies can this old man use before I'm f****d back... This is just the beginning, Princess."

Before Milena could say a word, take a step, he suddenly fell over the guardrail, head first. She saw his eyeballs turn over right before he disappeared, followed by a horrible, disgusting sound. She covered her mouth, while Blanche stepped down, running to the guardrail. She hissed at something far below. Milena swallowed her saliva, and joined her, glancing over the guardrail. Briseis' cousin was dead, his head was crushed open just below. "....Damn it," she hissed.

She glanced around. No one seemed to have witnessed the scene, but it was a matter of time. She ran back inside, Blanche on her heels. They were running out of time. Raelius hadn't come back yet, and she was now stuck in the library to find that secret passage she had no idea about. She was already mad about that encounter, furious about Briseis' cousin dying in such a horrible way, and now, she was running out of options. Milena ran back to where they had first met Briseis' cousin. There was no way to tell when Hypolius had been possessed, but she was hoping it had been soon before they got there. Why would he have been in the Library waiting for them otherwise? It made sense for a member of the d'Artsein family, not for the one who was possessing him. Her best hope was that the impostor had taken his body after finding out he was supposed to wait for them, and decided to wait in the same spot. It was a long shot, but it was the best she had at the moment...

"Blanche, we need to find that Secret Passage," she muttered, already looking through the books.

Milena knew a few things about secret passages. Most of them were activated by a mechanism, or so well-hidden that no one who didn't already know about it would find them. She had to move and touch everything, and look into the most unsuspected places. She got back to exactly where he had put the book back. It was a simple history book, a large volume probably amongst the most boring ones. She looked around. Aside from this one, most had a thin layer of dust on them. As dedicated as the servants were, the library was far too vast, and the staff most likely too busy these days. If the mechanism to the secret passage had been used recently, there would be something odd about the books surrounding them, like no dust accumulated. She tried to look around the closest shelves. Blanche too, she had taken her appearance as a weasel and was climbing and searching everywhere. Milena was going through the rows of books as fast as she could. As much as she loved reading, she couldn't be bothered about damaging a book right now. She had to find it fast, she only had minutes before the guards came for answers about what had happened on that balcony. Moreover, who knew whom would be possessed next? "Love!"

She jumped, and glared at Raelius who had appeared right next to her. He grimaced.

"Sorry, I forgot. Anyway, are you alright? ... What's going on here?" He asked, looking around at the pile of books.

"The White One killed Briseis' cousin," she grumbled, still searching through the books. "We have to find that damn passage ourselves, before the guards come here and put that murder on us. He had him jump over the balcony, he's just... dead downstairs." Raelius' smile disappeared. He glanced towards the balcony.

"...Shit. Anything else I missed?"

"A b****y interesting conversation I had with him," Milena replied coldly. "He's definitely the High Priest, if that's even his real identity. He or she, I still don't know, but they are b****y old and acting like a real piece of... Blanche, you have something?"

The weasel reappeared, but only let out a sneeze. Milena sighed. Out of despair, she slammed the book she was holding against the shelf.

"Cursed he be, we needed this passage!"

"Calm down Love, we're going to find it... Any clue?"

"None, I'm just assuming it's here rather than anywhere else in those hundreds of b****y book rows!"

"Milena, Love, calm down."

"I can't calm down!" She shouted. "We need to find this stupid passa..."

She stopped herself. While turning around to shout at her ancestor, she spotted something behind him. One book on the bottom shelf, with a color and shape different from the other ones on the row. There was no way an Artsein family member wouldn't have done something about a book that literally stuck out like a sore thumb... It was the right edition, the right spot, but the book was just another edition. Milena grabbed it. The pages were blank... but she heard a very faint click underneath the row. Blanche jumped, immediately attacking the carpet.

"...Found it," she smiled, relieved.

"Great," sighed Raelius. "Then we can get in and you can let me know what I missed on the way... I have a feeling it's not going to be pleasant."