The Duke's Passion

I paced back and forth in front of the door. Inside this room were Law and Fabian. I didn't know what Fabian was doing to my son, but what I knew was Law's life was connected with Stefan. If Stefan and Sam were fighting to the death... No, I didn't want to think about it. 

If Stefan died and his life was still connected with my son, then... that only meant I would lose Law. If Sam didn't have a plan, he would die and Law would live. I didn't want to make such sacrifices; I couldn't lose either of them. 

"Sam..." I whispered, planting my bloodstained hand on the surface of the door. "Law... please."

Suddenly, I heard Law scream from inside. I wanted to barge inside that second, but I stopped myself as I promised to trust Fabian. He told me if I see what was inside, I might do everything in my power to stop him and it would only endanger Law. 

"How can I stay still if my son is screaming in pain?" I muttered, curling my fingers against the door while my eyes sweltered. I felt so helpless, powerless, and pathetic. 

Even after battling before Sam's forces arrived, and even after helping everyone back to get treated, I couldn't feel the fatigue of this endless darkness. I couldn't heave a sigh of relief even for once, knowing that I might lose my son or my husband tonight.

Just the thought of it was akin to a dagger stabbing me right through my chest. 

My life was falling apart bit by bit, but that didn't matter now. 

What I just wanted was for the two of them to be fine; I would do anything, even trade this world if that meant my son and husband would survive this endless night. 

"Sam... Law..." 

The space between my brows wrinkled as tears spilled from my eyes. I felt my bones wobble before collapsing on my knees, eyes on the door. This door... that separated me from my son, could be broken down with one kick. But right now, it appeared as though no matter what kicking and pounding I would do against it, it wouldn't open up for me. 

If this was retribution, I would gladly accept it. 

"Just take my life," I whispered to whoever was listening to a sinful creature like me. "Please... just save my son and husband. Not them..."

I hiccuped, succumbing to the powerless little girl deep within my heart. I felt like shrinking to that person I used to be. I was scared of the outcome. After witnessing the weeping families for their loss, I was terrified to be one of them. It was selfish, but I couldn't deny that I didn't want to be one who would also weep at losing a family. 

CLANG!

I looked back when I heard a loud shatter from not far away. Standing on the shards of glasses was Charlotte, looking at me with panic.

"Your Majesty!" she hollered, eyes barely blinking. Just the sight of her already told me something incredibly wrong happened. 

I felt my heart throb loudly against my chest that second. The hand of the clock was frozen in time as I watched Charlotte's mouth move.

"His Majesty had gone berserk!" 

For a moment, I heard this ringing sound piercing my eardrums, as I couldn't understand her words. Although it repeated in my head like a broken record, I knew... my heart knew it was a situation none of us anticipated. 

Berserk? Sam had gone berserk? Was that a very bad thing? It must be... considering Charlotte's pale complexion. I looked up when she was squatting in front of me, holding my shoulders as she shook me awake.

"Your Majesty! Please get a hold of yourself!" Her eyes spoke a thousand words of worry, grinding her teeth in desperation. "His Majesty needs you... no, this entire empire needs you. Please stop His Majesty before he wipes out all his people as well!" 

"Charlotte...?" I looked up at her and snapped my eyes when a tear rolled down her cheeks.

"Please... save His Majesty..." she pleaded through her gritted teeth, gripping my shoulder even tighter. "... please get him out of the infinite darkness he was trapped with."

******

"Milord, why did you force yourself to sleep?"

"Because... I was tired."

I remembered fuming in anger when I heard that silly reason, so I blurted out without thinking. "Tired? You were tired, so you abandoned your people?"

"Heh. Sometimes, no matter how powerful someone is, there is always a breaking point, Lil. Be it, vampires or humans, we always break at one point."

"But you had responsibilities. The people of Grimsbanne had their lives in your hands, including a peasant like me. Was it easy for vampires to let their responsibility and obligation go when things get rough for them?" I voiced out my dismay, but what I received in return was an explanation I barely understood at that time.

"I'm glad... that someone like you still exists in this kingdom. Your love for the people of Grimsbanne is far more noble than ours. You understand the sufferings of my people, but I can't sympathize. Not that I can't; I would rather take action to repay my people's losses. But my credence and my methods drove me to the point I've become a threat to the people I'm fighting for."

That conversation years ago, when Sam proposed to me, replayed in my head like it was just yesterday. I never understood Sam's words back then, but now... my mind, heart, and soul comprehended that breaking point he was talking about. I now understood his exhaustion, of what drained this man that he slept for thousands of years as I looked at him from a distance. 

Sam held Heliot's hair, lifting him up with just one hand. He looked like the devil incarnate — no; he looked as if he was the demon king himself. 

"Who are you against with?" I whispered the words I asked him back then, and he answered, "the king."

Who would have thought that from eight years ago until now... he was fighting the same person? Although it was not the king anymore, but the emperor. 

'I'm not afraid of the king, milord.' My tiny voice back then echoed in my ear as my eyes softened.

"I'm not afraid of the emperor, my love," I repeated under my breath, taking a step forward in an attempt to stop his madness. Even if it meant I would sacrifice a limb or my life. I would save my husband.

-----

Novel Fact:

Did you know? The late king, Samael's father, had 6 wives in total, including the queen? Here's the list below:

The late king's harem

Father: Victor La Crox

1. Amara Cecil Grimsbanne (QUEEN)

their sons and daughters:

Dyrroth, Lucia, Samael, (the last child is dead while young, so Samael got obsessed with protecting his little brothers)

2. Vexana Grail (Mistress/ the witch)

Son: Alphonse

3. Ilene Velvet (the ally)

Son/daughters: Stefan, Dominique, Silvia, Jayden, 

4. Martha Riddles (the favored)

Son/daughter: Klaus, Hanz, Alistair, 2 other princess

5. Carmilla Snow (the unwanted)

Son/daughter: Yulis, Cassara

6. Sabina Marie Fadington (the submissive)

2 daughters and 2 sons