The Duke's Passion

Meanwhile, back in the Crawford's Castle.

"I will kill that damn Fabian…" Klaus gritted his teeth, dusting off the soil clinging all over him. "… how dare he bury me alive?!"

He had crawled his way up from the grave. He nearly died if Fabian kept watch on the grave pit. Klaus shot glaring daggers at the hole he crawled out from, grinding his teeth in frustration.

"Damn him!" His frustration made him recall what happened yesterday.

*

"I see your fangs had grown back, your highness." The smile on Fabian's face slowly faded away. "Shall I extract them again for you?" 

"Ah — mister Fabian, your Highness…" Cameron panicked as he darted his eyes from Fabian to Klaus.

"Extract?" Klaus sneered. "Do you think I'll fall for your cheap tricks again?"

"Cheap tricks… I see. Then, shall we test it, your highness?" 

The air between them instantly thickened even more. However, Sam intervened, suspending the heartwarming reunion of the two.

"That's enough, Fabian. You may go." Samael waved, shaking his head. Klaus hadn't forgotten how Fabian used him in his sick experiments in the past.

"Yes, my lord." Fabian immediately gazed at Samael and beckoned a bow. When his gaze landed on Klaus once again, a deadly glint flickered across his eyes.

"A mere mortal standing beside Hell. Have some shame." Klaus muttered as he trudged towards the settee across from Samael.

'For someone as dirty as him to have a private conversation with my lord… I'll bury him alive.' Fabian thought as he left the meeting room. 

Samael watched as the door closed. When it did, he turned his attention to Klaus, while Cameron took another vacant seat.

"Brother, the king asked me to escort you back to the Capital."

"I know, that's obvious. However, I'd been intrigued by how you got your fangs back." Samael didn't beat around the bush as he stared at Klaus straight in the eye.

Klaus remained silent for a moment. "Stefan fed me with his blood. But that's not important, brother. I have to tell you…"

"Let's test it." Before Klaus could go into details, Samael rolled his sleeves up. "I don't care about the unnecessary details. Even if Stefan gave you all his blood, you can't grow your fangs back unless it my blood."

"Brother…" Klaus called out under his breath, shifting his gaze to Samael's arms. He gulped down, gritting his teeth to stop his urges.

"Back in Grimsbanne, the numbers of abnormals had increased. Rufus had done a good job in minimizing the casualties while I was in my slumber. Same case in Cunningham." Samael glanced at Cameron, who had raised this problem to him.

"Cunningham had been being attacked by abnormals. Although our clan had subdued most of them, they kept coming annually. It's safe now since we caught most of them — some just died after reaching their limits." Cameron chimed in, explaining the strange occurrence that befell Cunningham for years.

"Although it is not something to be alarmed as abnormals were normal problems, there's strange about it. The blessing of Ashen protects Cunningham. Hence, we will know when an abnormal comes from outside Cunningham. But we can't detect it until someone falls victim to it. What's even more strange is that, it is not an internal force as well. We've investigated, but the identities of the abnormals aren't townsfolk."

Cameron explained in one go. He had said snippets of this problem to Samael. However, Samael was not interested. It was only today that he mentioned it. Thus, Cameron took this chance to explain everything.

"Do you know anything about this, Klaus?" Samael inquired without a second hesitation.

Cameron perked up, waiting for Klaus' answer. Alas, the latter shook his head and sighed.

"Unfortunately, I'm unaware of this. "

"I see..." Samael nodded in understanding.

"Bother, if you're suspicious about me. You can drink my blood to see the truth!" Afraid Samael could misunderstand him, Klaus suggested, eagerly.

"No need. I just tried, but I know you won't know these things since Stefan sent you to me." Samael waved his hand nonchalantly.

"Now, let's test your fangs."

Klaus stayed quiet as he balled his hand into a fist. It tempted him to sink his fangs into Sam's arms. However, that's not what he came here for.

"Brother… I mean, my king, don't you plan on reclaiming the throne? I'm still on your side. A lot of us are waiting for your return and we all planned to support you with our lives." Klaus sighed as he raised his gaze towards Samael.

Cameron furrowed his brows as he glanced at Samael's side profile. He knew what Klaus was talking about — the Crawford was one of those who would support him. Yet Samael's expression didn't even change.

"You gave us your word that you'd change this kingdom once you woke up." Klaus gritted his teeth, trying to repress his heightened emotions.

"Just what kind of deal did you have with Stefan before your slumber? To think you'd take a mortal as your wife… I would snap her neck."

"Careful with your words, Klaus." Samael's tone was low, stern, and intimidating. "Never mention Lilou from those wicked lips of yours."

Upon hearing the threat, Klaus scoffed in ridicule. To him, Samael was like a god. A powerful being who could restore or destroy their kingdom. 

And yet, Lilou, a mere human, indulged herself in the arms of Samael. Even though Klaus was a pure-blooded vampire, he couldn't even come close to Samael. Hence the inexplicable jealousy in his heart.

"What's so good about humans, brother?" Klaus scorned in disdain. "First, that Rufus and damn bastard Fabian. Now, this? They don't even know the extent and importance of your blood." 

"Hah…" Samael chuckled briefly. "What's so good about them?"

Slowly, Samael raised his forefinger and glanced at Cameron. "Marquess, if I were you, lock yourself up tonight or help Rufus."

"What…" Cameron furrowed his brows. When he realized what was Samael wanted to do, he nodded in understanding.

"I will, your highness." 

As soon as Cameron said those words, he immediately departed from the meeting room. Instead of walking casually, Cameron sprinted away.

Once they were left alone, Samael pressed the tip of his nail against his wrist, then across his forearm. 

"Drink." He uttered as blood dripped from his arm.

"Broth —" Klaus panted. His fangs grew longer, while his eyes turned bloodshot. For someone to offer them food, he had gladly accepted this kindness.

Rough and unrestrained, Klaus' fangs sank deep in Samael's arms. As if a starving beast who finally had something to eat.

Samael gazed down coldly, watching how pathetic his brother was.

"What's so good about humans?" Samael muttered. "They don't crave for my blood nor they lust for it. I'm disgusted by the lust of those poisonous fangs it's tempting me to severe my arm off."

Yet Samael's words drifted along with the sound of Klaus' gulping.

"Pathetic." Despite that, Samael let him drink just because they were brothers.

Klaus might arrogant, but he had been devoted to Samael ever since. His loyalty towards Sam was what made him foolish, leading him to this pathetic state.

Samael leaned back as he tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling. His calmness was as if his arm wasn't being devoured currently. 

"What was Stefan thinking about giving his brother an artificial fang from witchcraft? What is he plotting?"

He wondered. Samael could feel the strange sting from Klaus' fangs. Making him wonder even more.

Meanwhile, Klaus had never felt this relief within him. It was as if the constant poison in his mouth was being washed away by the purity of Samael's blood.

"That's enough." Samael ordered, but Klaus didn't stop.

Thus, Samael grabbed his back and pulled him up. Klaus' fangs tore across Samael's flesh. Klaus only snapped to his senses when he landed on the floor with a bang.

"Ah… goodness." Samael ruffled his hair as he collapsed on the couch.

"My — king! I — I didn't mean—"

"Shh. Don't talk or breath, I need to think." Samael waved nonchalantly as he pondered about Stefan, the king's, plans. 

As ordered, Klaus didn't make a noise as Samael remained silent for a long time. He stayed on his knees, trembling, for not suppressing his urges earlier.

"What does he want?" Samael asked himself under his breath.

In the end, Samael couldn't think of a clear intention. Killing Samael was an obvious conclusion. But there's something that puzzling him.

Why did it feel that Stefan didn't want Samael dead? But he wanted something else instead?

*