The Duke's Passion

"Alphonse, is the name, my dear sister."

My eyes sharpened as I felt Lakresha react to him the first time I sensed his presence. His aura just reeked of pure evilness. Of all days, this man showing up tonight added to my anxiety.

"Alphonse? So my husband is right, after all." I calmed myself, as I knew attacking him thoughtlessly was simply stupid. "You're alive. How the hell did you get inside here?"

"Haha, don't worry. This is not my physical body, dear sister-in-law."

This was not his physical body, but his aura was already this strong? Just how strong was this man?

"That is not what you want to ask me, though." He spoke while the side of his lips hooked up. "Won't you ask me the reason I came here to see you?"

"Will you tell me in all honesty that you will answer it?"

He chortled and clapped. "Maybe? Why don't you try?"

"Get out. This room is not a public place for everyone to come and go as they pleased." My voice thundered as I didn't want to hear a word from him. 

As a Bearer of the Divine Order, I was supposed to subdue him. However, there was no need to subdue a substantial body. Also, I couldn't trust anything that would come out of his mouth — I'd rather save myself from being played with words.

  "You have quite the determined mind, sister-in-law." He chuckled, pleased by the reaction he was getting from me. "But let me state the purpose of my visit."

I don't want to hear it, were the words that failed to escape my throat. Instead, I kept quiet and stared at him.

"I've been waiting for this day, sister-in-law." My brows quirked as the first thing that came up to my mind was he allied with the Bloodfang, but that was very unlikely the more I studied his expression. "A day that someone will share the same interest as I do."

"Same interest? And what interest is this?"

He didn't answer immediately and smiled. "You will understand soon, my sister-in-law. And when that time comes, I will come to you and we'll talk."

"You people just come in here and say everything you want. But, what I can tell you is, there's no need for that." I smirked, squashing down all the other worries I had in my heart. "I will come and find you, Alphonse. You people won't like it if I do."

"Bold, I must say, but I'm sure you will."

I took a deep breath and shared a few seconds of silence with him. There wasn't an obvious intention in his eyes, but one thing that he didn't hide was his amusement.

"Anyway, tonight will be colder," he said as he took a step back in the dark. "May the heat of your blood protect you from the cold."

And then he disappeared, just like that. He came like a ghost and left just like one.

"Did he know about our plans tonight…?" This ominous feeling slowly enveloped my heart, making my fist tremble as this plan was starting to feel wrong.

*****

Meanwhile, in the west wing garden, Samael laid in the middle of the garden, staring at the night sky. Thick clouds started to reign over the sky, making him narrow his eyes.

"My lord, the preparations are complete," said Fabian as soon as he stood by his side. 

"Is that so?" Samael hummed a low tune as he forced himself to sit upright. "Ahh… this is exhausting."

"Lord Remington had prepared the steeds you asked for. Rufus had already changed the knights guarding the exit in the east gates."

Samael looked up at him, nonchalance plastered on his face. "Bring only the necessary things, Fabian."

"Of course, my lord." Fabian smiled as he had already packed his own luggage with only the necessary equipment he would need to use. "It is such a shame that we came to this decision."

"Did Rufus say he will come?" 

"He will, but he said he would like to stay in Grimsbanne. He can't turn his back on it." Fabian reported which they already expected, knowing Rufus' strong sense of responsibility. "I'm certain my brother will be fine."

"Of course, he will be fine." Samael nodded and smacked his lips, peeling his eyes away from his butler. "Rufus is stronger when he has motives, although, this is saddening."

Fabian pressed his lips together and forced a smile on his lips. He could understand Samael, but this was the best they could do to keep Lilou safe. 

"Oh, damn." Samael frowned as he felt a liquid coming out of his nose. He raised a hand and wiped it with his finger, withdrawing it only to see blood on it.

"Your Grace." Fabian's eyes dilated, alarmed by Samael's condition. "Are you alright?"

"Of course I am." Samael waved nonchalantly as he wiped the blood on his upper lip. 

"You haven't recovered your strength and had been straining yourself throughout your entire stay here." Fabian's eyes glinted as this wasn't the first time Samael's nose bled or coughed out blood. 

It all started back in Whistlebird, and it was getting worse. The reason Samael wouldn't go see Lilou for days was because of this.

"Fabian." Samael gazed up with eyes flickering dangerously. "I've gone this far. I can't turn back now."

Fabian hung his head low, his jaw clenched. "I will protect you, My Lord."

"I trust you in that." Samael smiled brightly and wiped off all the blood when Fabian offered him a handkerchief. "Oh… it snowing now."

Both of them looked up as snow started falling from the sky. Samael opened his palm and gazed at it, his eyes gentle as a bitter smile resurfaced on his lips. 

"This will be a very long night," he muttered as blood continuously dripped from his nose, before he coughed out blood, but ignored it as he stood. "Fabian, get Lilou for me. I'll meet you at the border."

Fabian exhaled sharply and bowed. "Yes, Your Grace." He trudged away but looked back once again, seeing that Samael raised and spread his arms. 

"My lord," he breathed out before resuming in his strides. Once Fabian blinked, his eyes sharpened as they glinted.

*****

A mist of red and black filled the air as the ground beneath Samael's feet cracked. His argent hair raised at the force coming from beneath the ground.

"Rise," he whispered, and the ground started shaking as hands from underneath the ground crawled their way up.