The Duke's Passion

Everyone in Knotley wasn't moving. As if mannequins displayed in the streets, unaware of a figure bolting like a bolt of lightning.

"Where is she?" Samael muttered through his gritted teeth, searching every nook and cranny for Lilou, but he couldn't find her.

Samael gradually stopped in the middle of the heart of Knotley, panting. He stretched his neck in a circular motion, closing his eyes.

He couldn't think straight. His senses were too heightened. It affected his sense of smell. 

Claude couldn't hold this barrier he put up for too long. Samael ran his fingers through his hair in distress.

"Who is trying to play with me?" He ground his teeth, looking from left to right.

The vein in his eyes grew red as his fangs let themselves known. As he cocked his head sideways, cracking noise clapped in his ears.

"Ha… ha, haha!" His low chuckles gradually sounded evil.

"Lilou." He muttered, spreading his arms wide. Gazing up, Samael slowly closed his eyes.

"I really can't take my eyes off of you, huh?"

Samael added under his breath. He tried to sense all moving creatures around the entire Knotley.

Slowly and carefully listened to everyone's breathing and movements. When he opened his eyes, Samael smirked wickedly.

"Found you." He whispered, raising his hand before him. Using his sharp thumb nail to prick the tip of his forefinger.

As little blood dripped down from his forefinger, Samael let it hit the ground. 

"Give her back…" Samael whispered dangerously as red mist arose from the ground, surrounding him that soon engulfed not just Knotley, but the entire Cunningham.

**

Minutes before that…

Two unbelievably fast shadows headed towards Knotley. Faster than a galloping war horse, Knotley soon came to their sight.

"Fabian." Rufus glanced back at Fabian. The latter caught up to them much faster.

Instinctively, Rufus glanced at Fabian's hand. His brow twitched briefly upon noticing Fabian's skull ring.

"Damn you, Fabian!" Klaus cursed, grinding his teeth. However, he didn't decrease his speed. "I will kill you later."

"Master will kill everyone in Cunningham." Unfazed by Klaus' threat, Fabian glanced at Rufus calmly.

"This guy said he didn't come alone. He brought the bearer of Auron." Rufus filled Fabian with only irrelevant details. 

"This guy?!" Irked, Klaus yelled as he ground his teeth.

"Do you think Master is cornered?" Rufus inquired, ignoring Klaus' complaints.

Normally, Fabian would play his part as a normal butler. Only during emergencies he would talk at Rufus on the same level.

"Cornered?" Fabian's eyes glinted. "I don't think someone, even the bearer of Auron, can push him to the edge. I'm more worried about the future duchess."

Upon stating so, Fabian surpassed Rufus and Klaus. The two also sped up and soon arrived at the heart of Knotley.

As soon as their feet landed on the ground, red mist mixed in the air.

"Was he trying to annihilate everyone in Knotley?" Klaus' eyes glimmered, covering his nose with his arm.

Rufus looked around. "We have to stop him."

"What? Why?" Klaus' face scrunched up. "I only came here because I want to see Hell's incredible strength! Why would I stop him?"

"Didn't you say you brought the bearer of Auron with you?" Rufus shot him a glaring dagger.

"Ahh… my nephew. I don't care if he dies, honestly. He's such a bother." Klaus shrugged nonchalantly.

Rufus took a deep breath and out. "If you want him to sit on the throne, you better help us now. You know more than everyone the repercussions of bloodfield."

"What do you mean? This is just a normal…" Klaus trailed off as Rufus cut him off.

"I can't believe you're a royalty. This is not your ordinary bloodfield." Rufus shook his head, raising his hand as he gazed at it. "It's darker than ever." 

Rufus added, clenching his hand. He then glanced at Klaus and ordered;

"Search for her and bring her back alive if you want a king who can change this kingdom… and not just a heartless monster." 

"Damn it!" Klaus exclaimed in frustration.

Rufus left his spot in a snap of a finger, ignoring Klaus' frustrated grunts. He knew Fabian would directly go to Samael. Hence, he had to find Lilou.

This ominous feeling crawling under his skin. It felt very familiar. No. It was almost familiar, but it was far worse than hundreds of years ago.

'My lady… please be safe.' Rufus ground his teeth as he followed the faint presence of Lilou.

*

"My lord." Fabian greeted, his palm across his chest. He landed several meters across from Samael.

Samael slowly raised his pair of crimson eyes and set it on him. Not surprised to see Fabian's appearance.

"Please, my lord. Calm down." Fabian bowed calmly, attempting to calm Samael down by words.

Alas, both of them knew words weren't enough. Fabian could instantly discern Samael was at the brink of losing his reasons.

Without responding, Samael closed his eyes. Right now, there were six people who could move around in Knotley: Fabian, Rufus, Klaus, Claude, and Cameron.

Samael could detect them by their presence. The sixth person, however, was someone he didn't know. It was neither Alistair, the sixth prince, nor Stefan, the current king.

It was a presence Samael couldn't recognize. But he could feel this very dark, unsettling aura exuding from it.

"Stop." Samael whispered.

Those who were conscious felt the heavy pressure upon them, halting all their movements.

Fabian's jaw tightened as he could feel this invisible gigantic rock weighing him down. The surface where he stood even cracked before shattering.

"Rufus and Klaus will look for them, my lord. You will harm her ladyship if you don't stop." Fabian muttered, but his voice drifted along the red thick mist.

"My lord. Please think of your bride." He knew Samael wasn't, or rather, couldn't think straight. 

"Fabian, I give you permission to break the seal." Under his breath, Samael ordered. 

"Yes, my lord." Fabian bowed as he heard chains breaking within him. Slowly, Fabian raised his hand despite the gravity weighing him down.

A dark spear gradually appeared under Fabian's hand. It was a little different from lakresha, with dark flames and the scream of souls from it.

"Maleficent." Fabian smirked as he slowly grasp the dark spear.

"Die." Samael murmured. 

The mist stopped midair as some of them hardened to red needles. Within a fraction of seconds, red needles quickly moved in a certain direction. Towards the sixth moving person in Knotley.

Fabian also disappeared and followed the direction of the red needles. The only reason he came to Samael first so he could unlock the seal. 

Once Samael moved, everything he would pass through would wither. Hence, Fabian had to reach Lilou's abductor before Samael would completely lose his mind. 

"My lady, please be safe." Fabian's eyes sharpened.